7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
Struggling with a marriage on the brink of falling apart, a couple escapes for a weekend in pursuit of their better selves, only to discover an unusual dilemma that awaits them.
Starring: Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss, Ted Danson, Kiana Cason, Kaitlyn DodsonRomance | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.38:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Unexplainable things are afoot when matters of the heart meet the muddied waters of something out of The Twilight Zone in The One I Love, a quasi-comedic, quasi-dramatic, quasi-Science Fiction-inspired story of what it means to love another human being. The film is beautifully vague in meaning yet oddly direct in approach. It's a pleasure to watch unfold for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the novelty of it all, the twists of the unexpected, the confidence it displays even as the plot inches further into murkier, confused territory. Much like The Lake House, Director Charlie McDowell's first feature film plays with love on a different plane, something completely unexpected that produces a story that can be interpreted ins several different ways that will shape the movie for each viewer rather than mire itself in a one-size-fits-all pile of dramatic chaos turned into thematic order.
Happy...for now...
The One I Love's 1080p presentation favors warmth, but not a prevailing warmth. While many interiors take on a slight red push, outdoors are crisply defined and naturally bright. Colors are well defined in both instances, with the outdoor scenes in particular revealing beautiful natural greens. Clothing shades, interior background accents, and skin tones all favor as close to a natural shade as the lighting and mood permits. Details are strong, with excellent image clarity evident throughout. The image is generally crisp and accurate, favoring strongly defined facial features, clothing lines, and home interior details, such as rows of books on a shelf, pillows, and dolls, while exteriors reveal accurate greenery and roughly textured stone surfaces. Black levels are never overly problematic, though there is a hint of paleness in some instances. Light banding is also evident in a handful of shots but is not a major problem. On the whole, this is a solid Blu-ray presentation from Anchor Bay.
The One I Love features a pleasant, nicely defined, and richly delivered DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is airy and warmly enveloping, drifting effortlessly through the stage with a healthy surround support in tow. There's a nice mix of effortless, playful notes and heavier, deeper pieces that allow the subwoofer to chip in on occasion. It's all nicely balanced and sonically supportive of the film's mood. There are a few nice supportive ambient effects, such as crickets heard inside the house at one point or gentle exterior ambience in a few spots. Atmosphere, however, is fairly limited otherwise. Dialogue is the main sonic element here, and it's presented richly and fully from the center.
The One I Love contains an audio commentary and a brief featurette.
The One I Love earns major points for novelty, and even more for substantive and thought-provoking novelty at that. It's a movie with a premise that's not absolutely unique, but what the film does -- or doesn't -- do with it is its real source of strength. Sometimes offbeat, sometimes darkly serious, sometimes funny, sometimes emotionally challenging, sometimes wholly unsettling, often necessarily vague, but always intriguing, the film has a little bit of something for everyone, including Science Fiction, romance, comedy, drama, and a real sense of mystery, all of which contribute to a wide-open narrative that will leave the audience questioning everything and understanding almost nothing beyond personal interpretation. Anchor's Bay's Blu-ray release of the must-see The One I Love features strong video and audio. A commentary and featurette comprise the extras. Highly recommended.
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