titch
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 2,312
- Real Name
- Kevin Oppegaard
I received and watched this eagerly anticipated film, on the US blu-ray, this evening. It doesn't premiere theatrically in Norway until January 26th. The film is another masterpiece from Alexander Payne. Strikingly unsentimental, even though there are some very deep moments, interspersed with the hilarious dialogue. I first noticed Paul Giamatti in American Splendor, even though he had had smaller parts in other films before that. I think he even tops his performance in Sideways, in this one.
However, one thing was glaringly obvious: the film master used for the blu-ray was speckled throughout the entire movie! I don't recall that I've ever seen a blu-ray from a new film look like it's been through its first run at the cinema! When I saw the retro "R-rating" card before the titles, I thought that the speckles were a deliberate attempt to invoke some Tarantino-esque '70's cinema vibe. But the speckles continued throughout the entire movie - not very obtrusively, mind. None of my other friends noticed. Would be interesting to hear if the streaming version is similarly affected. And I will definitely check out the DCP, when it hits the cinema. Othewise, the picture quality was fine. I wish they could have sprung for a 4K UHD - many of the darkly lit scenes were affected by crush and I reckon a 4K UHD would have handled those scenes better.
However, one thing was glaringly obvious: the film master used for the blu-ray was speckled throughout the entire movie! I don't recall that I've ever seen a blu-ray from a new film look like it's been through its first run at the cinema! When I saw the retro "R-rating" card before the titles, I thought that the speckles were a deliberate attempt to invoke some Tarantino-esque '70's cinema vibe. But the speckles continued throughout the entire movie - not very obtrusively, mind. None of my other friends noticed. Would be interesting to hear if the streaming version is similarly affected. And I will definitely check out the DCP, when it hits the cinema. Othewise, the picture quality was fine. I wish they could have sprung for a 4K UHD - many of the darkly lit scenes were affected by crush and I reckon a 4K UHD would have handled those scenes better.
