7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The film is about Marlo, a mother of three including a newborn, who is gifted a night nanny by her brother. Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully.
Starring: Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Ron Livingston, Asher Miles Fallica, Lia FranklandDrama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French (Canada): DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Tully is a film about an overstressed, overworked, and overtired mother of three, including a special needs son and a newborn baby girl. The film explores the weight of her burdens, physical, emotional, and psychological alike. What begins as a straight film concerned with a woman breaking and seeking a little help becomes something much more involved, complex, and satisfying: a film of identity, doubt, fear, and, ultimately, acceptance. To dive further would be to do a disservice to the film's true intent and revelations, but suffice it to say this is an evolving story with an ever-changing perspective on its overwhelmed central character and how she handles the realities of her increasingly stressful and fatiguing place in life. Written by Diablo Cody and Directed by Jason Reitman, who previously collaborated on both Juno and Young Adult (the latter also starring Charlize Theron), Tully explores motherhood in the sort of raw, unforgiving light that has heretofore been absent in movies, be they more humorous looks at the child raising process or more focused dramas centered around the same subject.
Tully's 1080p transfer is another in a seemingly endless supply of "just fine, not spectacular" Blu-ray releases. The movie was digitally captured but rarely yields any intensive noise, even in low light. Textural qualities are fine, even in the movie's often lower and warmer light conditions. Facial features are well rounded and serviceably intimate, ditto clothes, and various environments -- from Craig's exotic in-house bar to a graffiti covered bathroom wall -- present odds and ends details and larger, more sweeping elements with commendable sharpness and clarity. Colors are nicely balanced, whether in the aforementioned lower and warmer light or in many scenes where lighting is more even (even if it's artificial) such as in Jonah's school. The palette never struggles with nuance or saturation, and each hue presents with a positive neutrality that never aches for additional punch or intensity. Black levels, critical particularly later in the movie during low-light and nighttime exterior scenes, are well balanced and deep. Flesh tones appear true. No significant source or encode flaws are apparent. While the image doesn't dazzle it does handle well and never leaves the viewer wanting more.
Tully features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Dialogue struggles with a bit of shallowness, at least early on. It's a little hard to hear at times at normal reference levels, though things seem to even out farther into the movie. A few support effects dot the movie's landscape, such as pelting rain on a car, underwater depth in a few dream sequences, or intense crowd and music din in a packed bar in chapter 17. All of these sound elements present with admirable clarity and stage presentation, usually taking good advantage of the 5.1 channels at their disposal. Bursts of several popular songs during a short road trip in the third act enjoy rich vigor and vitality, followed minutes later with some hard-edged metal that features sharp riffs and a solid low end pronouncement. The track's early dialogue struggles aside, this is a very positive all-around listening experience.
Tully contains one extra. The Relationships of 'Tully' (1080p, 10:00) explores the writing, performances and cast chemistry, the complexities of the part and the importance of nailing the character subtleties, and more. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. The release ships with an embossed slipcover.
Tully is an amazing little film that may be Diablo Cody's best work yet. It's relatable but beautifully complex, dour yet hopeful in its depiction of motherhood and all of the challenges -- physical, emotional, and psychological -- that come with the territory. It's nicely directed and terrifically performed. It's not to be missed. Universal's Blu-ray release of Tully features solid video, more than capable audio, and one extra. Highly recommended.
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