7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Insightful look at an unattractive 7th grader as she struggles to cope with un-attentive parents, snobbish classmates, a smart older brother, an attractive younger sister, and her own insecurities.
Starring: Heather Matarazzo, Christina Brucato, Victoria Davis (I), Brendan Sexton III, Ken LeungComing of age | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (A, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Todd Solondz and Heather Matarazzo are on hand on this disc in some interviews produced specifically for this release, and it's kind of amusing to hear both of them attempt to wrestle with the fact that Welcome to the Dollhouse strikes some viewers as raucously funny, and others as inexorably tragic. The fact is Welcome to the Dollhouse is not an "either/or" proposition, but more of a "both/and" one, and as such its huge tonal variances may be hard for some to navigate. The film is almost like a "slice of life" anime in that it doesn't have a "goal centered" narrative, and instead simply presents a series of vignettes in the life of junior high schooler Dawn Wiener (Heather Matarazzo, in an amazing performance). Dawn is not one of the popular kids, to say the least, and she is regularly bullied to the point that anyone who ever experienced anything even slightly similar in their own school life will probably recoil in trauma at some of what she has to endure. The film follows what would seem to be a fairly familiar "coming of age" arc, with Heather encountering the pangs of a first major crush, but there is a very dark subtext at times that hints (and in some cases, overtly mentions) more troubling aspects, especially when Dawn's favored little sister is apparently kidnapped by a pedophile. "Laff riot", right? Well, amazingly, at least parts of Welcome to the Dollhouse are kind of delightfully daft, if, again, more often than not suffused with melancholy.
Welcome to the Dollhouse is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Radiance Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Radiance only sent a check disc for purposes of this review, so I'm not privy to any verbiage about the transfer included in an insert booklet, though Radiance's website mentions a "high definition digital transfer of the film with uncompressed original stereo audio, approved by director Todd Solondz". I never picked up the Sony release that Marty reviewed, and so the following is based solely on the admittedly risky technique of comparing screenshots. As I like to do, I've attempted to replicate something close the same frames that Marty captured for his review in at least some of the screenshots here, so that those interested can do their own side by side comparison. Sony's Blu-ray from years ago was a manufactured on demand product, for what that's worth, but even without that "pressing format" difference, to my eyes this transfer boasts a more nicely revealed grain field (compare screenshot 4 in this review with screenshot 4 in Marty's review and pay special attention to the sky). Grain can attain a slightly chunky, yellowish quality in some of the low light scenes. This release also looks just a bit better in the clarity department, though by admittedly minimal levels. Color timing is almost identical, but not quite to my eyes, which can be perceived if you toggle quickly between full resolution screenshots accompanying this review and Marty's review. The titles show the same wobble that Marty mentions in his review.
Welcome to the Dollhouse features an LPCM 2.0 track that capably supports a really fun and energetic sound design. The clamor of often unruly junior high school life can sound just a trifle boxy at times, but the somewhat laugh inducing garage band that Dawn's brother plays in with Dawn's major crush, local ladies' man Steve (Eric Mabius), provides some energy, as do some rather interesting, classically based, source cues. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
Junior high and/or middle school can be a fraught experience even under the best of circumstances, and let's just cut to the chase and say that Welcome to the Dollhouse offers that experience in what can charitably be called the worst of circumstances. This is an unruly and often uncomfortable film, as befits its subject matter, but it's amazingly visceral and Heather Matarazzo delivers one of the all time great juvenile performances in it. There are certainly elements here that could well be, to utilize an overused cliché, triggering for some people. Technical merits are solid and the supplements very enjoyable. For those with the proper sensibilities, Highly recommended.
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