The Measure of a Man Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

The Measure of a Man Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 7, 2016

“The Measure of a Man” is a deeply considered and felt picture that’s not always easy to watch. Co-writer/director Stephane Brize embarks on an observational mission to understand the plight of the working class in France, where age is a curse when dealing with the humiliations of unemployment, finding career-minded individuals suddenly put out on the street, left to pick up the pieces as bills, domestic demands, and personal worth emerge as potent psychological obstacles. Brize doesn’t take matters lightly, establishing a near docudrama feel for “The Measure of a Man.”

Vincent Lindon stars as Thierry, a man recently laid off from his industrial career, facing the job hunt in his fifties, supporting a wife and a developmentally disabled son who’s struggling in school, preparing to enter adulthood. Unwilling to participate in a lawsuit against his former employer, Thierry embarks on a mission to find work. Without skills and a desirable age, Thierry struggles to make sense of his situation, forced to make financial changes and consider a different future for his family. While this may seem like a recipe for a depressing picture, Brize actually focuses on the procedures of reinvention, following Thierry into job training groups and highlighting his interview skills. Lindon is masterful in the role, refusing to project anything but concentration with Thierry, while frustrations and damaged pride seeps out of his pores, generating as authentic a depiction of the employment situation as one can imagine.

The Measure of a Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.40:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with a world that doesn't welcome vivid colors, leading with cooler, naturalistic hues for location visits and costuming, while skintones are spot-on. Detail is regulated to facial particulars, surveying degrees of discomfort and shame, making close-ups most interesting, though set decoration is open for study. Delineation is crisp and communicative. Source is fresh and crisp.

The Measure of a Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't meant to be dynamic, sticking close to dialogue exchanges, picking up on vocal nuances as tensions escalate and frustrations sets in. Voices are sharp and clean. Atmospherics also play a role in the listening experience, capturing the bustle of store activity, while apartment encounters are more intimate with the sounds of domestic duties.

The Measure of a Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (15:59, HD) with director Stephane Brize covers the artistic and tonal intent of the picture.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:28, HD) is included.

The Measure of a Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Thierry eventually lands a security job with a big box store, and "The Measure of a Man" switches gears in its second half, highlighting the plights of shoplifters and scammers, putting the weary man in charge of condemning similarly desperate souls. Brize works minimally but effectively, creating a character study that doesn't provide easy answers or a hopeful resolution. It simply studies moral challenges and survival, doing so with exceptional humanity.