6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Dominick DiNapoli has always been a big kid who loved eating. It was his favorite thing. Then his cousin dies from health complications due to a lack of exercise and improper diet. Antoinette, Dominick's sister, makes him promise to see a diet doctor and lose some weight. This is very hard for Dominick, but he tries. He also finds motivation when he meets Lydia, and he discovers a love that is more intense than his love of food. He spends so much time kissing and walking around with Lydia that he no longer eats as many unhealthy things, and he loses weight without even trying.
Starring: Dom DeLuise, Anne Bancroft, Ron Carey, Candice Azzara, Sal ViscusoDrama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Already established as an actress with incredible range and taste in quality material, Anne Bancroft was searching for a change of pace in the late 1970s, trying to tap into her own family history and deep psychology with the screenplay for “Fatso.” Instead of giving the writing away, Bancroft elected to take her position as the director of the project, making her debut behind the camera (joined by the first female cinematographer for a studio project, Brianne Murphy) with the 1980 effort. “Fatso” means well enough, with Bancroft striving to understand the root of overeating and the casual denial of obvious medical concerns, and she brings in Dom DeLuise for a proper acting challenge, gifting the notorious ham a chance to show off his dramatic side and test his romantic leading man skills. The problem here isn’t professional achievements, but tone, as Bancroft spends the entire endeavor swinging from cartoon comedy to profound confrontations of self, ending up with a picture that’s exhausting to watch, never achieving any of the ambitious goals its sets for itself.
Making its Blu-ray debut, "Fatso" arrives with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. It's an older scan of the movie, offering more muted colors, which competes with the production's use of softer cinematography. Primaries are adequate but not robust, exploring neighborhood visits with numerous signage, and livelier interior decoration. Costuming is also bigger with hues, managing period wear adequately. Skintones are on the bloodless side, but remain in the realm of natural. Detail isn't ideal, with softness generally leading the way, finding most interesting textures with close-ups of food and actors. Delineation isn't challenged, but frame information isn't threatened. Source is in satisfactory shape, with a few lengthy scratches and mild speckling.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix captures the essentials of the "Fatso" track, handling dialogue exchanges with clarity, securing strong emphasis and emotional outbursts, along with group activity. Scoring is comfortable, with appealing instrumentation as music ranges from emotional moods to more manic scenes of unraveling. Crowd atmospherics with store visits and a street fair sequence are passable. Hiss is present throughout the listening event.
It's very strange to have "Fatso" slip into sitcom-y situations, removing the reality from the work. Once Lydia joins the plot, Bancroft tries out some romantic comedy moves as well, but such lightness eventually slams into heaviness when Dominick finally confronts the man he is, dealing with mother issues and a lack of confidence. Bancroft assembles a talented cast, and DeLuise does a fantastic job in the titular role, dipping into darkness and pain to help provide layers to Dominick. It's Bancroft who doesn't know what she wants from "Fatso," trying to make something sweet and sensitive while dealing with abyssal areas of pain and self-loathing. It's a valiant attempt to confront the nuances of obesity, but there's no focus here to secure messages of love and worth.
1978
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2018
2012
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1970
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1970
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The Woody Allen Collection
1979
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1971
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Original Uncut Version
1986
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