The GoodTimesKid Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

The GoodTimesKid Blu-ray Movie Review

The "make-a-movie" kid.

The GoodTimesKid is a low-budget independent feature-film which was shot entirely using stolen film. The indie vibes are noticeable across the board. The storytelling is minimalist and seems inspired by a host of French New Wave filmmakers, such as Jean-Luc Godard (Breathless) and Truffaut (Jules and Jim), as well as other indie directors like Jarmusch (Night on Earth). Despite the obvious inspiration, the end results feel like what one would expect from a college student film.

Slacker Rodolfo Cano (Azazel Jacobs) decides to enlist in the army as he is bored with his relationship with his gorgeous girlfriend Diaz (Sarah Diaz). A letter of enrollment in to the army is received by Rodolfo Cano II (Gerardo Naranjo), who is not the same man. The lives of the three characters dramatically intersect as this mostly non-verbal story of love and melancholy starts to unfold.

The performances? Azazel Jacobs and Gerardo Naranjo don't seem to be trying. Both performers manage to sleepwalk through the haze of the filmmaking. There seems to be little effort here. A underwhelming ensemble. The only highlight is the fun-spirited girl, Sarah Diaz. She seems to be enjoying her role more than anyone in each of her scenes.

Dance, baby, dance!

The music composed by Mandy Hoffman (I Love Dick, Hala) isn't awful but it isn't all that memorable either. The score seemed to play a minimal role in the filmmaking. This isn't the worst sounding indie score but it also didn't make the film stand out.

The GoodTimesKid seems to be the result of a few indie-spirits kids simply having a good time making a movie together. Azazel Jacobs co-wrote, directed, and stars. Gerardo Naranjo (Miss Bala, I'm Gonna Explode) is the co-star and co-writer. The two filmmakers worked together on the cinematography alongside Eric Curtis (The Victim). There is a sense of joy from the filmmakers. Yet the filmmaking also seems under-cooked and lacking in originality. Not the greatest film, not the worst, but something that showcases indie- filmmaking at play (for better or worse).

The GoodTimesKid Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The GoodTimesKid is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The presentation is the result of a new 2K restoration from the original 35mm negative. The GoodTimesKid has received a top-notch scan which has remarkable clarity throughout given the low-budge independent spirit of the production. Though the print does have occasional specks of dirt, it's a largely clean print that retains natural film grain.

There are moments where the low-fi cinematography style does give the production a documentary-like aesthetic. The color scheme is never overly saturated or pronounced. The lack of warmth to the imagery seems intentional. Black levels are often grayish and are far from being reference-level. There are some night-time scenes which are particularly noisy and which lack fine detail. These moments are softer than normal. Though these scenes seem to reflect an intentional aesthetic of the production-team, the style shift seemed to be particularly noteworthy. It is difficult to imagine anyone not being satisfied by the presentation (as long as expectations are kept in check – given the low-budget).

The GoodTimesKid Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The music sounds superb and plays a big role in the film (which is often dialogue-free). When dialogue is used, the audio sometimes sounds muffled. Sometimes it seems as though the actors are mumbling their lines and as though scenes are merely improvised on the fly. The entire audio track has a decidedly low-fi nature to it that is unremarkable. Music sounds crisp but the rest of the soundstage seems a little lackluster – unsurprising for an indie effort.

Optional English SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing) are provided.

The GoodTimesKid Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NEW Audio Commentary by Director Azazel Jacobs

Production Stills Gallery (HD, 8:12) as photographed by Oscar Alvarez

Extended Takes (SD, 13:48) features sequences of long-form takes which were filmed without sound.

The GoodTimesKid Trailer (SD, 2:58)

Momma's Man Trailer (SD, 2:13)

The GoodTimesKid Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The GoodTimesKid is a zany indie production that was shot on stolen film. The production seems low-budget on every level – except the film stock. The performances are inconsistent and the screenplay could have been better written (sometimes the actors even seem to mumble their lines). Yet some moments seem inspired. Perhaps worth a look, though it is far from ideal. Rent It.