Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Love Story Blu-ray Movie Review

It's as simple as its title suggests. And that's a good thing.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 25, 2012

Love means never having to say you're sorry.

The Bible teaches that "love is patient, love is kind...and always perseveres." More or less, that's reflected in the story of Love Story, the simply-titled, simply-crafted, but incredibly well-acted and conceived story of, what else, love. Director Arthur Hiller's (See No Evil, Hear No Evil) picture offers an honest look at love, a love that may be transitory in its physical embodiment in the real world but that lives on strongly, that forever perseveres, where it truly matters the most: in the heart and spirit, through that invisible yet unbreakable bond between soul mates. Love remains, in life or death, in sickness or health, and trumps all things -- physical, emotional, spiritual -- that may challenge its unique supremacy between two forever-connected entities. It's something from which joy, tenderness, understanding, and life itself all may spring, something that is perhaps beyond understanding but that is certainly not above knowing. In the end, maybe love really does mean never having to say "sorry," for in love -- true love -- there's only innate forgiveness. There's only moments to treasure, time together to remember that cannot slip away in anger or absence or even permanent separation that sees a break in the physical but a continuing steadfastness in the spiritual that is forever.

In love.

College students Jennifer Cavalleri (Ali MacGraw) and Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O'Neal) meet and fall in love. He's an upper-crust Harvard student from one of those family's so wealthy and so tied to the community that buildings on campus bear his surname. She's a Radcliffe College student library aide who loves music and whose father runs a small bakeshop. Their divergent backgrounds can't keep them apart. When Oliver's stuffy parents reject the match, he sets out on his own, leaving a world of wealth, privilege, and easy access behind him, promising to build a life with Jennifer on love rather than convenience. They marry, though not conventionally, much to the chagrin of Jennifer's traditional father Phil (John Marley). As the two grow deeper in love and closer together even after exchanging their vows, they live a life of unquestioned love and devotion worthy of story, a love that even death cannot destroy.

Love Story works well on several levels, not the least of which is its very straightforward approach that sees the movie begin at love's conception. It doesn't belittle the story with excess drivel or insult its audiences with meaningless development. Instead, it introduces its characters as they meet, and follows the relationship as it blossoms and follows its natural course that sees friendship form, love develop, and the greater arc of the relationship play out. The two leads in Love Story are not immediately likable as they throw verbal insults at one another in a game that they play, a game that almost seems to challenge them to prove to one another -- and themselves -- that their bond can withstand any test, to see how easily swayed the other may be, to verify that their love is more than skin-deep and beyond the meaning of a word or phrase. It's as if they're old chums rather than lovers, but isn't that deep, interconnected friendship and trust the basis of real love? As the audience comes to know the characters and not just hear the words they say, they become more approachable people with whom the audience may not necessarily relate, but at least grow fond of and care for. As it develops, their relationship strikes a chord of authenticity as they make their love their own rather than some fantasized Hollywood facsimile of what some scriptwriter of fairy tale believes to be the truest meaning of real love. It's here that the film really finds its purpose and stride; its picture of love is truly unique, leaving behind the bumbling actions and clichéd dialogue in favor of a portrait that appears as authentic and natural as real love in the real world, making Love Story something of an anti-Hollywood rebel while at the same time showing what movies may be when they just "get it right."

Love Story does play with some basic issues like class and expectation as they clash with the realities of romance. The film does a good job of portraying as a significant part of the developmental story the dichotomy between rich and poor and class as those things are shaped into concerns that are ultimately dismissed in the name of true love, perhaps the one thing that truly can span all artificial, manmade barriers. It's a key element in the story that shows that it's the sincerity of the love rather than the size of the bank account that matters most; it's the closest thing the movie gets to cliché, but it's something of a necessary element to advance the plot and secure the themes. The final act is where the film proves its worth; like the rest of the movie, it's played straight with no disingenuous emotion. It's remarkably simple and terribly effective, the film, as it does with most every scene, earning so much mileage out of so little style. The entire picture is an exercise in straightforward and honest storytelling, maintaining an even presentation that nothing -- even the greatest of emotional turns -- can sway. This is the picture's true value, its telling of a simple story that's love in a nutshell. Whether moments of great happiness or terrible tragedy, pure, unadulterated love hangs over the movie and defines its spirit in a way that's never quite been seen in film before. The performances are largely reflective of the picture's balance; the actors play the scenes with the same natural cadence and understanding of their love's strengths, never moving beyond misty-eyed stalwartness both in the best and worst of times where love is the one constant through all that life throws at Oliver and Jennifer.

Love Story Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Love Story has aged very nicely. Paramount's 1080p Blu-ray release of this catalogue title that's now over 40 years in age looks marvelous. The image is naturally filmic and very nicely detailed. Light grain remains, accentuating finer details on complex clothes -- knitted sweaters and the creases and wear in leather jackets -- and human faces alike. Clarity is very strong, too, which also enhances textures, depth, and general stability, though a few softer shots remain. Colors are steady and accurate, whether bright red dresses, the crimson Harvard hockey jersey, or various toned-down earthen shades. Flesh tones are balanced, and blacks are fine. The print is clean and relatively free of distracting debris or damage. Banding, blocking, and other ills are largely absent. This is a very handsome transfer that should please longtime fans.

Love Story Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Love Story's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack is fair, at best. The majority of the film is front-heavy, though adequately spaced across that line of speakers. The ambient sounds of the coffee shop near film's start and general outdoor city ambience both play with adequate spacing but also sound clunky and indistinct. The hockey scenes enjoy a bit more vigor than do most, with perhaps a slight bit more surround presence, through again effects -- from slashing skates to a blowing referee's whistle -- lack natural distinction. Music is fairly smooth and enjoys decent clarity, though again is predominantly front-heavy. Dialogue is fair, center-focused but sometimes a bit shallow. At the end of the day, this is an aging soundtrack of a movie that's not very dynamic to begin with. The presentation is fine for what the movie calls for, but this won't dazzle any in the audience.

Love Story Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Love Story contains three extras.

• Audio Commentary: Director Arthur Hiller offers up a balanced and insightful track. He discusses generational influences, the picture's themes, shooting techniques, the work of the cast, character development, differences between novel and film, and plenty more while also sharing some anecdotes from the set and reflections on his career. This is a quality track that fans of the film will want to hear.
• Love Story: A Classic Remembered (480p, 14:51): A vintage hindsight piece that looks at the film's legacy, the work of Director Arthur Hiller, shooting on a strict budget, casting the primary and secondary roles, shooting locales, filming various scenes, crafting the film's score, and getting the film just right in its finished form.
• Love Story Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:57).

Love Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Love Story is as simple as it sounds. It's a story of love, of two people who find they share something so deep that it can only really be felt and not explained. The picture is true and unassuming, evenly paced and always playing with an honest integrity as it eschews genre convention in favor of a genuine slice-of-life look at two people in love as they are, not as Hollywood dictates they should be. Excellent performances and steady direction make Love Story a movie that's easy to fall for. Paramount's Blu-ray release of Love Story features strong video, fair audio, and a few supplements. Recommended.