6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A limo driver's blind date sparks a tale of love, betrayal, friendship, and grace centered around two working-class New York City couples.
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Ryan, John Ortiz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Tom McCarthyComedy | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
I like talking to you.
Jack Goes Boating is one of those structurally simple but emotionally satisfying movies about real life, about people
discovering who they are and who they can be as they do all they can to get by in life and happily exist in their own little corner of the world. It's a
movie about life's ups and downs and finding something that matters through all of the seemingly inconsequential little nothings that fill up the days.
It's a movie about a man finding someone who can love him for who he is, not for whom someone
wants him to become or whom he is not. Based on Robert Glaudini's stage production of the same name, Jack Goes Boating adapts well
to the screen, the film an easily-digestible little slice of the real world captured on film that strives for a modest little happily-ever-after ending in a
world where even the most meager of Fairy Tales seem all too few and far between.
First date.
Jack Goes Boating arrives on Blu-ray with a nice-looking 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release is filmic and easy on the eyes; a light layer of grain is retained over the image, and aside from a few light speckles and an instance or two of extremely light banding, there's nothing technically wrong with the transfer. The image yields strong details, fair blacks, and steady colors that warm up a bit depending on light source but seem to stay true to natural location- and lighting-specific elements. Facial details are quite good in close-up shots and clothing textures -- particularly Jack's winter ski cap -- look fantastically intricate. The image isn't always razor-sharp, but it's never excessively soft, either; it finds an inviting and pleasing middle ground that replicates the theatrical experience quite nicely and therefore represents Blu-ray near the top of its potential for quality.
Jack Goes Boating features a reserved but effective Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The film is centered around character interaction, so dialogue is the order of the day. It's accurate through the center channel, never muffled or lost under music or sound effects. The track engages in subtle atmospherics that do a good job of inserting listeners into various outdoor locales through the implementation of sirens, passing traffic, and other city din, not to mention the gentle sound of nearly still water in the public swimming pool. Such effects maneuver around the soundstage with ease and even fall into the back channels for a pleasant listen. Music enjoys fine spacing across the front and even plays with a punchy energy a few times. This is a fairly basic soundtrack that springs to life when necessary and allows for only dialogue to penetrate into the listening are when need be. It's well balanced and handles the admittedly reserved material with ease.
Jack Goes Boating sinks rather than swims when it comes to its disappointingly limited assortment of bonus content.
Jack Goes Boating is a sweet and innocent little picture that's all about the very real lives of its characters. Nothing overblown, nothing that's not relatable, nothing to scare viewers away. It's a simple story of simple people striving to make their lives a little bit better while remaining true to who they are, looking for acceptance -- and willing to give it -- even through all the flaws that tend to creep up through this challenging but not hopeless thing called life. This Anchor Bay Blu-ray release features a nice film-like video presentation and a quality lossless soundtrack to match. The supplements are a bit slim, but the technical merits and quality of the film more than make up for that shortcoming. Recommended.
2016
2010
2015
1978
2016
2020
2019
2016
2014
2013
2014
Extended Cut
2008
2005
2018
1980
Director's Cut | Special Edition
2006
2010
2015
1971
2014