Feast of the Seven Fishes Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Feast of the Seven Fishes Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 5, 2020

Family is the theme of “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” and it’s a shame writer/director Robert Tinnell (“Kids of the Round Table,” “Frankenstein and Me”) doesn’t focus enough on domestic interactions. While primed for holiday viewings, the picture doesn’t always embrace its festive mood, striving to attach a romantic element featuring younger characters to material that connects best as a study of older people working to keep traditions alive. Tinnell seems a little too concerned with the marketplace appeal of “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” taking time away from the core vibe of the movie to deal with uninteresting characters and their problems.

Tony (Skyler Gisondo) has been accepted into art school, but only sees a future with him as the son of a grocer, running the family shop. Enjoying the company of friends and family during a holiday week evening, Tony meets Beth (Madison Iseman), an upper-class woman trying to wiggle her way out of family expectations. While chemistry between the strangers is there, Tony has to deal with a few issues during their long night together, including Katie (Addison Timlin), his ex-girlfriend and aspiring stripper. While Tony struggles with his life, his family (including Paul Ben-Victor and Joe Pantoliano) start preparing the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an annual celebration meant to bring everyone together for a peaceful meal.

“Feast of the Seven Fishes” is a movie about generations, with Tinnell offer a semi-autobiographical collection of personalities that populate Tony’s world. He’s a young man with a gift for painting, offered a chance to explore his talents at art school, which is an expensive opportunity he refuses to entertain. Tony’s stuck in his life, working at the family grocery store while juggling the needs of his relatives during the hectic Christmas holiday. It’s traditional Italian crew chaos from Tinnell, but he doesn’t lean hard on stereotypes, striving to surround his main character with all sorts of neurotic people just trying to pull together another holiday via the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an event helpfully explained by Tony to an understandably confused Beth. Tinnell even offers a visual guide to the specific cleaning and preparation of the seafood.

This energy from the family isn’t original, but it’s sincere. “Feast of the Seven Fishes” is always compelling when exploring Tony’s relatives and their charged interactions, with the older folk juggling memories and busting chops as they begin the holiday. Tony’s subplot is less enchanting, following the young man as he struggles with his future and meets Beth, finding unusual comfort with her. Their date is challenged by word of Katie’s move to stripping to make money, freaking her ex out. Katie’s story in “Feast of the Seven Fishes” has potential, with the wayward soul struggling to live without the warmth of Tony’s family, but Tinnell doesn’t offer enough concentration on a distinct psychological barrier. Instead, melodrama floods the endeavor, draining the feature of seasonal and familial vitality.

Feast of the Seven Fishes Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

An HD-shot production made for very little money, "Feast of the Seven Fishes" retains much of its visual limitations during the AVC encoded image (1.90:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Blacks aren't built for deepness, coming across lighter, offering a milkier viewing experience. Colors are more interesting, enjoying Christmas lighting and bar interiors, while household events carry more natural primaries, embracing period outfits and interior decoration. Skintones are accurate. Detail enjoys sharpness with close-ups, securing facial particulars from characters young and old. Clothing is fibrous, and outdoor encounters retain depth. Compression issues are periodic, with banding creeping into view.

Feast of the Seven Fishes Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA track is also modest in design, aiming to capture performances with clarity. Actors are sharp and emotive, and exaggerated accents are easy to follow. Group interplay is also nicely managed. Scoring isn't dynamic, supporting with middling emphasis, but instrumentation is satisfactory. Soundtrack selections are weirdly dialed down, a creative choice it seems, missing a perfect opportunity to sell the stuffing out the time period with pop and holiday songs. Surrounds aren't challenged, but atmospherics remains, finding community bustle and room tones as the action visits bars and tight domestic spaces. Low-end doesn't offer much.

Feast of the Seven Fishes Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Robert Tinnell.

• Behind the Scenes (17:05, HD) examines the creation of "Feast of the Seven Fishes," which dates back to Tinnell's own childhood, which inspired the creation of a short film in the mid-1990s that detailed his family's interplay and preparation of the titular celebration. Unsure what to do with the material, Tinnell eventually turned it into a webcomic and a lauded book, making a final stop at a feature. West Virginia locations are celebrated, with the crew scrambling to begin shooting by Christmas, 2017, and Tinnell shares his personal history with the area and the holiday vibe, trying to transfer his own family gatherings to the picture. Casting is detailed, with interviewees exploring character motivations. Technical and weather challenges are also highlighted, with the production often chasing snow, forcing them to use a bluescreen for driving sequences.

• "The Game" (13:13, HD) is a 2010 short film about football from Tinnell.

• Photo Gallery (2:52) collects personal photographs from Tinnell, highlighting cast and crew effort and camaraderie.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:17, HD) is included.

Feast of the Seven Fishes Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Feast of the Seven Fishes" doesn't have much production coin to spend, and technical limitations are a bit of a distraction, including iffy bluescreen driving shots. The script doesn't do much with Tony as well, making his week of experiences the least compelling element of the picture, while Gisando doesn't carry the movie with needed authority. Once Tinnell gets back to family ties, "Feast of the Seven Fishes" finds its footing as a study of support, camaraderie, and strangeness, with Tinnell achieving a real feel for tiny kitchen power plays and lived-in relationships.