6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
The story revolves around the library patrons, many of whom are homeless, mentally ill and marginalized, as well as an exhausted and overwhelmed staff of librarians who often build emotional connections and a sense of obligation to care for those regular patrons. At odds with library officials over how to handle the extreme weather event, the Patrons turn the building into a homeless shelter for the night by staging an "Occupy" sit in. What begins as an act of civil disobedience becomes a stand off with police and a rush-to-judgment media constantly speculating about what's really happening.
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Emilio Estevez, Jena Malone, Taylor Schilling, Christian SlaterDrama | 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
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The library is a place of knowledge, but in Director Emilio Estevez's (The Way) The Public, it is not necessarily a place of understanding. The film pits the homeless and humanity against harsh conditions and hours of operation, telling a story of a modern day sit-in where the least fortunate refuse to leave the library's safety and warmth and spend a night in bitter, deadly cold. The film finds a voice, purpose, and soul but never brings it all to completion. It says what it must as it can and as it should, but it is ultimately less a revelatory cinema experience and more a snapshot of a clash between perceived rights and perceived wrongs. It never addresses its issues or its characters in a broader scope, focusing more on a single night and less on the greater problem that led the characters on all sides to the not so much physically dangerous but rather emotionally taxing and soulfully challenging exercise. It's a quality film with some room for greater exploration of one humanitarian crisis that never quite seems to earn the headlines it deserves or the real push for change and reform basic humanity says is necessary to make the world a better place for everyone living in it.
The occupation.
The image is healthy and alive. It has a handsome film-like texture on display, with crisply defined details across the board, including both broad and intimate library shots where a single shelf of books or stacks stretching far and wide find impressive definition. Skin details are crisp and accurate, showcasing pores, fine lines, and hairs with format flawless accuracy. Additionally, clothing details are rich, highlighting the layers and material density of the heavy wintertime attire that is so prominent throughout the film's frigid Cincinnati setting. Colors are handled well. The film finds a variety of hues throughout, most obviously within the library, which is steadily well lit. Colors on the walls, book spines, and clothing (including the red lanyards staff wears) all enjoy well balanced contrast. Skin tones appear accurate and nighttime exteriors are defined by positive, inky blacks. There are no significant source or encode issues of note. This is a quality presentation from Universal.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack folds in some healthy environmental details around the library. PA announcements, work on installing the polar bear, elevator doors opening and chiming, and other light details filter through with natural presence and detail. Crowd din outside the library, as well as police radio chatter and other natural ambient sounds heard during the stand-off, are all lightly enveloping, keeping music and dialogue the prominent focus. The musical presentation is unassuming but effective. Clarity is fine, width comes naturally, surround support is light, and the low end is adequately complimentary. Dialogue propels the film. It's clear and well prioritized as it flows from a natural front-center position.
This Blu-ray release of The Public contains no supplemental content. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. A DVD copy is not. This release does not ship with a slipcover.
The Public defies genre: it's part human interest story, part thriller, part reflective mirror. It is not heavy handed but it sure of its position and moving in its narrative assembly. In perhaps the film's most critical scene, Stuart Goodson quotes The Grapes of Wrath, a treasured literary classic that the movie proves remains relevant today, even if the masses aren't aware of what it has to say. Goodson uses it to shame the reporter while Estevez uses it as the movie's voice to call attention to the homeless crisis. It's a fine summation of a movie that never does quite reach full closure, but perhaps that is the point: there is no end in sight to the homeless crisis, but perhaps the movie can call renewed attention to it, as Goodson hopes to accomplish in it. Universal's Blu-ray is disappointingly featureless; a filmmaker commentary would have been most welcome. As it is, the disc does offer high quality video and audio presentations, even if the latter is not particularly interesting from a sonic perspective. Recommended.
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