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The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
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Extras:
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Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
88
Studio and Year: Sony Pictures - 2014
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 104 minutes
Genre: Drama
Disc Format: BD-25
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 1.85:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, F. Murray Abraham, Justin Timberlaks, Garret Hedlund, Max Cassella, Ethan Phillips, Robin Bartlett
Written & Directed by: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 11, 2014
"What’s on the inside matters most"
Film Synopsis:
Inside Llewyn Davis follows a week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.
My Take:
Inside Llewyn Davis chronicles a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the pre Bob Dylan Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles-some of them of his own making. Living at the mercy of both friends and strangers, Llewyn’s misadventures take him from the baskethouses of Greenwich Village to an empty Chicago club – on an odyssey to audition for a music mogul – and back again.
I would say that in general I am a fan of the Joel & Ethan Coen’s films and own quite a few of them on Blu-ray/DVD. When I heard about this film and who was in it I was intrigued and looked forward to seeing it. The film features a number of musical set pieces performed by Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Carey Mulligan, as well as Marcus Mumford and Punch Brothers. The opening sequence featuring Oscar Isaac in a dank, smoke filled club singing and strumming his heart out was excellent to say the least. It was then followed by an unexplained altercation in an alley behind the club. The film then methodically details Llewyn’s exploits over the next week where we find that he is a struggling artist hoping for a break and a meaningful outlet to express through his music, the lingering melancholy he feels seemingly in every fiber of his being.
To THAT end Inside Llewyn Davis successfully delivers. Where it left me severely wanting was in a viable connection not only to Llewyn as the film’s protagonist but to the characters surrounding him. The narrative’s construction is such that Llewyn appears in every scene however the various subplots that revolve around his interrelationships are like shifting sands that rarely takes rewarding form. The lone exceptions are possibly his complicated and acidic relationship with Jean and his association with Mitch and Lillian’s cat Ulysses. This is clearly intentional as at every turn we see Llewyn’s inner conflict however what it’s born out of is skimmed over leaving only a series a brief snippets that prove engaging enough to glean momentary understanding from his sardonic discourse.
What’s left over is a pretty unlikable character surrounded by dimly drawn characters. What remains is the film’s musical essence which at every instance proves rewarding both in context and supporting fashion. The live vocal/musical performances by the cast are excellent and in Oscar Isaac’s case downright impressive. I truly wanted to derive more from the film’s dark humor (although there are a few laugh out loud moments), and purposeful thematic tone but all that came through was an oddly concocted character study that primarily left me scratching my head. I can’t help but feel as though a second viewing might be in order now that I have digested it but truth be told the urge simply isn’t there at the moment. We’ll see….
Parental Guide:
The rating is for language including some sexual references.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
Audio: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Video: 90
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Inside Llewyn Davis comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 16 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.7 Mbps.
Let me start off by saying that in my opinion this presentation appears to faithfully reflect the film’s original elements and the director’s vision. Having said that it is important to understand that the way the film was shot does not necessarily reproduce the highly polished, three dimensional, and clearly resolute imagery that is typically associated with “good” high definition. That shouldn’t be strictly construed to indicate that it doesn’t look good in high definition. I have taken this into account while trying to provide an accurate depiction of my opinion in this review.
The film was shot utilizing a visual style that gives it a distinctively monochromatic look that imbues it in beige hues that permeate the presentation. Colors are primarily limited to various stages of brown, gray, blue and sepia tones that represent the period depicted in the story. There are elements of richer color but even then saturation is noticeably held in check. Images are firmly resolved but perceivable resolution can be scene dependent due to the nature of the photography. Close ups fare better than wide angle shots and offer respectable detail and appreciable refinement. White and black levels achieve good balance so that detail/gradations are visible in brighter elements while dark sequences have a rich, delineated and dynamic quality that makes them pop. The video has a notably softened aesthetic that tends to interfere with depth but also lends the presentation an enriching filmic texture. I have seen this film many times and have never been bothered by its unique presentation actually my feelings are quite to the contrary. I think its limited use of color and texture appropriately sets the mood of the film and draws us into its elements. The fact is this Blu-ray presentation from Sony appears to accurately reproduce it and the overall result is a rewarding viewing experience.
The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio mix handles this predominantly front oriented soundtrack with uncompromising competence. While the bulk of the audio is reproduced by the front three channels the surrounds are used effectively to produce a rear sound field rich in immersive ambience. This isn’t an active soundtrack as dialogue and music play more of a central role but there are moments that require use of the entire surround platform for effect. When things kick in this mix has no trouble flexing its dynamic muscle or creating a natural and immersive listening environment. Clarity and detail are exemplary which reveal lots of subtle nuance in the recording. Vocal reproduction is crystalline with discernible intonation and descriptive character. The beautifully crafted music films the room and sounds incredibly smooth, airy and pleasing.
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
Inside Llewyn Davis is a moody, atmospheric drama set to the vibe of the early 1960’s folk music scene in Greenwich Village NY. While I appreciated the spirit of its intentions I simply didn’t connect with its thematic elements and was ultimately left disappointed. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures featuring what appears to be faithful video reproduction of its stylized components mated with great sounding DTS-HD Master Audio sound and a bland making of documentary. Based upon my first viewing of Inside Llewyn Davis I would be hard pressed to recommend it. A second go around might yield different results but that remains to be seen. For those so inclined I would strongly recommend a rental prior to purchase.
