Storytelling Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Storytelling Blu-ray Movie Review

Storytelling is an essential independent gem. Produced by New Line Cinema, Good Machine, and Killer Films, Storytelling was produced on a modest budget. Distributed by Fine Line Features, Storytelling premiered at Cannes on May 12, 2001. Released in North America on January 25, 2002, Storytelling disappointed at the box office but has since gone to gain a cult following. Produced by Ted Hope (American Splendor, Human Nature) and Christine Vachon (Past Lives, Far from Heaven), Storytelling stars Selma Blair, Robert Wisdom, Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Lupe Ontiveros, Jonathan Osser, and Mark Webber.

Storytelling is a unique odyssey into the American dream and the ordinary lives of those who are trying to live it – in a multifaceted and unexpected manner. The story is divided into two unique chapters – one entitled “Fiction” and the other entitled “Non- Fiction”. The segments cover different elements of small Americana and the characters who live ordinary lives with big stories.

The “Fiction” ensemble cast: Vi (Selma Blair), Marcus (Leo Fitzpatrick), Mr. Scott (Robert Wisdom), Amy (Maria Thayer), Elli (Angela Goethals), Lucy (Devorah Rose), Joyce (Nancy Anne Ridder), Ethan (Steven Rosen), Catherine (Aleksa Palladino), Melinda (Mary Lynn Rajskub), and Sue (Tina Holmes).

The “Non-Fiction” ensemble cast: Toby Oxman (Paul Giamatti), Mike the cameraman (Mike Schank), Mr. DeMarco (Xander Berkeley), Scooby Livingston (Mark Webber), Marty Livingston (John Goodman), Fern Livingston (Julie Hagerty), Brady Livingston (Noah Fleiss), Mikey Livingston (Jonathan Osser), Consuela (Lupe Ontiveros), Mr. Kirk (Steve Railsback), Toby's editor (Franka Potente), and Conan O'Brien as himself.

The “Fiction” story centers around college and a writer’s workshop class including the students Vi (Selma Blair) and Marcus (Leo Fitzpatrick). Vi is an irresistible sex-pot with a reputation and who is now dating Marcus, an aspiring poet who lives with cerebral palsy. As the relationship gets complicated and starts to dissipate, Vi begins to lust after the writing class professor, Mr. Scott (Robert Wisdom). As the tale unfolds, the characters share their stories – blending fiction with non-fiction – in their writing class.

 “Non-Fiction” is the second-story and it explores the production of a documentary film. Toby Oxman (Paul Giamatti) is an aspiring documentary filmmaker who is working on his first major feature. The concept for the documentary shifts and evolves as he changes things about the documentary and subject.

The setting for the documentary is high-school and Toby focuses on a lone student, Scooby Livingston (Mark Webber). The original concept involved looking at the lives of students post school shootings with Columbine. Then the documentary transforms into a small look at one dysfunctional family and the main focus being the teenage son, Scooby. Scooby has little aspirations in life and doesn’t even want to go to college. Scooby lives with an overbearing father, Marty Livingston (John Goodman). Toby works closely with his editor (Franka Potente) and attempts to figure out the message of the documentary. Conan O'Brien appears as himself in a fun supporting role.

The cinematography by Frederick Elmes (Blue Velvet, Paterson) is beautiful and one of the highlights of the film. Storytelling is a beautiful looking production. Elmes is a gifted cinematographer and there is much to love and appreciate about the cinematographic style. The lensing is perfect at creating an atmosphere that reflects both a dream-like state and a sense of naturalism that evokes reality. An outstanding backdrop to the visual language of the filmmaking.

Featuring a score composed by Belle & Sebastian and Nathan Larson (The Skeleton Twins, Little Fish), Storytelling features beautiful music. Belle & Sebastian is one of the greatest music groups and the iconic band created great music for this independent gem. Larson is likewise a talented composer, providing excellent music for the feature.

Edited by Alan Oxman (Happiness, Welcome to the Dollhouse), Storytelling is well-paced and the editing is superb. Both segments in the feature-film – “Fiction” and “Non-Fiction” – are beautifully cut and the filmmaking flows well between the transition of segments. There is so much to admire with the fun editorial style.

Written and directed by Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse, Happiness), Storytelling is a great film and one that should be considered an underseen classic of independent cinema. Storytelling has great pitch-black comedy (and had me laughing out loud often). The sly comedic style is perfection. This is comedic genius and the dark undertones and themes featured throughout Storytelling make it an incredible tone-poem of Americana. Solondz is a genius. Storytelling is a must-see.

Storytelling Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, Storytelling is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The release features a brand new 2K scan from the interpositive. The 2K scan completed of the interpositive is of the unrated cut of the feature-film. The new scan has been approved by cinematographer Frederick Elmes.

The scan looks beautiful and naturally filmic. There is a nice fine layer of film grain on the presentation and it is absolutely beautiful and organic looking. The presentation is free from any egregious issues in print wear and looks remarkably crisp. The scan is detailed and resolution looks top-notch on the new presentation.

One of the strengths of physical media and the Blu-ray disc format is the ability to provide a higher bit-rate encode. Streaming services often fluctuate in quality (depending on a myriad of factors from the speed of the internet connection to the number of connected users to the service quality itself) and streaming bit-rates are often more compressed regardless. For enthusiasts wanting the best possible image quality, physical media not only provides exclusive restorations but superior encoding quality.

Storytelling Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo. The lossless audio on the release sounds quite incredible. The sonic fidelity of the audio presentation is superb. The 5.1 surround sound mix is an unexpected delight with good ambiance and surround sound detail. The score and song selections integrated into the presentation beautifully. The soundstage is exuberant and there is so much to appreciate about the audio clarity.

Audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts will appreciate the top-notch audio quality. The lossless audio provides true theater quality sound – with no loss in detail and perfect reproduction of all the details in the audio mix. Streaming services do not compare as favorably and are limited to lossy (non-lossless) presentation quality – with a more compressed dynamic range and less data to preserve the audio presentation.

Storytelling Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes in a standard Blu-ray case. The release does not include an o-card slipcover. (The cover art does feature an interior-art full-color print on the reverse side of the cover). I did decide to switch the original case out and considered it a worthwhile investment – it looks much classier in a nice clear-case (with the interior art more easily visible).

On disc supplements:

NEW – Confessional, Yet Dishonest: Interview with Cinematographer Frederick Elmes (HD, 17:33) is a new discussion with the cinematographer of Storytelling.

NEW – Once You Start Writing, It All Becomes Fiction: Interview with Composer Nathan Larson (HD, 10:24) is a new discussion with the composer of Storytelling.

Alternate Censored Scene from The Theatrical Cut of the Film (HD, 1:26)

Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:48)

Storytelling Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Storytelling is a beautiful gem of an independent film. Director Todd Solondz (Happiness) is a creative genius and someone with a perfect knack for delivering pitch-black dark comedy. Storytelling is all the better because of the dark comedic sensibility. The two narratives in Storytelling ("Fiction" and Non-Fiction") are both excellent stories told with superb ensemble casts.

Storytelling features an impressive Blu-ray release from Shout Factory. The release includes a new 2K scan from the interpositive and approved by the cinematographer. The presentation is beautiful and naturally filmic throughout. The Blu-ray release also comes with both new and archival bonus features. A must-own for Solondz fans. Highly recommended.