Keep the Change Blu-ray Movie

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Keep the Change Blu-ray Movie United States

Kino Lorber | 2018 | 94 min | Not rated | Jun 19, 2018

Keep the Change (Blu-ray Movie)

Price

List price: $34.95
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Buy Keep the Change on Blu-ray Movie

Movie rating

7.1
 / 10

Blu-ray rating

Users0.0 of 50.0
Reviewer4.0 of 54.0
Overall4.0 of 54.0

Overview

Keep the Change (2018)

A New York City romantic comedy, Keep the Change is the unlikely love story of two people who meet in a support group.

Starring: Brandon Polansky, Samantha Elisofon, Jessica Walter, Christina Brucato, Johnathan Tchaikovsky
Director: Rachel Israel

DramaInsignificant
ComedyInsignificant

Specifications

  • Video

    Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
    Video resolution: 1080p
    Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
    Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

  • Audio

    English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
    English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

  • Subtitles

    English SDH

  • Discs

    Blu-ray Disc
    Single disc (1 BD)

  • Playback

    Region A (B, C untested)

Review

Rating summary

Movie4.0 of 54.0
Video4.5 of 54.5
Audio4.5 of 54.5
Extras2.5 of 52.5
Overall4.0 of 54.0

Keep the Change Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 3, 2018

Writer/director Rachel Israel has made a film about autism that’s unlike many pictures about the subject. Instead of creating a mournful endeavor or a shallow quirkfest, she finds the heart and soul of everyday people trying to find their way in the big city. “Keep the Change” has its serious side, but it’s mostly a comedy about building confidence and communication, featuring a cast of autistic people to secure authenticity and celebrate a unique perspective on traditionally neurotic characters. “Keep the Change” is also hilarious and warm, finding its own voice as Israel creates a special space for her cast to shine, preserving idiosyncrasies and timing to best reinforce the unusual atmosphere of pure personality on display.


Living in New York City, David (Brandon Polansky) is lonely man with high-functioning autism trying to find a woman through the comfort of his computer. Dating isn’t going well, with his preference for bad taste jokes repelling the opposite sex, and he has trouble with social situations, making him uncomfortable. After insulting a cop, David is forced to attend therapy, finding himself in a community center drama class for autistic people. He’s paired with Sarah (Samantha Elisofon), an outgoing type who’s attracted to David, making the most of their homework assignments, forcing him out of his shell. While open to Sarah’s interest and kindness, David has a long road of self-inspection ahead of him, struggling with the man he once was and has become, while his parents, Lenny (Tibor Feldman) and Carrie (Jessica Walter), refuse to encourage their adult son’s maturing emotional state, leaving him to sort through his issues alone.

“Keep the Change” finds its greatest moments in dramatic therapy, following David into a lively space populated with other autistic people who try to welcome the outsider, but find him standoffish. Sammy (a scene-stealing Nicky Gottlieb) is a wonderfully peculiar participant, leading the charge on the group’s love of theater and show tunes, openly sharing gay fantasies as he makes an effort to include David, who tries to limit his participation in therapy challenges. It’s Sarah that snaps the newcomer to attention, as her bright ways disarm David, with the pair eventually assigned work to complete together, forcing them to socialize outside of therapy, watching their camaraderie eventually lead to attraction and the vague shape of love. “Keep the Change” sets up a few familiar obstacles for David, including a romantic rival and unspoken desires, but the bulk of the movie focuses on his cautious interplay with Sarah, permitting sensational performances from Polansky and Elisofon to shine, with the pair contributing feeling, natural performances and wonderfully unexpected dialogue detours.


Keep the Change Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality  4.5 of 5

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a clear view of "Keep the Change," leading with strong detail that helps to examine NYC locations, delivering a healthy sense of depth and texture to the locations. Facial particulars are also appealing, along with fibrous outfits and set decoration, which carries into bedrooms and rehearsal areas. Colors are buoyant, with terrific primaries that are especially potent on costuming. Street signage is also alert, along with greenery, making park visits evocative. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory.


Keep the Change Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality  4.5 of 5

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't interested in a more rousing use of surrounds, with the largely frontal track putting focus on dialogue exchanges, which remain clear and inviting, never obscuring the unusual performances. Singing is also bright and clear, adding some volume to the moment. Scoring needs are met, isolating acoustic guitar strumming, delivering warmth when necessary. Atmospherics are generally quite good, achieving a feel for urban bustle and group bustle.


Keep the Change Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras  2.5 of 5

  • Deleted Scenes (HD) include "Sammy's Rehearsal" (1:35) and "Will and David" (:48).
  • "Keep the Change" (16:19) is the original 2013 short film from Rachel Israel, starring Samantha Elisofon and Brandon Polanksy.
  • "Q&A at JCC Manhattan" (18:37, SD) is a rather chaotic post-screening discussion of "Keep the Change" with Israel (carrying a 10-day-old baby), Elisofon, and Polansky, who's especially energized by the moment, often taking the microphone to rant about the state of American politics. There's not much here that cuts deep, but it's interesting to see the trio unguarded, discussing a desire to find some behavioral authenticity for "Keep the Change," personal feelings about the project, and the screenplay's origin story. Script changes and improvisations are covered as well.
  • And a Theatrical Trailer (2:13, HD) is included.


Keep the Change Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation  4.0 of 5

Israel doesn't offer much hand-holding, refusing to manufacture an overly precious tone for "Keep the Change," which explores common emotions with uncommon people, even moving over to sexual activity, keeping the material honest and real, tending to dignity instead of condescension. The material takes a dive in the last act, arranging a formulaic break-up-to-make-up finale that's unnecessary, especially with this unique perspective on the lives of those living with autism. Israel goes for syrup and whiffs, but she's confident with the rest of the film, which is loaded with active personalities and genuine laughs.