6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In the midst of rehearsals for a new play, amateur dramatics proponents Colin and Kathryn receive the shattering news that their friend George is fatally ill and only has a few months to live.
Starring: Sabine Azéma, Hippolyte Girardot, Sandrine Kiberlain, André Dussollier, Caroline SilholForeign | 100% |
Drama | 76% |
Romance | 20% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Alain Resnais' "Life of Riley" a.k.a. "Aimer, boire et chanter" (2014) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; cast interviews; and an interview with film historian and critic Geoffrey O'Brien. The release also arrives with a 36-page illustrated booklet featuring a new essay by critic Cristina Álvarez López; a new note on his collaborations with Alain Resnais by playwright Alan Ayckbourn; and production imagery. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
The actors
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.40:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Alain Resnais' Life of Riley arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment.
Shot with the Arri Alexa camera, the film looks strikingly sharp and vibrant. Virtually all of the static close-ups are so remarkably detailed that they actually look like digital photographs. During the occasional panoramic shots depth is very impressive as well (see screencapture #9). Colors are exceptionally well saturated. The sketches that are used during the transitions also look terrific. My only complaint pertains to the sporadic shimmer (coupled with some aliasing) that pops up throughout the film (obvious examples can be seen at 00.10.25 and 00.42.39) and can be quite easy to see. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free Blu-ray player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
Mark Snow's soundtrack has an important role through the film, but you should not expect impressive dynamic movement. Indeed, Life of Riley is essentially a filmed chamber piece with a fairly modest sound design. The dialog is crisp, stable, clean, and very easy to follow. There are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report in this review.
Alain Resnais' final film, Aimer, boire et chanter, suggests that life is a long play with some unexpected twists and we are all actors in it. It is true, though most of us admit it only when we reach its end. The film looks terrific on Blu-ray. If you are interested in Resnais work, I would also like to suggest picking up a copy of Private Fears in Public Places, another very good film adapted from an Alan Ayckbourn play. RECOMMENDED.
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