Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Sleepwalking Blu-ray Movie Review

With an all-star cast, this under-the-radar drama is worth watching.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 30, 2008

Before now, it's like I've been living in a dream, bad dreams, sleepwalking. But you helped me. Woke me up.

It always amazes me when a movie like Sleepwalking comes to Blu-ray. Here's an all-star cast that combines a few intriguing up-and-comers with some grizzled Hollywood veterans, yet somehow this movie practically flew under the radar and comes to Blu-ray with nary any pomp and circumstance. You can bet one of two things on a release like this. It's either such a dud that, despite the cast, nobody dares acknowledge the film's existence, stealthily releasing the movie in the midst of arguably Blu-ray's biggest month ever, or it's a fantastic independent-style feature that somehow got lost under the avalanche of far more audience-friendly releases like the latest Harold and Kumar movie or Doomsday. Perhaps it is the fact that Sleepwalking is a vehicle for the aforementioned up-and-comers. The major stars play lesser roles but serve as important cogs in the story. Their presence is not not only crucial to bringing some heft and prominence to the cast list, but their performances add another dimension to the film's more crucial plot points. All told, Sleepwalking is a solid and surprisingly effective drama about the pains, importance, and rewards of family.

Despite these rather blank stares, Stahl and Robb don't sleepwalk through 'Sleepwalking.'

Joleen (Charlize Theron, In the Valley of Elah) is a down-on-her-luck woman struggling to make ends meet while raising her young daughter, Tara (AnnaSophia Robb, Bridge to Terabithia). After her boyfriend is arrested for growing marijuana, Joleen and Tara move in with James (Nick Stahl, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), Joleen's brother. The unstable Joleen unexpectedly abandons her family, sending only a letter promising to be back home in time for Tara's birthday, a month away. James takes it upon himself to care for Tara, as unfitting a father figure and caretaker he may be. Soon enough, the stress and pressure of caring for a child mounts, James loses his job, and Tara is placed in foster care. Looking to redeem his past mistakes and do right by Tara, James removes her from the foster home and the pair travel head-on toward James' troubled past and Tara's uncertain future.

Sleepwalking is a simple story with a slow, deliberate pace that keeps up with the theme of the film. Anything flashier, faster, or more aggressive would have lessened the impact of the story, and the direction throughout is minimal yet smart. Director William Maher, in his directorial debut, approaches the film with an appropriately somber and static style. He develops just the right sense of atmosphere to tell the story through his subtle direction with a finesse and understanding of the material that complements the actors, their dialogue, and emotions. The tone of the movie is the star here, and the cold, unforgiving conditions that so often permeate every frame of the film convey the sense of hopelessness and despair faced by every major character in the film. Maher also has a knack for shooting his subjects so as to convey their plights through the film's visuals. For example, Tara is twice framed within the confines of solid objects, notably the metal bars of a swimming pool ladder and the antlers of a mounted deer. These frames, almost like a prison, reinforce her trapped, tight, difficult situation. Although she often finds herself on the open road, her soul remains shrouded and imprisoned as she searches not only for her mother, but for herself. In Sleepwalking, Maher has unequivocally succeeded in conveying the story both visually and thematically.

As mentioned in the opening, the film is replete with stars, but its lead actors, Stahl and Robb, are excellent in their portrayals of a niece and uncle who find themselves more closely bound through the ties of family and the hardships both they and those around them struggle with throughout the film. Stahl provides a rather good but subdued dramatic performance. Like the movie's weather, Stahl's character is cold, his acting is appropriate to the mood of the film. His character's nature is anything but affable and lively, but his warm heart plays in stark contrast to the cold, unexpected turn of events that leave Tara in his care, and the unforgiving conditions nature places in his path. Likewise, Robb turns in a solid performance, building on the dramatic range she showed in Bridge to Terabithia and once again leaving audiences satisfied with her ability as a young, burgeoning actress. One scene in particular struck a chord, perfectly demonstrated the fine acting ability of these leads, and proved to be memorable while also serving as one of the turning points in the film. When Tara's mother failed to return home for her birthday, James presents her with a gift. When Tara finally opens it, not a word is spoken between her and James, but each actor effectively portrays their emotions through the looks in their eyes and the reserved smiles on their faces, and the scene surpasses many others in lesser films where all the dialogue in the world cannot save a scene with bad acting and irrelevant lines.

Sleepwalking Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sleepwalking debuts on Blu-ray in a perfectly fine 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 framed transfer. I was immediately struck by the fine detail evident in the transfer. Look at the the road we see at the very beginning of the film. Its texture compels the viewer to reach out and touch it, and every line and crack is wonderfully detailed and extremely realistic. The next in the police station shot appears a bit dull and lifeless, and this look is consistent with what we can expect from the remainder of the transfer. The movie is generally pale and lifeless, but as described above, the atmosphere becomes a character and storyteller all its own, and that characteristic imagery is replicated with excellence on this disc. Despite this look, detail is solid. The image is fairly realistic in appearance as everyday items -- clothing, sofas, and heavy machinery -- all have a nice, lifelike appearance. Bright colors are virtually nonexistent. Muted, uninteresting colors appear in abundance, and even flesh tones seem devoid of color as every actor appears pale and ghostly. Excessive softness is never an issue in either foreground or background shots. Once again, like their recent effort on Sex and Death 101, Starz impresses with this transfer, and the studio certainly seems to be on the upswing.

Sleepwalking Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Accompanied by a PCM 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack, Sleepwalking is no sonic marvel on Blu-ray, but this soundtrack effectively conveys the tone of the film and effortlessly helps in moving the story along. Dialogue, the driving force behind the story, is clear and focused in the center of the soundstage. Surrounds are used on occasion for ambience and effects, such as the sound of automobiles driving from left to right and right to left in the background in chapter five, or a cold breeze blowing around the room in chapter 11. Effects are also placed nicely across the front and the sound emanates from the sides of the room where we expect to hear them based on the visuals of the film. Minor atmospherics are generally present, notably the sound of what I believe is dripping water in the basement where James briefly lives in chapter 10. Music generally plays at a low volume but offers nice fidelity across the front soundstage. This soundtrack offers little in the way of substance, but not every soundtrack need be a 360-degree ear-piercing assault to be effective. Sleepwalking features a reserved yet completely acceptable soundtrack that conveys the mood of the film perfectly.

Sleepwalking Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sleepwalking lacks an abundance of special features, and that's a shame. A commentary with director William Maher along with Nick Stahl and AnnaSophia Robb would have been a welcome addition. A Mother's Shame, A Family's Pain: The Making of 'Sleepwalking' (480p, 16:13) is the highlight of the supplements and is a standard making-of piece that provides a basic look at the pre-production process, casting, the harsh conditions during the shoot, and more. Interviews with cast and crew are the foundation of the piece, and only minimal clips from the film are intertwined. The video and audio qualities on this supplement are rather poor. The film's theatrical trailer (480p, 2:33) is the only other supplement to be found on the disc.

Sleepwalking Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sleepwalking is a fine movie and an excellent directorial debut for William Maher. With a simple, well-told story, excellent direction, solid acting, and a decent pace, Sleepwalking is worth watching, but its replay value is debatable. Starz has released the film on Blu-ray with solid video and audio qualities, but skimped on the supplements. Those who watch and enjoy the movie are going to be sorely disappointed with so few extras, and factored in with the limited replay value, the decision to purchase this film may be a difficult one. However, Sleepwalking is worth watching one way or the other on Blu-ray, and would make a fine purchase when the price decreases.