Olive Kitteridge Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Olive Kitteridge Blu-ray Movie Review

"It baffles me, this world..."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown February 26, 2015

When we first meet novelist Elizabeth Strout's famously bitter Olive Kitteridge, played with acrid precision by Frances McDormand, the retired math teacher is kneeling on a blanket in a windswept forest preparing to kill herself. It's a chilling but mesmerizing introduction that begs the question, "what brought this poor woman to this point?" Poor woman. It's the first and only time that thought will cross your mind. Director Lisa Cholodenko and screenwriter Jane Anderson spend the next four episodes of the compelling, masterfully crafted HBO miniseries unpacking Kitteridge's descent into despair, though it will only be a few minutes into the first episode when you begin to wish she'd hurry up, swallow a bullet and get it over with. Olive Kitteridge is a callous, cruel, at-times unbearable woman; one you'd normally want nothing to do with... if, that is, it weren't for that the mystery surrounding that gripping cold open, screenwriter Jane Anderson's smartly penned adaptation of Strout's novel, McDormand's stunning, SAG Award-winning performance, and the miniseries' equally impressive ensemble cast.

The always excellent Richard Jenkins plays Olive's doting husband Henry, a Crosby, Maine pharmacist in the early 1980s, where our story really begins. Loyal to his wife in spite of her chronic coldness, Henry eventually finds affection elsewhere, developing a fatherly bond with his new assistant, Denise (Zoe Kazan); a bond that, innocent or not, irritates his wife to no end. Olive, meanwhile, has developed a bond all her own with fellow teacher Jim O'Casey (Peter Mullan), making our first foray into the not so happy Kitteridge family a pointedly awkward one. Little explanation is offered as to the origins of the growing divide between Olive and Henry, but one thing is clear: as it widens, Olive's bitterness deepens. Strung between the Kitteridge chasm is their son, 13-year old Christopher (Devin Druid), who only sees eye to eye with his mother when it comes to their mutual distaste for Denise. But Henry's fledgling mouse isn't a problem forever. After marrying an undervalued pharmacy employee (Jesse Plemons), Denise moves to Texas, life moves on, and Henry, years later, retires, still inexplicably devoted to Olive. The Kitteridge home isn't strengthened, though. It only continues to crumble.

Christopher (John Gallagher, Jr), now a physician, marries Suzanne (Libby Winters), a joyous occasion unsurprisingly soured by Olive, who despises Suzanne and her mother, Joyce (Patricia Kalember). As the years bleed away, Olive, entrenched in Maine, and Christopher, living in California, invest little effort in reconciling, and Olive makes no attempts to form relationships with anyone other than her husband; if her marriage could even be classified as a legitimate relationship. She passes judgment on total strangers without a second thought, criticizes anyone who disagrees with her views, and considers tact and politeness weaknesses. Betrayals and tragedies over the next decade only push Olive and Christopher father apart, though Olive does finally find a friend in morose widower Jack Kennison (Bill Murray). Their friendship is soon sabotaged, of course -- Olive is a self-made social pariah, if you hadn't already gathered as much -- and Mrs. Kitteridge is left to face the weight of a life unlived.

There's no shelter from the devastating catastrophe that is Olive Kitteridge, and the four-episode miniseries can be exhausting. Punishing even. It's difficult to watch at times, with Cholodenko, Anderson and McDormand steadfastly refusing to make Olive relatable, likable or remotely redeemable. It's a portrait of deep-seated bitterness and hostility with no promise of escape, exit or relief. As victims mount, Olive's stubbornness remains unwavered. Even her loved ones fail to earn her sympathy. Only in her son or husband's absence or illness do we see anything resembling warmth in Olive's character -- short-lived as those faint sparks of heat may be -- and only in the miniseries' fourth episode are we given a revealing glimpse into the woman within the monster. More unbearable than Olive, though, is the tragedy of it all; watching it all unravel, helpless to intervene or show her the error of her ways. Her final destination, the forest, is already set. The miniseries simply charts the path she takes to get there and provides a meticulously realized examination of all too convincing depression along the way.

Fortunately, it's a haunting, hypnotizing path with tremendously powerful performances, razor sharp writing, affecting cinematography, and Cholodenko and Anderson's unflinching presence of mind. Rather than softening the material or making the titular character more accessible, the filmmakers double down, trusting the tenacity and fortitude of the narrative. Numerous changes have been made to Strout's novel, particularly in terms of the miniseries' structure, but nothing in the way of its thrust or integrity have been sacrificed in the process. Where the book punches, the miniseries pierces. Where the prose snakes, the show slithers. Where the story engrosses, HBO's Olive Kitteridge entrances. You won't enjoy Olive's company. You'll fight her every step of the way. But you'll keep watching, desperate to learn what makes McDormand's harpy the insensitive, unsympathetic wretch she's so determined to be.

Olive Kitteridge Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Crisp, clean and often gorgeous, Olive Kitteridge's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation impresses in spite of its bleak, Northeastern coldness. Cinematographer Frederick Elmes' wintry palette boasts exceedingly lifelike skintones, natural primaries, consistently satisfying contrast, and deep, effective black levels. Detail is outstanding too. Edges are sharp and refined, without anything in the way of significant ringing or aliasing, and fine textures are revealing and wonderfully resolved. Close-ups are especially rewarding, with individual strands of hair, moles and pores, wrinkles and blemishes, and other signs of age showcasing the wear and weariness of its characters. Seaside rocks, crashing waves, peeling paint, fallen leaves, and rust-spattered cars benefit from the detailing as well, from the first episode to the last. Moreover, macroblocking, banding and other issues are MIA, and only a hint of shimmering and minor crush invade the proceedings. HBO delivers another terrific video presentation.

Olive Kitteridge Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There's certainly nothing wrong with HBO's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. There just aren't many opportunities for it to make its presence known. Quiet and largely conversational in nature, the miniseries' dialogue is clear and intelligible at all times, with perfect prioritization and no real mishaps or shortcomings to report. LFE output is subdued in all but a few sequences, as are the rear speakers, which spread realistic ambient effects across an already convincing soundfield without much flash or spectacle. Directionality, though restrained, is precise, dynamics are strong, and pans smooth and seamless, leaving very little to complain about.

Olive Kitteridge Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray release of Olive Kitteridge doesn't include any special features.

Olive Kitteridge Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Olive Kitteridge is a difficult, exhaustingly bleak miniseries, and not exactly one I'd recommend binge-watching in one sitting. (If you want to make it to the end without putting a bullet in your own mouth, that is.) However, it's a masterfully performed, written and shot production that's as powerful as it is poignant. Its depiction of chronic depression alone is uniquely authentic among television shows and its performances are worth every minute of your investment, even if you reach the end of the miniseries without any love whatsoever for any of the characters you've met. McDormand and Jenkins are especially strong, and deserve as much scene-stealing credit as one can muster. HBO's Blu-ray release is excellent as well, despite an unfortunate lack of special features. Its AV presentation more than makes up for the oversight, though. Recommended.