7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
A young boy whose parents just divorced finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, bawdy, hedonistic, war veteran who lives next door.
Starring: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris O'Dowd, Terrence HowardComedy | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
"Looks can be deceiving," the old adage says. Take, for example, St. Vincent, Writer/Director Theodore Melfi's debut feature film about a down-on-his luck aging nobody who turns out to be quite the remarkable man when someone takes the time to look beyond the façade. The movie, too, proves substantially different than its cheery box cover suggests. Underneath a basic premise that will immediately remind viewers of Bad Grandpa and beyond the somewhat dryly funny opening act, the film matures into a heartwarming look at the difference a life can make, even a life lived by an outwardly burned-out, empty-pocketed, gambling-addicted, heavily drinking ne'er-do-well. It's a remarkable little movie considering the very even yet drastic curve the movie takes from start to finish. It's a bit simplistic but it's all heart, a quality that certainly supersedes whatever little shortcomings that spring up here and there, elevating the film from basic rehash to saintly Drama that may not leave any watching eye dry or any open heart unfulfilled by film's end.
Vincent and Daka.
St. Vincent arrives on Blu-ray with a heavenly 1080p transfer. The film-sourced presentation is excellent, revealing fine-tuned details, precise colors, and a light grain overlay. Textures are outstanding throughout, aided by top-notch clarity. Facial features, subtle clothing details, wood and brick home details, and a variety of other minor elements, notably around Vincent's shoddy home, are beautifully presented and richly accurate in every shot. Colors, likewise, are vibrant and natural. Of note are the deep red bricks outside Vincent's home and beautiful natural greens that appear here and there throughout the movie. Black levels leave a bit to be desired, however, revealing a bit of excess crush. Flesh tones sometimes push a little warm. But these are small prices to pay for an otherwise first-class transfer from Anchor Bay.
St. Vincent's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is frequently big and aggressive. The storytelling popular music plays with a huge stage presence and hefty surround support. It's a bit unkempt at the top but its power and full stage placement help mask any minor shortcomings. There are plenty of strongly defined sound effects throughout. Whether the deep low end of racehorses out of the gate or the revving work of a lawnmower engine, the track handles its more authoritative elements with realistic clarity and commendable ease. Minor ambient effects are detailed and enveloping, particularly heard around the houses where passing traffic, kids playing in the background, light breezes, and rustling leaves pull the listener into Vincent, Oliver, and Maggie's little corner of the world. Dialogue flows effortlessly and clearly from the center, and the spoken word enjoys a fruitful reverberation in Oliver's big end-film speech in front of a large auditorium.
St. Vincent contains deleted scenes and a featurette. A UV digital copy voucher is included in the Blu-ray case.
St. Vincent is a somewhat dark film with a cheery overlay and an unmistakable tenderness that's slowly revealed as it pushes further towards its predictable yet honest and sincere finale. The picture finds a beautiful narrative flow through which characters don't so much evolve but are instead exposed for the people they really are, people who prove to be significantly more likable than the outward qualities suggest. It's basic human drama but done here remarkably well even in its rather simplistic wrappings. Several good performances -- including a knockout effort by Bill Murray who absolutely nails the part and all its inward and outward complexities -- are the finishing touches on one of the best little movies of 2014. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of St. Vincent features strong video and quality audio but falls short with only deleted scenes and a featurette making up the extra content field. Still, this release comes highly recommended on all its other merits.
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