Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Intersection Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 22, 2022

Mark Rydell's "Intersection" (1994) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Paramount Home Media Distribution. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

I love you. And I want to be with you.

The opening sequence makes it crystal-clear that something really bad has happened to the man that has just crashed his car. For a few seconds, it shows how he struggles to keep the car on the wet road but quickly loses control of it and then begins spinning with some bone-chilling intensity. Can the man survive such a vicious crash?

A series of flashbacks reveal who was the man driving the car.

In the first flashback, we learn that he is Vincent Eastman (Richard Gere), a prominent architect in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is finalizing a giant project that means so much to him that his work might have started compromising his relationship with his wife, Sally (Sharon Stone), who works with him in the same company, on the same floor, in the adjacent office.

In another flashback, however, it is revealed that Vincent and Sally have already given up on their marriage. They still care about their teenage daughter, Meaghan (Jennifer Morrison), who dreams of being a famous ballerina, so when they are around her both do a lot of acting to fool her that they are just going through a rough cycle. But the girl is intelligent and understands exactly what has happened to Vincent and Sally’s marriage.

In yet another flashback, Vincent meets local reporter Olivia Marshak (Lolita Davidovich) at a small auction and instantly falls in love with her. She is single, beautiful and full of energy, almost an exact replica of the girl some years ago Vincent thought he had married. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, Vincent convinces Olivia to come with him to his boat, where both finally reveal how they feel about each other.

At this point, the film begins going back and forth between Vincent’s evolving relationships with Sally and Olivia, each becoming more complicated and ultimately more frustrating for him seemingly by the hour. At first, Vincent attempts to remain calm and take the time he needs to figure out what to do with his life, but then his inability to make a decision whether to go back to Sally and work hard to rebuild their marriage or begin a new chapter with Olivia forces him out of his comfort zone. Sally’s secret relationship with another man then brings the worst out of him, but in a moment of weakness he rejects Olivia, even though his heart insists that his future is with her. On a rainy night, Vincent finally makes a crucial decision, but on the following morning, while driving to meet the woman he has chosen to spend the rest of his life with, he crashes his car.

Mark Rydell’s Intersection is loosely based on Paul Guimard’s famous novel that some decades earlier inspired Claude Sautet to direct Les Choses de la Vie (The Things of Life), a genuine French classic, but it is awfully difficult to compare to it. There are a lot of reasons why Intersection does not work as it should, but virtually all of them can be traced back to the principal actors and the chemistry that had to materialize between them to make the drama appear authentic.

Each of the flashbacks is supposed to reveal a crucial aspect of Vincent’s supposedly complex relationships with Sally and Olivia, but as they are shot and arranged what emerges from them is essentially poorly managed melodrama of the kind that second-rate TV soap operas offer. Predictably, the acting looks entirely scripted and often unbearably dull, and with the start power involved the complete product feels incredibly underwhelming.

Stone is the weakest of the three leads and her struggle to humanize her character ultimately hurts the film the most. Davidovish looks good while Gere attempts to being a relationship with her, but later on, after their misunderstandings begin, she repeatedly mismanages her emotions. There are portions of the film where Gere looks while he is alone, but his scripted statements ruin his character as well.

Like Chose de la Vie, Intersection has a beautiful soundtrack, courtesy of James Newton Howard, but this is its one and only asset that deserves to be praised.

Intersection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Intersection arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Paramount Home Media Distribution.

The release is sourced from an older master that as far as I can tell comes from the DVD era. While I did not see any traces of recent problematic digital corrections, which is the main reason why so many close-ups can look mostly good, there is just not enough fine detail in wider shots. Also, clarity and depth tend to fluctuate quite a lot, especially in areas where there are numerous unique darker nuances and shadows, which is why different visuals can abruptly become very soft and flat. (You can see an example in screencapture #6 where Sharon Stone's character is captured in the back). Colors are stable, but the overall balance can be quite a bit better. Indeed, saturation as well as the existing ranges of nuances can be easily improved. Image stability is good. There are no distracting large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames. However, minor dirt spots and blemishes occasionally pop up here and there. My score is 2.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Intersection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

James Newton Howard's soundtrack, which is the film's greatest asset, benefits the most from the lossless treatment, which is perhaps a bit unusual because there are a few sequences with plenty of dynamic activity. It is the rich dynamic nuances that emerge whenever the music has a role to play that make the difference. Can the audio sound better? If fully remastered and especially if presented as in a new Dolby Atmos mix, yes, I think so, but the current lossless track serves the film very well.

Intersection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Most unfortunately, there are no bonus features to be found on this release.

Intersection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I have always kept a copy of Intersection in my library despite the fact that it is not a particularly good film. However, it is a good looking film, plus it has a terrific soundtrack. Paramount's Blu-ray release of Intersection is sourced from a very old master with plenty of issues that predictably make the film look quite dated. To be honest with you, I would have a difficult time recommending it even to folks that disagree with me and find Intersection to be a very fine film. If you are one of them and have to have it in your library, consider picking it up only when you find it heavily discounted.