6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.2 |
Centers on a long-distance relationship between a young American man and a young British woman who meet while in college.
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley, Alex Kingston (I)Romance | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
It's hard to keep stopping and starting.
Love knows no borders, but borders certainly can get in the way of love. Like Crazy tells the story of two people who fall madly in love only to
have
their bond challenged by borders, their passion halted by the passage of time. It's a story that asks whether true love exists and if it can last, what it
can withstand, what it is that might cause it to fall apart. The picture yields an authentic flair, one well beyond and far removed from the fairy tale
romances of the movies, the
story capturing the ebbs and flows of a real relationship between two people and influenced by very real problems. The movie demonstrates that life
isn't perfect, that love isn't all smiles and pixie dust, the movie something of a cross between Love Story and Blue Valentine, director Drake Doremus's film incorporating its own sort
of whirlwind romance, tragedy, and efforts to rekindle an old flame, all within the confines of an evident independent, low-budget streak that gives the
movie a more authentic, real-life, relatable feel than does a movie with everything in perfect, exacting, rehearsed order.
Falling in love.
Like Crazy's 1080p Blu-ray transfer reflects the low-grade original source. This wasn't shot with Red or other high end digital cameras, but rather an off-the-shelf Canon camera. The results, unsurprisingly, won't dazzle audiences, but it would be unfair to knock the transfer too much for simply reproducing its original content, natural limitations and all. The HD video imagery produces glossy, flat elements. Aliasing, jagged edges, false colors, blocking, and banding are all evident throughout. Shadowy faces in particular suffer through some terrible color gradations. Colors often appear washed out -- ditto blacks -- but the image stabilizes in the brightest scenes. Fine detail is rather bland, with heavier textures, like that of a quilt, appearing rather intricate and stable, but most of the movie looks mostly flat and undefined. This isn't a demo disc to be sure, but this is the best the movie will ever look.
Like Crazy features a steady DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The picture is largely comprised of dialogue which plays evenly and naturally through the center channel. There are a few active and enveloping moments. Good energy, deep bass, and a fine sense of immersion define the soundtrack during a scene at a dance club midway through the movie. Background ambience at an outdoor market or at the airport -- which includes a booming, impressive PA address announcement -- do well to envelop the listener in those locales. Chirping birds, light winds, and chatty students in the early college scenes represent some of the more subtle but mood-critical elements, all of which the track handles nicely. There are a few moments where things can get a little mushy, but generally this track features good spacing, fine clarity, and a positive sense of immersion.
Like Crazy contains a commentary, deleted scenes, and alternate scenes.
Like Crazy is one of those real-life emotional powerhouses, not fairy tale escapism. The picture deals in feelings and situations which change almost by the scene, which may leave audiences frustrated but at the same time more understanding of the nuances and overtones alike that define the relationship. The acting is strong and the story dominates this low-budget film, but a condensed runtime, a wide array of heavy emotions, and an ambiguous finale all contribute to the picture's strengths but may also be seen as weaknesses. This is quality film, but one that requires the right audience expectations to fully appreciate. Paramount's Blu-ray release of Like Crazy features video that's reflective of the original elements, a quality lossless soundtrack, and a few good extras. Definitely worth a rental, and fans may buy with confidence.
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