The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Blu-ray Movie Review

“You’re the adaptable enigma.”

Reviewed by Dustin Somner April 22, 2010

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is a 2009 drama by writer/director Rebecca Miller, based on her novel of the same name. Following a brief run through the festival circuit, the film received a limited theatrical release in the United States, but never managed to gather the attention you’d expect considering the star-studded cast. A portion of the lukewarm reception should be attributed to the polarizing effect the film had on members of the film critic community, which too often paint an unfair picture based on their own expectations. Approaching this review, I joined the fortunate segment of the population who were introduced to the production with zero expectations. Film reviews always contain a heavy dose of subjective analysis, but it’s far easier to remain objective if you enter an experience without pre-established criteria for an enjoyable ride. In that regard, I’d suggest the harsh viewpoint of some critics in the review community is largely based on their own expectations, and not the film’s ability to convey a smart, sophisticated story. Regardless, I found The Private Lives of Pippa Lee a fascinating film from start to finish, and plan to revisit it again in the near future.

Robin Wright as the troubled Pippa Lee.

Set in the present day, Pippa Lee(Robin Wright) is an aging mother of two who complacently settles on the idea of moving into a retirement community with her older husband Herb (Alan Arkin). Once established, Pippa becomes increasingly bothered by memories of her prior life before she married Herb, and fear over her resignation to living out the rest of her years as a young resident in a community for old people. Further complicating matters, her neighbor’s 35-year-old son Chris (Keanu Reeves) moves back home following a sudden divorce, and soon becomes Pippa’s unlikely counterpart in their struggle for sanity.

If you’re accustomed to my reviews, you’ll know I typically incorporate a much longer synopsis during this section of my analysis. The reason I cut this one short in favor of providing a topical overview relates to my discussion in the opening paragraph of the review. The primary element that makes The Private Lives of Pippa Lee such a joy to experience is the engrossing nature of the storyline as it molds one revelation into another. When the film initially opens, we’re introduced to an aging trophy wife who cares deeply for her wealthy husband regardless of the cost to her own personal happiness. Through a series of flashbacks it becomes increasingly apparent that the woman Pippa has become in the present day is a direct result of the trials and tribulations she underwent in her younger years. From dealing with a bipolar mother with an addiction to mood altering medication, to her time spent with a lesbian aunt, Pippa never experienced what most would consider a typical childhood, and it shows in the latter stages of her life. This journey of self-discovery is made all the more engaging through a series of present-day twists that imply she’s destined for a life without normalcy.

Despite the charmingly witty nature of the film, there was one weakness that held it back from reaching its full potential. This glaring flaw I’m referring to is a glossed over segment of Pippa’s life that begins immediately after her marriage to Herb. Her entire life is chronicled in detail up to that point, and elaborates on what’s best described as a continuous downward spiral. However, once we pass a shocking twist in Pippa’s life as a young woman, the storyline hurtles past her years as a mother and wife, bringing us back to the present day. Knowing her as a troubled individual at the end of the flashbacks, it would be more effective to demonstrate her transition from rebel to passive housewife. I suppose the argument could be made that the dramatic twist led to her awakening and growth into a mature woman, but I never felt it was accurately conveyed within the context of the film.

If you hadn’t heard of the film prior to reading this review, you likely weren’t aware of the jaw-dropping quantity of familiar faces in the cast. The primary players include Robin Wright as Pippa, Alan Arkin as her husband, Blake Lively as a teenage Pippa, and Keanu Reeves as Pippa’s friend Chris. These four actors trade off stealing scenes from each other, while digging into what can often be described as emotionally heavy material. Filling in the ensemble cast, we have Julianne Moore as the lesbian girlfriend of Aunt Trish, Monica Bellucci as Herb’s ex-wife, Maria Bello as Pippa’s mother Suky (one of her best performances to date), Winona Ryder as Pippa’s self-destructive friend Sandra, and finally Tim Guinee as Pippa’s father. As you can see, the sheer volume of talent involved in the film should be enough to warrant a second glance, and elevate the film into must-watch territory. I can assure you there’s no wasted talent once Miller’s poignant dialog kicks in, allowing each actor the opportunity to stretch the boundaries of each character’s identity.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 20Mbps), The Private Lives of Pippa Lee remains entirely average from start to finish. The primary culprit behind my lack of enthusiasm lies in the overall lack of clarity that plagues most scenes. In fact, the problem becomes so profound in certain stretches that I often wondered whether this was really a step up from the standard definition offering. In addition to the marginal level of clarity, the transfer contains a constantly evolving color spectrum that paints various segments of Pippa's life in different palettes. One moment the image will appear vibrant and lush, while the next is drenched in drab, lifeless hues. For the most part, this effect creates separation between Pippa's childhood and her monotonous adult life, but even some of the segments during her drug-induced years waver back and forth between differing levels of saturation. Moving into the positive aspects of the transfer, I found black levels appropriately deep, contrast offers sufficient shade differentiation, and the image never suffers from pesky artifacting or digital anomalies.

In the end, there's no way to paint this transfer in a positive light, which is a shame considering how much I enjoyed the film itself.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The lossless audio presentation fares better than I anticipated for an independent drama with a relatively low production budget. When the film first began, I was a bit concerned by the dramatic volume difference between the narration by Robin Wright and the actual dialog within each scene. However, once you accept the film's rapidly shifting timeline, it becomes apparent the narration is used as a transition to guide viewers from one period to another. Further enhancing the mix, Rebecca Miller incorporates a wonderful soundtrack of easily recognizable song selections, which generate a whimsical mood. On the downside, the level of dynamic immersion is rather limited within the design of the overall audio presentation, leaving the rear surrounds grossly underutilized. There are still moments when environmental effects or the rumble of a car engine can be heard from the rear channels, but they aren't significant enough to warrant high marks in the spatial separation category.

In summary, the lossless audio presentation won't elicit a jaw-dropping reaction, but it delivers exactly the experience you'd anticipate from a film in this genre.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Interviews (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 5:36 min): The three brief interviews included on this supplement feature Robin Wright, Alan Arkin, and Blake Lively. The interview topics are fairly plain and superficial, but perhaps some fans will find at least a speck of value.

The only other extra included on the disc is a feature-length commentary track with writer/director Rebecca Miller and actress Robin Wright. Miller tends to dominate the tech-focused track with discussions of various filming methods she utilized, but every now and again Wright chimes in with her own thoughts on the character of Pippa.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is a wonderful film that remains surprisingly quirky despite its dark subject matter. Between the smart screenplay by Rebecca Miller, impressive performances from the main cast, and the creative use of flashback narrative, the film's destined to delight audiences for years to come. In fact, I'd consider myself a member of what I anticipate will be a growing cult following, and look forward to future productions by Rebecca Miller. Unfortunately, when I turn my attention to the technical aspects of this release, this review shifts into a more somber tone. Collectively accounting for the image quality and proficiency of the audio track, I'm left feeling a bit underwhelmed by the proficiency of this Blu-ray release. Considering this is a Blu-ray site focused on the best possible presentation, I'm compelled to set aside my appreciation for the film and leave you with a mere rental recommendation.