4.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 1.5 | |
Overall | 1.5 |
A drama about a Cambridge poetry professor who begins to re-evaluate his life of Byronic excess.
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba, Malcolm McDowell, Ben McKenzieRomance | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 1.5 |
Don’t happy endings have to be earned in order to have some emotional resonance? It’s not all that much of a spoiler to reveal that Some Kind of Beautiful does in fact wrap things up on the positive side of the ledger, and the reason that that is not that much of a spoiler is that there’s absolutely no question as to where this film is going from virtually the first moment. An almost unbelievably rote and by the numbers screenplay ticks off its plot points like a waiter detailing the day’s menu, but unfortunately there’s very little flavor on hand at this particular establishment. Richard Haig (Pierce Brosnan, also one of the many producers on the film) is an English Literature professor who specializes in the Romantic Era. He’s also a philandering lout, one who doesn’t shirk from bedding as many co-eds as he possibly can. One of those partners is a spunky, intelligent and seemingly totally together young woman named Kate (Jessica Alba), and when an unplanned pregnancy enters the fray, it seems that perhaps Richard’s philandering days may finally be at an end.
Some Kind of Beautiful is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. Shot digitally with the Arri Alexa XT, Some Kind of Beautiful sports a nicely a sharp and well detailed image, one that perks up considerably once the film leaves the rainy climes of Britain for the bright sunshine of California, with some kind of candy colored production design choices in evidence. (The film was perhaps surprisingly lensed by David Tattersall, who was the cinematographer for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and The Green Mile.) Some of the beachside scenes in the film boast considerable depth of field and nicely sumptuous blues. A few scenes have been relatively modestly color graded, included a kind of quasi-sepia toned flashback sequence detailing the exploits of Richard's father (see screenshot 6). Detail is generally very commendable throughout the presentation, though some dimly lit interior scenes suffer from haziness. There are no issues with image instability.
Some Kind of Beautiful features a workmanlike DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, one which supports the film's rather unambitious sound design. The bulk of the film plays out in relatively undemanding dialogue scenes, though there are occasional ambient environmental elements added to the mix which give the film a semblance of immersion. Fidelity is excellent and dynamic range has a few spikes of energy courtesy of some of the more manic moments that begin accruing in the film's second half.
Some Kind of Beautiful wastes a game and energetic cast in a story that is relentlessly predictable and, even worse, hardly ever funny. You can virtually see the sweat beads breaking out on Brosnan's face as he struggles mightily to wring some humor out of a clumsy screenplay. At least Alba and Hayek get to strut around with few clothes on, something that may help to distract some viewers from the risible lines they're forced to emote their way through. Technical merits are generally very strong for those considering a purchase.
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Lucía y el sexo | Unrated Director's Cut
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