No Alternative Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

No Alternative Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 3, 2019

Director William Dickerson's (Don't Look Back, The Assault) No Alternative is based on his novel of the same name. The film follows a suburban, well-to-do family and the teenage experiences of a brother and sister at the height of the Grunge era of the mid 1990s. Music defines both of their lives, but social pressures, acceptance and rejection, drug dependency, alcoholism, family rebellion, and other issues all prove equally critical in shaping their life experiences. Dickerson crafts the film with darkness and depth and detailed reality, not simply recreating the film's 90s period but finding authentic voices for his characters as they exist in that world, voices both through their music and by way of their life experiences that ultimately lead them down very different avenues from where they begin. It's a terrific little indie gem with much on its mind and generally stellar execution carrying it to success.

Thomas (Conor Proft) is the drummer and de facto leader of a burgeoning Grunge garage band. His sister Bridget (Michaela Cavazos), who has lived much of her life on prescribed antidepressants, is an aspiring singer/songwriter drawn to the Rap/Hip-Hop genre. Both of their lives are defined by their music, and each of them see in it some level of rebellion against their more traditional parents, including their father William (Harry Hamlin), the head of the household and a straight-and-narrow Republican judge with aspirations of an appointment to the Supreme Court. He and his wife Marueen's (Kathryn Erbe) efforts to maintain strict structure prove difficult. Bridget is particularly rebellious, often refusing to eat dinner with he family or attend church. She is secretly recording and performing her own music at a small club called "Slave to the Grind," generally to poor reception. Thomas, who has applied to Georgetown, keeps his focus on his band and its increasing potential for success when he adds a new lead guitarist and vocalist (Aria Shahghasemi). As both teenagers experience growing pains and mental anguish and fine-tune their response to the world through their music, tragedy looms as both grow up in the "suicide generation."

The film explores a few overlapping stories and isn't particularly focused on any of them, at least not focused in traditional narrative and cinematic contexts. Dickerson does not craft the film from classic narrative constructs. But the edgy, unpredictable, and uncertain aspects of the production actually enhance its authenticity. Character depth and detail are revealed in time, over many moments and minutes, by way of their responses to the world around them. Audiences come to know them through behaviors, not necessarily actions, through lyrics, not necessarily words. It is nevertheless a compelling portrait of rebellion, doubt, and fear. It's a film about finding a voice and responses to the world, responses which are deeply personal even if they're inspired by other voices and sounds. Dickerson's story seems destined for tragedy of some sort from the beginning, but it doesn't necessarily go where audiences might predict it to finish. The end brings closure to all three characters -- Thomas, Bridget, and William -- in one way or another. It's deeply affecting and sincere, even if it takes the film to its darkest depths.

While the film boasts several strong performances -- Michaela Cavazos and Conor Proft are terrific in breakthrough parts -- it is unquestionably Dickerson's own passion for the project that makes it work. He knows and understands the story, the time, and most importantly the emotions that reflect through every scene. Dickerson proves a dynamic writer/director with No Alternative, shaping and applying a depth of feeling and response to life on film that few filmmakers truly ever capture. The film veers sharply away from cinema as entertainment but Dickerson does craft a film that has value as historical record, dramatic recreation of a time, and holder of varied and very raw emotions. Very well done.

No Alternative Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

No Alternative was shot on film, and the material translates beautifully to Blu-ray. The film is inherently dark, tonally much of the time and visually a good bit of time as well. The picture holds terrific black level depth for the duration, whether in true darkness or low light. Warmer scenes -- family dinner time -- offer finely balanced tones, while more traditionally and neutrally lit scenes enjoy well-rounded contrast and color depth. Skin tones are believably true as well. The image maintains a fine and firm grain structure, which is nicely complimentary of the movie's period setting, visuals, and tone. Find details are terrific, featuring intimately revealed basics, such as skin and clothes, while showcasing every environment with splendid ease and efficiency, whether the teens' bedrooms, the garage where Thomas and the band practice, the club where Bridget performs, or various outdoor locales. The picture satisfies in all areas with nearly no source blemishes or encode flaws to report. This is a first-rate presentation from Gravitas Ventures.

No Alternative Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

No Alternative is a film focused on music: human performance thereof, human response to it, and the way it shapes lives. The included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack offers a good technical presentation but doesn't bring full life to the music. The garage band play isn't particularly aggressive or sharp-edged, lacking serious oomph and depth. It's acceptable, but not stellar. Music occasionally wraps into the rear channels, but only as a modest complimentary sound rather than a critical component. One of the more sonically interesting moments comes when the camera pushes out of "Slave to the Grind" in chapter six, and the music fades, slightly with each inch, in the rears. Otherwise, the track carries the bulk of musical and environmental elements up-front. Atmospherics are minimal, playing as cursory supports rather than environmentally defining musts. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and maintains firm and faithful front-center position for the duration.

No Alternative Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The only supplement included with No Alternative is the film's trailer (1080p, 2:22). No DVD or digital codes are included, and this release does not appear to ship with a slipcover.

No Alternative Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

No Alternative is a sobering, but authentic, moviegoing experience. It shapes its characters, rebellious siblings in a conservative household, through their music. The characters face any number of existential crises as they seek out their place in life and share their responses to it. Though neither character earns traditional narrative foundations, the film builds them thoroughly through their responses to life through music. Dickerson's material translates exceptionally well to the screen. He brings a legitimacy of depth and sincerity of purpose to the film that few others could achieve. Gravitas Ventures' Blu-ray is disappointingly devoid of meaningful supplemental content, but video and audio qualities are quite good. Highly recommended.