[Lee Weber]

Check out our review of James Gray's The Immigrant, the story of an immigrant woman who is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician tries to save her.

The Review at a Glance:
(max score: 5 )

Film:

Extras:

Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )

85​

Details:

Studio and Year: Starz/Anchor Bay - 2013
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 117 minutes
Genre: Drama, Romance

Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24

Audio Format(s): DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner
Directed by: James Gray
Writteb by: James Gray, Ric Menello
Music by: Chris Spelman
Region Code: A

Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 7, 2015

"Is it a sin to survive?"​

My Take:

Set in 1921 New Your City, The Immigrant is he story of Ewa Cybulska (Marion Cotillard) who along with her sister Magda (Angela Sarafyan) sets sail from Poland to America. Upon arrival at Ellis Island, Magda is found to be sick and put into a mandatory quarantine. Ewa ends up alone and lost and becomes easy pray for Bruno Weiss (Joaquin Phoenix) who forces her into prostitution. Ewa eventually meets Bruno's cousin a magician named Orlando (Jeremy Renner) and is swept off her feet. She is then wrapped up in a bitter feud between the two estranged cousins and their jealous rivalry.

I found The Immigrant to be a beautiful film with superlative acting and direction that suffered from a muddled narrative that was confused to what the true essence of its story really was. Was it The immigrant Ewa and her sisters crushed dreams and struggles as new arrivals in America or was it this dark and awkward feud between cousins...or was it a sad love story? One could easily say it was all yet none of them were truly strong enough to carry the film. Thankfully the acting was so good, and the film felt and looked such away that it seemed to hypnotize- even considering its issues with narrative. Writer and director James Gray (Two Lovers, Little Odessa) has matured as a film maker but still needs a bit of work in the screenwriting department.

Parental Guide:

Rated R for sexual content, nudity and some language


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: 84
(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: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)

• Resolution/Clarity:
• Black Level/Shadow Detail:
• Color Reproduction:
• Fleshtones:
• Compression:

The Immigrant comes to Blu-ray Disc from Anchor Bay featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 27.8 Mbps and lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.6 Mbps.

Captured on 35mm, this encoding of The Immigrant still looks like film with a visible grain structure intact. Blacks are inky and contrast is stable, however, finer details are not the sharpest as the image favors an artistic choice to appear soft. Colors are intentionally on the warm side with lots of red, yellow and gold hues which are all and very rich. Thankfully this didn't effect flesh-tones as much as it should. The audio track is great with its placement and clarity of dialogue, atmospherics and general imaging. Music is light and airy, adding a needed layer to this minimalistic track.



Bonus Features:

• Audio Commentary: With Writer/Director James Gray
• (HD) The Visual Inspiration of The Immigrant
• (HD) The Immigrant Trailer

Final Thoughts:

The Immigrant could have been, and was so close to being a deep and impactful tale of what arrivals to america would have to endure in the early 1900's. Unfortunately the films muddled narrative detracted from some amazing acting, directing and design. Worth a watch, but I am sorry to report not a purchase.

Lee Weber
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews


Reference Review System:

JVC DLA-RS4910 3D 1080p 3D High Definition Front Projector
Falcon Screens Horizon 138" 2.35:1 Acoustically Transparent Screen
Da-Lite Pro Imager Projector Screen Masking Syste
Yamaha CX-A5000 Pre/Pro
Parasound Halo A51 & A21 7x250
Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Triad Gold LCR's
Triad Silver Surrounds x4
Triad Bronze Subwoofers x4
Panamorph DC1 Anamorphic Lens
AudioQuest Wires

Panasonic TC-P65ZT60 3D 1080p Plasma
Anthem MRX-310-AV Receiver
Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
MKSound MP-7 LCR's
MKSound SUR-55T Surrounds
Triad Bronze Subwoofer

 

[Phrehdd]

Thanks Lee for the heads up on this film. I'll give it a spin if it gets to NF streaming. I enjoy American "era" movies and have seen several that cover this immigrant topic with reasonable success (Avalon as example) and life of immigrant neighborhoods (such as Once Upon a Time in America) etc.

 

[Ralph Potts]

Greetings,

Thanks Lee! I have this one and will give it a spin.


Regards,

 

[chirpie]

Thanks Lee for the heads up on this film. I'll give it a spin if it gets to NF streaming. I enjoy American "era" movies and have seen several that cover this immigrant topic with reasonable success (Avalon as example) and life of immigrant neighborhoods (such as Once Upon a Time in America) etc.

It's actually been available on Netflix for a while so stream away. I'll agree with Lee in that 'muddled' well describes the film, though I still feel it's worth a watch.

 

[Phrehdd]

It's actually been available on Netflix for a while so stream away. I'll agree with Lee in that 'muddled' well describes the film, though I still feel it's worth a watch.

Chirpie, thanks for the heads up. I have not logged into NF for a bit of time so have a reason to do so now (grin).

