6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Iremar works at the Vaquejadas, a rodeo in the north east of Brazil where two men on horseback try to bring down a bull by grabbing its tail. It’s dusty and back-breaking work, but Iremar is a natural ‘Vaqueiro’, feeding, prepping and taking care of the bulls. Home is the truck used to transport the animals from show to show, which he shares with his co-workers; Galega, an exotic dancer, the truck driver and mother to the young and spirited Cacá, and Zé, his rotund compadre in the bullpen. Together they form a makeshift but close-knit family. But Brazil and the North east are changing and the region’s booming clothing industry has stirred new ambitions in Iremar. Swinging in his hammock in the back of the truck, his head is filled with dreams of pattern cutting, sequins and exquisite fabrics as he mentally assembles elaborate new fashion designs…
Starring: Juliano Cazarré, Maeve Jinkings, Vinícius de Oliveira, Josinaldo Alves, Roberto BirindelliForeign | 100% |
Drama | 52% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.38:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Portuguese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Portuguese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
“Neon Bull” is the second film I’ve seen this year from director Gabriel Mascaro (“August Winds” was recently issued on Blu-ray), and it appears he’s already settled on a style, favoring stories that permit him screentime to take in settings and character behavior, gently pushing away any interest in drama. Mascaro is obviously gifted, but not inclusionary, keeping viewers at arm’s length, serving them a feast for the eyes, but unable to find passion that would elevate his work to the feeling of soulful vibration he’s clearly pursuing.
The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't particularly problematic, but banding does creep in periodically. HD cinematography remains appealing, providing a textured look at the animal kingdom parading around the characters, while human particulars retain detail. Colors are secure, with an occasionally extreme palette around club lighting, but natural hues remain, including skintones. Delineation has a few moments of solidification, but nothing epidemic.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't striking, only truly grabbing attention with dance sequences, which crank soundtrack cuts, delivering a heavier low-end and sharp instrumentation. Dialogue exchanges are basic and intelligible. Atmospherics are more interesting, filling out surrounds with cattle movement and workplace bustle.
The inertia of "Neon Bull" begins to wear down the film, and if the production's visual presence doesn't grab you immediately, nothing else will. Mascaro doesn't struggle with the feature, he just isn't interested in providing an emotional opening to the tale. Considering the plot concerns the pursuit of opportunities and periodic surges of lust, the remoteness makes the movie feel like an empty exercise in craftsmanship. It's a pretty picture, but frustratingly distant.
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