4.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A spin-off of The Big Lebowski (1998) centered on the notable bowler, Jesus Quintana.
Starring: John Turturro, Susan Sarandon, Bobby Cannavale, Gloria Reuben, Sonia BragaDrama | 100% |
Comedy | 3% |
Crime | 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
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
The Coen Brothers can lay claim to some of the finest movies ever made, with a career that includes gems such as Fargo, No Country for Old Men, Miller's Crossing, and The Big Lebowski. It's the latter that's of concern with The Jesus Rolls, a quote-unquote spinoff film centered around one of Lebowski's most popular secondary characters, Jesus Quintana, a ball-licking bowler who was a thorn in the side of the film's trio of heroes on the lanes. But rather than a true follow-up within the same spirit, Writer/Director John Turturro, who played Jesus in Lebowski and reprises the role here, instead transitions the character into one of three centerpiece leads in what is a remake of the controversial 1974 French film Going Places. But The Jesus Rolls goes nowhere and is likely to disappoint anyone in search of a more true-tone spinoff of the popular 1998 film that introduced Jesus Quintana to the world.
This is just about it...
The digitally photographed content looks fine on Blu-ray, delivering a good, clear picture. There is ample detail to be found. Faces are appropriately sharp and there's little left to the imagination. Hairs, wrinkles, makeup, and all variety of natural creases and imperfections present with healthy clarity even at medium distance. The same can be said of clothes. Environments are varied throughout the film, and everything both natural and manmade enjoys fine practical definition and elemental sharpness. Colors satisfy with a largely neutral contrast and high yield tonal output as available, particularly considering some flashy cars, natural greens, and choice attire. Skin tones are healthy and black levels are not problematic. Unsurprisingly, a bit of noise seeps into the frame on occasion, and generally in lower light scenes (look in chapter six within the 37-minute mark for a good example). There is also some sporadic banding. Look at the bowling alley walls at the 40-minute mark for some of the most obvious and intense examples. Even with these drawbacks in mind the picture excels far more often than not.
The Jesus Rolls features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The material never demands intensity but what's here is perfectly good. Music is rich and spacious along the front, beginning with the song that accompanies Jesus' release from prison. Music throughout plays with pleasant accuracy and spread, offering just enough low end push and surround integration to bring it to fruitful stage positioning and clarity. Positive atmospheric detail enters the stage on numerous occasions, including some idyllic nature sounds in chapter nine. Action effects are few. A handful of gunshots ring out throughout the film but lack dazzle. Most come in a single shot in chapter two which don't offer much depth or punch. The picture is dialogue intensive and the spoken word does play organically, clearly, and well prioritized from a natural front-center channel location.
This Blu-ray release of The Jesus Rolls contains one extra, an audio commentary track with John Turturro and Bobby Cannavale who put together a track that's a little slow and relaxed but infinitely more entertaining than the movie, as mundane as it may be. The track appears under the "set-up" menu screen option. No DVD or digital copies are included. This release does not ship with a slipcover.
The Jesus Rolls is both rhythmless and directionless, and it's unclear which of those is the worst offending hangup, or whether it's simply the nearly absentee connection to The Big Lebowski. If the movie can boast anything it's the spirited work, particularly from Tautou in her exploratory sexuality, but the movie is otherwise a painful drag of inconsequential filmmaking. Screen Media's Blu-ray does feature perfectly good video and audio presentations and is also home to a commentary track. Rental for the curious.
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