Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

My Old Lady Blu-ray Movie Review

Light to dark and back again.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 6, 2015

Sometimes a curse can be a blessing in disguise. Sometimes a blessing can be a curse in disguise. Life has a funny way of bending things to its whim and will, often for the better but also often up against someone too stubborn to take it all in and realize that things aren't always as they seem or that every cloud has its proverbial silver lining. Indeed, life has a funny way of manipulating any given situation, making it what it must be rather than what one would like it to be, and such ebbs and flows are at the center of My Old Lady, a hit-or-miss story of a man's inheritance coming with all sorts of strings attached that threaten to hold him down but are really trying to lift him up. Based on Writer/Director Israel Horovitz own stage production of the same name, the film is a hit-or-miss affair that's wonderfully lively and depressingly dark alike as it maneuvers through the ups and downs of an unusual situation where money talks but the soul whispers in the ear, promising something better than money could ever buy.

My new place...?

A down-on-his-luck, middle-aged American named Mathias Gold (Kevin Kline) has just lost his wealthy father. He's left most everything to charity, everything, that is, except for a wristwatch, a few books, and a Paris apartment. Gold spends the last few pennies in his name to travel to "The City of Light" to see, and sell, the apartment. He finds a beautiful, likely valuable place, complete with a gorgeous backyard garden. He also finds Mathilde Girard (Maggie Smith), an elderly resident in a "viager" tenant contract, which means she's legally allowed to remain there until death, and to make matters worse, Gold owes her a monthly stipend of 2400 Euros. Complicating matters is Chloé (Kristin Scott Thomas), Mathilde's daughter, who is sharing the apartment. A dejected Gold schemes to sell the property, anyway, but a number of reveals about his past and family's deeper connection with the apartment's tenants could potentially change everything.

What begins as a whimsical, nearly magical story of an American finding his meager inheritance crumbling around him quickly becomes a much more darkly personal and complex affair when the humor gives way to a serious, somber reflection on the lives involved, how they interconnect well beyond the immediate issue at hand and lead to tearful confessions and disturbing secrets that don't simply jeopardize a business arrangement but also the very inner fabric of all parties involved. The movie certainly works best, in a general sense, when it's witty and charming -- intoxicatingly so -- in its first act, particularly considering the tight, beautiful interplay between Kevin Kline and Maggie Smith as unexpected adversaries who clash over their very livelihoods, he with his need for cash and she with her need -- and lawfully so -- to live out her life in her home. It's almost a shame that the movie has to, or wants to, travel down such a darkened path, though as the old saying goes, there's a light at the end of every tunnel. It's simply a matter of whether that dour journey is worth the reward upon exit.

There's an unmistakable Woody Allen charm to the movie's first act where it's most comfortable and contagiously fun, presenting audiences with a complicated and serious yet humorous state of affairs that challenge characters to keep their wits about them while still, internally, going off the deep end. Kline is particularly fantastic. The character's instant fall to despair and further collapse and almost comical hopelessness carries the movie, but as he inches closer to that darker portion the performance doesn't collapse. The film's tone shifts so drastically that it almost absorbs the rest of the movie and makes it all for naught, in a way, even as it pushes towards a brighter conclusion, so kudos to Kline and company for maintaining their effort through such a dramatic shift. Kline's co-stars Maggie Smith and Kristin Scott Thomas are likewise excellent throughout and under every circumstance the story throws at them. There's actually a much more tangible interpersonal chemistry between Kline and Smith than there is Kline and Thomas, partly thanks to the greater early establishing moments but also because of a growing, yet often invisible, bond between them that's also shared between Kline and Thomas but that has its deepest roots where the film begins, not where it ends.

My Old Lady Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

My Old Lady arrives on Blu-ray with a clean, accurate, and oftentimes pleasing 1080p transfer. The digital source material does leave the movie looking a bit flat, quite clean, and in some darker scenes rather pasty -- particularly where skin is concerned -- but at the same time it yields some breathtaking Parisian architecture accents, many lightly worn and displaying tangible character that's revealed with remarkable ease and precision detail down to pinpoint, tactile accuracy. Likewise, brighter scenes reveal fine skin and clothing details with ease. Colors are cheery and true, particularly evident in the vibrant shades of green scattered throughout the backyard garden. Black levels are a bit flat but retain an inky, even consistency. Light banding appears in a couple of spots, but the image is otherwise delightfully crisp and absent any glaring weaknesses. Overall, this is a strong presentation from Universal.

My Old Lady Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

My Old Lady's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is a simple affair, but Universal's audio presentation does all that's asked of it with commendable effortlessness and accuracy. Music and dialogue are the only major pieces here. The former plays with an airy, nicely spacious presentation and produces notes throughout the range with honest clarity and fair heft towards the bottom. Dialogue is even and accurately presented from the center. Listeners will appreciate a few little extra bits, like footfalls in the apartment, flicking a light switch on, and gentle waves rolling up against a boat near the end. Otherwise, this is straightforward material, the simplest sort that Universal's track handles with ease.

My Old Lady Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

My Old Lady contains only one supplement, 92nd Street Y Annette Insdorf Interview with Kevin Kline and Israel Horovitz (1080i, 57:32). The moderator of Reel Pieces sits down with the actor and writer/director to discuss the film in some detail. Unfortunately, an annoying electronic buzz plays over part of the program. A UV/iTunes digital copy voucher is also included in the case.

My Old Lady Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

My Old Lady is a fairly uneven picture, one that enjoys a wildly promising open only to go a little too dark and dour before finding a harmonious middle ground by the end. The picture's stark contrast in mood nearly devours its fluffier, funnier, and much more enjoyable opening act that sees Kline and Smith engaged in an almost magical battle of wits. The darker revelations certainly give greater shape and depth to the characters, but here it comes at the expense of an otherwise charming, free-flowing experience. The performances, however, hold fast and true even through the film's most difficult moments. Watch for a great supportive performance from Dominique Pinon. Universal's Blu-ray release of My Old Lady features excellent video, stable audio, and one lengthy interview serving as the release's sole extra. Definitely worth a rental now and a purchase later at an aggressive bargain price.