6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
To appease an association which prefers to rent to couples, uptight American environmentalist Brontë agrees to wed Georges, a fiery and free-spirited Frenchman in search of a green card. Their convenient, non-romantic union is complicated, however, by an investigation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Forced to feign love, the mismatched duo slowly start to truly care for one another.
Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Andie MacDowell, Bebe Neuwirth, Robert Prosky, Gregg EdelmanRomance | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Comedy | 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 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In 1989, writer/director Peter Weir made “Dead Poets Society” for Disney. A somewhat intense drama, the film was released during the summer season, with the company scrambling to find a way to get audiences to see it, focusing intently on the star power of Robin Williams, emphasizing his few comedic scenes in the picture. The actor’s change of pace and pure, uncut word-of-mouth turned “Dead Poets Society” into a major hit (the 10th highest grossing movie of the year), giving Weir a chance to make whatever he wanted to. And he chose “Green Card” as the follow-up, returning to the comfort of Disney and their willingness to take a chance on the American screen debut of French actor Gerard Depardieu, giving him a shot to portray warmth and mischief in a romantic comedy. While a respected actor, Depardieu is not easily tamed, giving Weir the unenviable task of softening a hardened screen presence.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation looks unexpectedly good for a Disney catalog title, giving "Green Card" a real presence on Blu-ray. Detail does well with facial particulars, protecting the roughness of Depardieu and the softness of MacDowell. Sharpness is also welcome during New Your City travels, finding distances clear and dimensional. Apartment decoration is open for study, capturing personal interests. Colors are balanced and authentic, delivering a natural sense of skintones and period fashion, keeping primaries engaged. Greenery is impressive, contributing a bold feel for nature during visits to Central Park and other community areas. The colder urban mood is also set, dotted with pronounced signage. Delineation is strong. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is in fine shape.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix presents a lively sense of location, with appealing atmospherics that explore the urban landscape and apartment movement. Music is also a major part of the listening event, opening with the hard percussive sounds of a street drummer, while scoring goes softer, with appreciable instrumentation. Soundtrack selections are also distinct, giving Enya's synth world compelling sharpness. Dialogue exchanges are direct, doing well with Depardieu's heavy accent, making line-readings understandable. Argumentative behavior isn't abrasive.
"Green Card" is mild stuff from Weir, who seems to be treating the production as a vacation of sorts, keeping dramatics to a bare minimum, enjoying strolls around NYC, and using Enya on the soundtrack, hoping to secure something approachable to introduce Depardieu to a wide audience. The helmer doesn't completely smooth out rough surfaces, keeping Georges a known liar with a childhood fondness for violence and prostitutes, but there's a concentrated effort to get the Frenchman Americanized (four years after this, Depardieu would be gifted his own Disney vehicle with "My Father the Hero"). The material connects, thanks to Weir's patience and specificity with casting, making an appealing pair out of the leads, while the story has its share of shenanigans, misunderstandings, and tender feelings. "Green Card" isn't a strikingly original endeavor from the director of "Picnic at Hanging Rock," "The Year of Living Dangerously," and "Witness," but there's care with frivolity, even with actors who aren't normally regarded as emotionally available.
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