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Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS4910 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Calman 5 & C6 Meter from Spectracal )
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Carada Masquerade Horizontal Masking System
Marantz AV8801 11.2 Channel Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-103D Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (With Darbee video processing)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
88
Studio and Year: Sony Pictures - 2014
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 104 minutes
Genre: Drama
Disc Format: BD-25
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 1.85:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, F. Murray Abraham, Justin Timberlaks, Garret Hedlund, Max Cassella, Ethan Phillips, Robin Bartlett
Written & Directed by: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 11, 2014
"What’s on the inside matters most"
Film Synopsis:
Inside Llewyn Davis follows a week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.
My Take:
Inside Llewyn Davis chronicles a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the pre Bob Dylan Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles-some of them of his own making. Living at the mercy of both friends and strangers, Llewyn’s misadventures take him from the baskethouses of Greenwich Village to an empty Chicago club – on an odyssey to audition for a music mogul – and back again.
I would say that in general I am a fan of the Joel & Ethan Coen’s films and own quite a few of them on Blu-ray/DVD. When I heard about this film and who was in it I was intrigued and looked forward to seeing it. The film features a number of musical set pieces performed by Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Carey Mulligan, as well as Marcus Mumford and Punch Brothers. The opening sequence featuring Oscar Isaac in a dank, smoke filled club singing and strumming his heart out was excellent to say the least. It was then followed by an unexplained altercation in an alley behind the club. The film then methodically details Llewyn’s exploits over the next week where we find that he is a struggling artist hoping for a break and a meaningful outlet to express through his music, the lingering melancholy he feels seemingly in every fiber of his being.
To THAT end Inside Llewyn Davis successfully delivers. Where it left me severely wanting was in a viable connection not only to Llewyn as the film’s protagonist but to the characters surrounding him. The narrative’s construction is such that Llewyn appears in every scene however the various subplots that revolve around his interrelationships are like shifting sands that rarely takes rewarding form. The lone exceptions are possibly his complicated and acidic relationship with Jean and his association with Mitch and Lillian’s cat Ulysses. This is clearly intentional as at every turn we see Llewyn’s inner conflict however what it’s born out of is skimmed over leaving only a series a brief snippets that prove engaging enough to glean momentary understanding from his sardonic discourse.
What’s left over is a pretty unlikable character surrounded by dimly drawn characters. What remains is the film’s musical essence which at every instance proves rewarding both in context and supporting fashion. The live vocal/musical performances by the cast are excellent and in Oscar Isaac’s case downright impressive. I truly wanted to derive more from the film’s dark humor (although there are a few laugh out loud moments), and purposeful thematic tone but all that came through was an oddly concocted character study that primarily left me scratching my head. I can’t help but feel as though a second viewing might be in order now that I have digested it but truth be told the urge simply isn’t there at the moment. We’ll see….
Parental Guide:
The rating is for language including some sexual references.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
Audio: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency effects:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
- *Low frequency extension (non-rated element): NA
Video: 90
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Inside Llewyn Davis comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 16 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.7 Mbps.
Let me start off by saying that in my opinion this presentation appears to faithfully reflect the film’s original elements and the director’s vision. Having said that it is important to understand that the way the film was shot does not necessarily reproduce the highly polished, three dimensional, and clearly resolute imagery that is typically associated with “good” high definition. That shouldn’t be strictly construed to indicate that it doesn’t look good in high definition. I have taken this into account while trying to provide an accurate depiction of my opinion in this review.
The film was shot utilizing a visual style that gives it a distinctively monochromatic look that imbues it in beige hues that permeate the presentation. Colors are primarily limited to various stages of brown, gray, blue and sepia tones that represent the period depicted in the story. There are elements of richer color but even then saturation is noticeably held in check. Images are firmly resolved but perceivable resolution can be scene dependent due to the nature of the photography. Close ups fare better than wide angle shots and offer respectable detail and appreciable refinement. White and black levels achieve good balance so that detail/gradations are visible in brighter elements while dark sequences have a rich, delineated and dynamic quality that makes them pop. The video has a notably softened aesthetic that tends to interfere with depth but also lends the presentation an enriching filmic texture. I have seen this film many times and have never been bothered by its unique presentation actually my feelings are quite to the contrary. I think its limited use of color and texture appropriately sets the mood of the film and draws us into its elements. The fact is this Blu-ray presentation from Sony appears to accurately reproduce it and the overall result is a rewarding viewing experience.
The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio mix handles this predominantly front oriented soundtrack with uncompromising competence. While the bulk of the audio is reproduced by the front three channels the surrounds are used effectively to produce a rear sound field rich in immersive ambience. This isn’t an active soundtrack as dialogue and music play more of a central role but there are moments that require use of the entire surround platform for effect. When things kick in this mix has no trouble flexing its dynamic muscle or creating a natural and immersive listening environment. Clarity and detail are exemplary which reveal lots of subtle nuance in the recording. Vocal reproduction is crystalline with discernible intonation and descriptive character. The beautifully crafted music films the room and sounds incredibly smooth, airy and pleasing.
Bonus Features:
- (HD) Inside – Inside Llewyn Davis – 42 minute featurette
Final Thoughts:
Inside Llewyn Davis is a moody, atmospheric drama set to the vibe of the early 1960’s folk music scene in Greenwich Village NY. While I appreciated the spirit of its intentions I simply didn’t connect with its thematic elements and was ultimately left disappointed. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures featuring what appears to be faithful video reproduction of its stylized components mated with great sounding DTS-HD Master Audio sound and a bland making of documentary. Based upon my first viewing of Inside Llewyn Davis I would be hard pressed to recommend it. A second go around might yield different results but that remains to be seen. For those so inclined I would strongly recommend a rental prior to purchase.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS4910 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Calman 5 & C6 Meter from Spectracal )
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Carada Masquerade Horizontal Masking System
Marantz AV8801 11.2 Channel Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-103D Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (With Darbee video processing)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
