6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A sweet-talking stranger befriends a young punk and a lonely man after moving to a small Southern town. Her true intentions prove far more sinister when her dark past soon comes to light.
Starring: Sophie Turner, Dylan McDermott, Kurt Fuller, Daeg Faerch, Jack KilmerThriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
“Josie” emerges from the mind of screenwriter Anthony Ragnone, who makes his feature-length debut with the movie. Apparently, the writing attracted a lot of attention on the screenplay scene a few years ago, even reaching the dubious “Black List,” a self-congratulatory Hollywood system that’s helped many projects reach the screen, while only a few of them have been as extraordinary as their reputations. “Josie” has the seductive curves of the picture that plays terrific on paper, but as a film, limitations are highlighted in a major way, with the plot more suited for a short story than a big screen endeavor, finding Ragnone working on a puzzle that’s not particularly worth solving, while director Eric England doesn’t provide much of a reason to remain with the unfolding drama, forgoing narrative drive to linger on lukewarm encounters between banal characters.
The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation supplies a reasonably detailed look at the HD-shot highlights of "Josie." It's a dark picture, with most activity in dimly lit rooms and occurring during the evening, and delineation isn't always as communicative as hoped for, with solidification creeping into view on occasion. Better are sunlit adventures, which provide a more defined look at cinematographic highlights, picking up on motel decoration and skin quality, with unusually harsh facial particulars open for study. Colors are capable, capturing the sickly neon of motel signage and the more golden poolside hues. Costuming delivers strong primaries. Skintones are natural.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is more functional than remarkable, with soundtrack selections a particular disappointment, lacking authority on the track. Instrumentation is acceptable, along with scoring needs, but power is missing, failing to support moods as needed. Dialogue exchanges are a bit better, though they're not always as sharp as possible. Intelligibility is never threatened. Surrounds are active for musical efforts and intermittent separation for motel visits is appealing, capturing room expanse and position. Low-end is light. Atmospherics are acceptable.
There is no supplementary material on this disc.
There comes a time during the second half of "Josie" where one might think, "Just where is all this going?" Of course, spoilers are plentiful in the final act, but it's not as exciting as it may read. The conclusion doesn't come of out nowhere, but it's not laced up tight enough to trigger wide eyes and dropped jaws, playing, as previously mentioned, like the end of a short story, offering minimal payoff for minimal investment. "Josie" isn't a twisty concoction and there's very little heat or instability to make a sizable impression. England tries to connect the dots, but his editorial hustle is lacking, and Ragnone has a vision for a thriller that doesn't emerge with enough definition to carry even 80 minutes of movie. The whole things sags and sputters, juggling clichés and softball conflicts before it finally settles on shock value. And it's a jolt that barely registers.
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