7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.
Starring: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson, John KavanaghBiography | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Big dreams aren't big news except when they yield either big successes or big failures. Most kids dream of playing big league baseball, but it's really only those precious few who wind up in the Hall of Fame or, on the other side of the coin, the can't miss, "this guy can walk on water" prospect who washes out fast and sits back watching some no-name who pitches in mediocrity for 20 years because he was born left-handed. It's the extremes that people remember, for better or for worse, and that's where the story of Florence Foster Jenkins lands, on the extreme, but on the "wrong" side of the ledger. A singer whose gift wasn't her voice but rather her persistence, she entertained audiences in her own unique way, fought off debilitating illness and criticism, and lived her dream, badly to the ears of most but battling for that dream to the end and living it as best she could.
Showtime.
The digitally photographed Florence Foster Jenkins arrives on Blu-ray with a proficient and largely technically flawless 1080p transfer. While certain skin tones occasionally appear a bit too flat and pasty, much of the skin texturing in the movie is nicely precise, finding a satisfying level of depth and intimacy in pores, scruff, and wrinkles. Period clothing and costumes are also well defined down to the finer points, as are some of the more richly appointed furnishings and set pieces around the film. With UHD getting established and eyes becoming more accustomed to a higher level of detail, the 1080p transfer's limitations are becoming more apparent, as they are here. That said, for a basic 1080p issue, the image's detailing is perfectly acceptable. Colors, too, are healthy and rich, naturally vibrant and striking with excellent balance, nuance, and diversity. Black levels and skin tones are fine. Light aliasing is evident in a couple of spots, very finely on Cosmé McMoon's jacket during his interview, for example, but it's mostly at a level that only bears mentioning, not to a debilitating or even all that noticeable extent. Noise is practically nonexistent and other source or encode flaws are minuscule at worst. This is a classy, high end Blu-ray presentation from Paramount.
Florence Foster Jenkins sings its way onto Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. It's largely front-heavy, particularly in its musical delivery. Width is welcoming along the front side, but the surrounds don't carry more than a cursory load. Musical clarity is excellent, however, both instrumentally and lyrically, and even all of Jenkins' piercing, uneven shrieks play with remarkable clarity that truly enhance the "performances." Crowd laughter and applause is a little fuller and a bit wider, too, with a bit more spread to the further ends and depths of the stage. Music, cheer, and dance in chapter nine offer what is arguably the fullest and liveliest scene in the movie. Light street-level atmospherics are pleasantly rich and detailed, again with a little more in the way of surround information. Dialogue is clear, firmly and naturally positioned in the center, and plays with consistent, natural prioritization.
Florence Foster Jenkins contains several featurettes and deleted scenes. A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy
are included with purchase.
Florence Foster Jenkins is a fun little movie and a reminder about the power of dreaming big and holding on, even through the negative whirlwinds and the inevitable criticism that comes with doing anything at any level of success or even just notoriety. A cheery but grounded picture that tells the story of big hearted stubbornness and the power of the dream and the never-give-up human spirit, it finds a pleasing cadence as it explores one of the 20th centuries most interesting icons of song, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to a goal. Paramount's Blu-ray is well done, featuring high end video and audio to go along with a nice little collection of bonus materials. Recommended.
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