6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A celebration of both the unifying power of music and pursuit of the American dream, Made in America is an all-access backstage pass to the one-of-a-kind festival created by rap superstar Jay Z. Featuring remarkable performances and fascinating backstage interviews with many of todays biggest music stars, Made in America shows how one giant celebration of music can change peoples lives.
Starring: Jay Z, Kanye West, Jill Scott, Eddie VedderMusic | 100% |
Documentary | 35% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
French
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
If music speaks to the soul, then it gives the performing artist a particularly powerful voice not in the simple delivery of lyrics but in the shaping of the very essence of the people to whom, and for whom, he or she performs. Made in America takes a look at a cross-section of mostly modern artists performing at the "Made in America" music festival, meant to bring together music, people, and culture. With that goal in mind, there was no better venue to play host than "The City of Brotherly Love:" Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an American historical icon and, with this festival, its planners and sponsors (Budweiser) and performers hope, a bridge towards a brighter -- and louder -- future. The film, a Documentary directed by Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Rush), takes viewers onto the stage and into the lives of the performers who play on it and a few of the everyday people out on its periphery for a fast and occasionally satisfying look at a production that, in between toe-tapping tunes, gives the artists a platform to share their messages for their vision of the future.
Showtime.
Made in America's 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer isn't a sparkling display of high definition goodness, but it gets the job done. Interview and backstage footage generally look nice, with even, crisp details, stable edges, and satisfying colors. Some distant shots offer nice, clear imagery; a rooftop scene featuring Jay-Z overlooking a few city blocks is particularly impressive. Concert footage lags a little behind, however. While tight shots of the performers again provide solid details (guitar wood textures) and colors (Santigold green eyewear), crowd shots tend to favor a lower-quaity, lightly shimmering, washed out, and slightly jagged appearance. Skin textures mostly satisfy across the board, and black levels are deep and accurate during nighttime concert footage. Overall, a solid transfer and one that's rather good for a film that plays with a little bit of an independent, small-budget, point-and-shoot, almost guerrilla filmmaking edge to it.
While Made in America's Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack largely satisfies program requirements, it's almost a travesty that a lossless soundtrack wasn't included. In the Blu-ray age and particularly with recently assembled concert footage, lossless is an absolute must. Nevertheless, the lossy 5.1 track at least serves the material well enough, most of the time. Early on, instrumental clarity lacks and lyrics tend to get lost under the supportive music. There's not a good balance in the vocal-to-musical ratio, but it does improve over time. The track begins with a deep, aggressive rumble and growing crowd support that spreads throughout the soundstage, both playing to good, immersive effect. The surround channels are used regularly to deliver music into the stage, but there's never a true, "you are there" sort of feel to the concert footage. The soundtrack provides a little bit of positive city traffic din in chapter 12, representing the major "surround" element beyond the stage and crowd. Dialogue is presented clearly and with suitable definition and accuracy from the center channel. For the most part, this track satisfies, but one cannot help but feel that it could have been so much more.
No supplemental features are included with this Blu-ray release of Made in America.
Made in America isn't a particularly great, or even good, music documentary. Fans of the artists in question should enjoy their musical talents and the limited access to them, watching as their heroes share in their candid thoughts on their own life stories and greater desires for man and America, but casual viewers may become quickly disinterested in the lack of cohesion or easily identifiable purpose. Phase 4's Blu-ray release of Made in America delivers solid video, adequate audio (lossless would have helped), and no supplements. Recommended only to die-hard fans of the artists and the festival at which they performed.
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