5.6 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.8 |
A man becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth surrounding the disappearance of his wife. After stumbling across clues that take him to the streets of Milan, he tracks down his wife’s charismatic lover and is determined to exact his revenge. He discovers a labyrinth of secrets and a side to his wife that he never knew existed.
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Romola Garai, Pam FerrisDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
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 | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
The Other Man gets off on withholding. It’s fully apparent less than twenty minutes into the film that something is awry, that some key piece of information is being clandestinely tucked away for the climactic, game-changing reveal. Now, I don’t mind a twist ending providing that it’s smart, integral to the narrative, and properly surprising. The trouble here is not only that the big a-ha moment almost unbearably predictable—which it is, even if you’re lightly dozing through the film, a natural reaction—but also that it seems needlessly manipulative, overly machinated, and worse still, incredibly condescending to the audience. Director Richard Eyre, best known for his Dame Judi Dench vehicles, Iris and Notes on a Scandal, must think we’re all new to the thriller genre and easily hoodwinked. And admittedly, he does fool us at least once, by casting three top-tier actors as his leads and making us think, at least for the first twenty minutes of the film, that The Other Man might actually be a decent, erotically charged thriller. If only it were so.
What...to...order...
The Other Man strolls onto Blu-ray with a solid 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that's far more impressive than its uninspired narrative, but not quite enough to elevate the overall glum experience of watching the film. There are a couple of soft shots throughout the film, but more often than not the image is tight and crisp, with fine textures apparent in close-ups, and an abundance of background detail. You'll be able to make out, for example, all the lines and pores on Liam Neeson's face, the beads of water on Antonio Banderas' rain coat, and the fine weft of Romala Garai's knit cap. The film's color scheme is understandably restrained—relying on a depressive color cast—so you won't see too many vivid, eye-popping hues here. Still, what colors there are seem substantially deep, with no wash-out or instability, though skin tones have a tendency to skew toward yellow at times. Black levels are more than adequate, and contrast is just right. The only anomaly I noticed was some slight banding and blotchiness in some harsh blue highlights when Liam and Laura are in bed together. Grain is fine and unobtrusive, the print is clean, and there are no other issues to report.
Likewise, The Other Man's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is surprisingly adept, though, once again, it doesn't really do anything to improve the film itself. Stephen Warbeck's score carries the tone with appropriate moodiness, giving us thoughtfully plinked piano keys and a variety of orchestral elements, all sounding detailed and full, with ample bass and a nice spread across the channels. Unexpectedly, the rear speakers get a fair amount of activity throughout the film. This isn't Transformers 2 or anything, but there's nearly always some kind of environmental, place-establishing ambience being broadcast, from city street sounds and lapping waves to pouring rain and rolling thunder. The sound design is quite subtle, but it is effective. There are a few scenes toward the beginning of the film when dialogue seems somewhat low in the mix, but this quickly remedies itself and I really didn't have to touch my remote at all while the film went on, and on, and on. Seriously, this a long 87 minutes.
Interviews (SD, 24:10)
Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Romala Garai, Antonio Banderas, and director Richard Eyre all get a
chance to wax one another's cars, so to speak, in these lengthy but rather dull interviews. Each
actor gets to say a few words about his or her character and fellow actors, while Richard Eyre
tackles all the usual casting and thematic questions.
Commentary by Director Richard Eyre
Dry and somewhat over-informative, Eyre's commentary seems sadly delusional about the
greatness of The Other Man. Your appreciation of the film will likely determine the value
you place on this track, but I'd say Eyre's insights aren't enough to make it worth the time and
effort to sit through the movie twice.
Theatrical Trailer (SD, 1:46)
Unless you want your intelligence insulted and your money robbed, stay away from The Other Man and look elsewhere for mystery and suspense. It's hard to believe how glum and uninspired this film is, but it's even harder to believe that Linney, Neeson, and Banderas signed on for it. While the film has been given a decent audio/video presentation on Blu-ray, I can't even bring myself to recommend The Other Man as a rental.
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