 

[DDailey]

One a the great underrated filmmakers of our era. It is just amazing films like this can be made anymore ie; big, loud, boring, and stupid. His film "The Yards" is a masterpiece IMHO.

 

[nextgenfmradio]

looks good!

I like the scenery of old New York

 

[Djoel]

Thanks Lee, great review.

On NF I thought it looked familar, will check out over the weekend, I'm looking forward on watching this one.

DJoel

 

[zoro]

Thanks for posting this great review I started watching because of my Fav for Marion Cotilard what an actress and natural and thought of being a great tale but some times it is the narrative that fails the plot where u feel there are 3 stories in one and none get enough footage to take a protognlst lead;(
I shall continue with that to finish.
Cotilard was phenomenal in her other oscar nominated for best actress film too!
I usually find SPANISH directors taking such route of tale telling that spoils perfectly proportioned ingredient into a lousy broth;(
Happy movie watching!

Check out our review of James Gray's The Immigrant, the story of an immigrant woman who is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician tries to save her.

The Review at a Glance:
(max score: 5 )

Film:

Extras:

Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )

85​

Details:

Studio and Year: Starz/Anchor Bay - 2013
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 117 minutes
Genre: Drama, Romance

Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24

Audio Format(s): DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner
Directed by: James Gray
Writteb by: James Gray, Ric Menello
Music by: Chris Spelman
Region Code: A

Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 7, 2015

"Is it a sin to survive?"​

My Take:

Set in 1921 New Your City, The Immigrant is he story of Ewa Cybulska (Marion Cotillard) who along with her sister Magda (Angela Sarafyan) sets sail from Poland to America. Upon arrival at Ellis Island, Magda is found to be sick and put into a mandatory quarantine. Ewa ends up alone and lost and becomes easy pray for Bruno Weiss (Joaquin Phoenix) who forces her into prostitution. Ewa eventually meets Bruno's cousin a magician named Orlando (Jeremy Renner) and is swept off her feet. She is then wrapped up in a bitter feud between the two estranged cousins and their jealous rivalry.

I found The Immigrant to be a beautiful film with superlative acting and direction that suffered from a muddled narrative that was confused to what the true essence of its story really was. Was it The immigrant Ewa and her sisters crushed dreams and struggles as new arrivals in America or was it this dark and awkward feud between cousins...or was it a sad love story? One could easily say it was all yet none of them were truly strong enough to carry the film. Thankfully the acting was so good, and the film felt and looked such away that it seemed to hypnotize- even considering its issues with narrative. Writer and director James Gray (Two Lovers, Little Odessa) has matured as a film maker but still needs a bit of work in the screenwriting department.

Parental Guide:

Rated R for sexual content, nudity and some language


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: 84
(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: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)

• Resolution/Clarity:
• Black Level/Shadow Detail:
• Color Reproduction:
• Fleshtones:
• Compression:

The Immigrant comes to Blu-ray Disc from Anchor Bay featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 27.8 Mbps and lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.6 Mbps.

Captured on 35mm, this encoding of The Immigrant still looks like film with a visible grain structure intact. Blacks are inky and contrast is stable, however, finer details are not the sharpest as the image favors an artistic choice to appear soft. Colors are intentionally on the warm side with lots of red, yellow and gold hues which are all and very rich. Thankfully this didn't effect flesh-tones as much as it should. The audio track is great with its placement and clarity of dialogue, atmospherics and general imaging. Music is light and airy, adding a needed layer to this minimalistic track.



Bonus Features:

• Audio Commentary: With Writer/Director James Gray
• (HD) The Visual Inspiration of The Immigrant
• (HD) The Immigrant Trailer

Final Thoughts:

The Immigrant could have been, and was so close to being a deep and impactful tale of what arrivals to america would have to endure in the early 1900's. Unfortunately the films muddled narrative detracted from some amazing acting, directing and design. Worth a watch, but I am sorry to report not a purchase.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtALp_aTZo0

Lee Weber
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews


Reference Review System:

JVC DLA-RS4910 3D 1080p 3D High Definition Front Projector
Falcon Screens Horizon 138" 2.35:1 Acoustically Transparent Screen
Da-Lite Pro Imager Projector Screen Masking Syste
Yamaha CX-A5000 Pre/Pro
Parasound Halo A51 & A21 7x250
Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Triad Gold LCR's
Triad Silver Surrounds x4
Triad Bronze Subwoofers x4
Panamorph DC1 Anamorphic Lens
AudioQuest Wires

Panasonic TC-P65ZT60 3D 1080p Plasma
Anthem MRX-310-AV Receiver
Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
MKSound MP-7 LCR's
MKSound SUR-55T Surrounds
Triad Bronze Subwoofer

 

[morbidcorpse]

My best friend is a Polish immigrant. I'll be sure to watch this with her.

 

[toxycm]

I normally like these three actors so I'll give this one a shot. Thanks for the review.