Regarding Henry Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Regarding Henry Blu-ray Movie Review

J.J. Abrams (Super 8) pens a drama about a man on the road to self discovery.

Regarding Henry is a compelling drama executive produced by Robert Greenhut (Big, Working Girl). Written by a young J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Super 8), Regarding Henry is an interesting (pre lens-flare!) cinematic effort. Starring Harrison Ford.

Henry Turner (Harrison Ford) is a hot-shot lawyer who will stop at nothing to win one of his cases. Then one day, Henry is shot while inside of a convenience store. Things would never be the same again. As Henry must re-learn mobility and how to talk, his spouse Sarah (Annette Bening) and daughter help him along the path to recovery. Can Henry discover himself?

The best element of Regarding Henry is the performance by Harrison Ford. The role was a perfect fit and he brings his best to the role. The performance has plenty of subtle nuance and depth. Exploring a broken man struggling to recover, Harrison Ford knocks it out of the park. Annette Bening is similarly impressive in her supporting role in the film. Bening provides the film with additional heart and unbridled pathos.

The production design by Tony Walton (Fahrenheit 451, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) and art direction by Dan Davis (In Her Shoes, A Thousand Acres) and William A. Elliott (Ghosts of Mars, The Nutty Professor) are effective at enhancing Regarding Henry. The quality production values add to the experience. Walton and Davis did a commendable job here.

A must-see performance by Harrison Ford.

The costumes by Ann Roth (The Talented Mr. Ripley, The English Patient) are a compelling component of the production. The costumes fit the characters and tone of the story enormously well. A solid effort all around.

The cinematography by Giuseppe Rotunno (Rocco and His Brothers, All That Jazz) is a decent effort that fits the dramatic storyline. While not as lush of a cinematic film as some dramas, the effort was certainly effective nonetheless. The lighting and tone of the visuals helps establish the mood of the work.

A great music score can go a long way to enhancing a film. The music by Hans Zimmer (Interstellar, The Dark Knight) is one such score. Zimmer is one of the best composers in the business. The score composed for Regarding Henry is serene and entertaining. A quality work by a great composer.

The screenplay by J.J. Abrams is a solid effort. The core story and characters are well written. Abrams is an enormously talented filmmaker. Even so, Regarding Henry seems a bit uneven (some dialogue is stilted and poorly written). Clearly, Regarding Henry is the work of a younger, inexperienced screenwriter still finding his voice. Nonetheless, a solid script.

Mike Nichols (Closer, The Graduate) is the MVP. Regarding Henry is well-directed and the film has considerable heart. The filmmaker explores the human condition in an interesting way. Nichols is a genuine auteur and fans of the filmmaker won't want to miss the film. Check it out.

Regarding Henry Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Imprint, Regarding Henry is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The release is derived from a master provided to Imprint from Paramount Pictures. Unfortunately, the print comes from an older and outdated master. The print shows some slight signs of wear but is in generally solid shape. The presentation is well-encoded and there are no egregious compression anomalies. While not as outstanding as a 4K scan might have provided, it looks decent-enough in high-definition and is certainly watchable.

Regarding Henry Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 surround sound track is a little inconsistent at times. The audio track isn't full lossless audio (having a flat bit-rate core), but the audio track is considerably solid sounding nonetheless. The release also provides an uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo track. The music score by Zimmer sounds impressive and is the best element of the presentation. The surrounds aren't used frequently are are mainly emphasized for added ambiance. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand.

Optional English subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing) are provided.

Regarding Henry Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes in an attractive clear case with an slip-box and alternative art-work. The cover sleeve features an additional image from the feature-film.

Audio Commentary by Film Critic Peter Tonguette

Vintage Interviews (1991):

Harrison Ford Interview (SD, 6:20)

Annette Bening Interview (SD, 5:17)

Mikki Allen Interview (SD, 6:40)

Regarding Henry Theatrical Trailer (SD, 3:06)

Regarding Henry Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Regarding Henry is a worthwhile effort by Mike Nichols (Closer, The Graduate). Featuring a screenplay by a young twentysomething J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), the film features a first-rate performance by Harrison Ford. Though not an outright classic, Regarding Henry is well worth watching. The Blu-ray release features a decent (if average) high-definition presentation. Recommended.