7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
Two siblings rival each other inside the world of professional soccer.
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Joaquín Cosío, Guillermo Francella, Dolores HerediaDrama | 100% |
Sport | 18% |
Foreign | 9% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Spanish: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English, English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The most beautiful game ever invented began with the severed head of a soldier.
Sony Pictures Classics is on a roll right now with a fantastic trio of sports-themed Blu-ray releases
that focus more on the hardships of life in sports rather than the superficial glamour and glory
that most fans associate with the ascension to the top of the professional sports world. Tyson, Director
James Toback's spellbinding yet simply-structured documentary, chronicles the life and times of
former heavyweight boxer "Iron" Mike Tyson in the champ's own words. Sugar, a
superbly-crafted and brutally honest look at the life of a young Dominican pitcher struggling to
find his way in the United States, professional baseball, and life, is perhaps the most poignant of
the three. Finally, Carlos Cuarón's Rudo y Cursi tells the story of two brothers who make
it big in the world of professional soccer and the difficulties they face under the unforgiving
microscope of stardom. Rudo y Cursi is the lightest of the three but no less hard-hitting
in its thorough and thoroughly entertaining glimpse into the vicious world of sports. A human
drama with plenty of laughs along the way and culminated by a deliciously tense finale, Rudo
y Cursi is another gem from Sony and a worthy title for the "Classic" banner.
To the right...or to the left?
Rudo y Cursi arrives on Blu-ray with a fair 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. Although the image appears somewhat soft and dull on the whole, it's rather good nevertheless, exhibiting a fairly stable color palette, with the film's exterior scenes serving up a mostly eye-popping selection, particularly in the early scenes on the banana plantation. Not only does the green vegetation and the brown dirt stand out nicely, but detail appears rather high, too, as seen in the leaves, the rigid tree trunks, and the pebbles and dirt that make up the road. As the film moves along, darker interior shots don't jump off the screen quite like the outdoor shots, appearing rather drab and only moderately detailed. The transfer features a rather subtle layer of grain throughout, and there is no print damage evident. Black levels don't suffer greatly, and flesh tones take on a fair but perhaps slightly red tint. Rudo y Cursi doesn't look bad, but it's not exactly the most brilliant image Blu-ray has ever seen, either.
This Blu-ray release of Rudo y Cursi features a solid Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack with only a Spanish-language option but English and French subtitles. From the get-go, a rather strong atmosphere is present throughout. Listeners will hear buzzing insects, meowing cats, or television programming in the background, and none of it ever competes with the dialogue for the most prominent element of the track. For the most part, there's a continuous sense of immersion into the mix. Though much of the film is dialogue-centric, there are several very good moments throughout where the track is able to fully showcase all it has to offer. For instance, a brief scene of a horse race in chapter eight does well to fill the soundstage with the smacking of beating hooves, the effect accompanied by a rather robust low end. The final soccer match represents the sonic highlight of the track. Raucous crowds cheer on their favorite teams and players, with screams, music, and other effects pouring from every speaker to completely immerse the listener in the moment. Whether during the film's more contemplative and quieter moments or during a robust soccer game, Rudo y Cursi delivers a very good listening experience.
Rudo y Cursi features several extras, chief among them a commentary track with Director Carlos Cuarón and Actors Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna. This is a wonderful track that's easily digestible and a blast to listen to if only for the back-and-forth banter that sees the actors in-character and switching between Spanish and the occasional string of broken English. It's a far cry from the usual dry commentaries and provides a refreshing reprieve from the doldrums of that standard-fare offering. English subtitles are provided. Making-of Featurette (480p, 26:51) is another good piece that briefly takes viewers into to the moviemaking process, beginning with a few words before the first day of work and moving through the process of assembling some of the film's more crucial segments. The piece is supported by plenty of behind-the-scenes video segments and interview clips with the cast and crew. Q&A with Carlos Cuarón, Gael García Bernal & Diego Luna (1080i, 1:11:32) is an extended piece where the trio answers a series of questions about the film and their careers. The piece is hosted by Jeff Goldsmith, Senior Editor for Creative Screenwriting Magazine. Next up is a collection of six deleted scenes (480p, 4:45), followed by a trio of music videos: "I Want You to Want Me" by Gael García Bernal (480p, 2:54), "Rudo y Cursi" by Juana Molina (480p, 3:53), and the karaoke version of "I Want You to Want Me" (480p, 2:47). Also included is Turn Off Your Cell Phone! (480p, 1:09), a Rudo y Cursi-inspired short advertisement for theater courtesy; BD-Live functionality; and 1080p trailers for Rudo y Cursi, Coco Before Chanel, It Might Get Loud, Tyson, and Sugar.
Rudo y Cursi is a complete movie that offers a great story that's composed of humor, drama, action, and tragedy. The film pulls viewers in several directions, but it never allows one single aspect to dominate the flow. Well-written, superbly shot, and expertly acted, Rudo y Cursi superbly rounds out Sony's trio of fantastic sports titles under their "Classic" banner. The Blu-ray release of Rudo y Cursi falls in line with the average quality of release viewers have come to expect from the studio. That means the disc sports an above-average transfer, a strong lossless soundtrack, and a decent selection of extras. Rudo y Cursi earns a solid recommendation.
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