Perfect Stranger

"Perfect Stranger" arrives on Blu-ray sporting a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, presented in 1080p via the AVC MPEG-4 codec, delivering an image quality that ranges from striking to near-perfect. This release showcases an exceptionally clean and sharp picture throughout, free from any evident video noise or compression artifacts. The film's color palette shines, with blacks that are described as rock solid and skin tones that appear perfectly balanced, contributing to an overall immaculate visual presentation. The carefully chosen contrast of warm Earth tones against cooler, more industrial colors—described by the film's production team as a "Hot Fudge Sundae" aesthetic—is rendered in fine detail, offering a distinct visual style that enhances the cinematic experience, despite the occasional loss of shadow detail.

Interestingly, the transfer marries technical excellence with stylistic choices that emphasize the movie's glossy, somewhat monochromatic look, punctuated by vibrant splashes of color, particularly notable in scenes featuring bright, striking colors against shiny, silver backgrounds. These elements are presented with superb clarity, contrast, and depth, making for an image that is consistently sharp and defined, with flesh tones rendered naturally. The source quality is pristine, reflecting the high standards expected from recent releases.

While "Perfect Stranger" may not be destined to become a quintessential high-definition demo disc due to its lack of a distinctive "wow factor," it stands firmly among the top-tier Blu-ray releases in terms of video quality. The meticulous AVC video encoding ensures that even the subtlest textures, from the specific makeup choices to the sleek architectural backgrounds, are crisply captured, making this release a commendable showcase of the film's unique visual style and the capabilities of the Blu-ray format.

"Perfect Stranger" presents an audio experience that is polished and precise, delivered through an uncompressed PCM 5.1 soundtrack at 48kHz/16bit, a choice that stands out for its clarity and quality on this Blu-ray release. The sound engineering is exemplary, avoiding the pitfalls of overpowering action sequences in favor of a more nuanced auditory landscape. Dialogue is consistently clear, firmly anchored in the center channel, ensuring that the spoken word is never lost amidst the backdrop of ambient sounds that fill the city and office scenes with life. The surround channels are utilized with subtlety, enhancing the atmosphere without commanding undue attention, embodying a soundtrack that serves its purpose with understated confidence.

Antonio Pinto’s original score is a highlight within this audio mix, offering a nuanced layer of emotional depth that elevates the entire listening experience. Its placement in the mix demonstrates a thoughtful application of dynamics, allowing for moments of auditory breathing room where the music can truly shine. This aspect of the soundtrack is commendably balanced - the low bass and crystal-clear highs maintain a crisp dynamic range without ever becoming intrusive, proving that a thriller's audio design can be both atmospheric and engaging without relying on excessive sound effects.

While not laden with the explosive dynamics often associated with action-packed blockbusters, "Perfect Stranger" showcases an audio presentation that is commendably well-produced, showcasing meticulous attention to detail. The use of surrounds and the sparing application of LFE channels contribute to a soundscape that is immersive yet unobtrusive, asserting an effective use of audio elements to support the film's suspenseful narrative. The result is a sonic experience that complements the movie’s intent perfectly, making it a solid example of how to execute a thriller's audio track with skill and restraint.

The Blu-ray edition of "Perfect Stranger" showcases its extras in a lackluster package that paradoxically shines through its high-definition presentation. The singular bonus feature, a making-of documentary titled "Virtual Lives: The Making of Perfect Stranger," stretches thinly over 12 minutes. It includes interviews with the cast and crew, who provide commendable, if overly enthusiastic, insights into the film's production and thematic ambitions. Despite its brief and somewhat superficial coverage, the featurette benefits from a high-quality 1080p/MPEG-2 video presentation, ensuring that Halle Berry and Bruce Willis appear in crisp detail as they discuss their experiences on set. Accompanying this are trailers for other Sony titles in high definition, which, although unrelated to the film's content, add a touch of variety to the offerings. This extras package may disappoint those seeking a deep dive into the film's creation, but for what it offers, it's a visually polished yet minimalistic complement to the movie.

Extras included in this disc:

• Virtual Lives: The Making of Perfect Stranger: A short documentary featuring cast and crew interviews, presented in 1080p High Definition.
• Coming to Blu-ray: Trailer collection including "Premonition," "Reign Over Me," "Vacancy," and "Ghost Rider."

"Perfect Stranger," directed by James Foley and starring Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, and Giovanni Ribisi, is a supposed psychological thriller that unfortunately fails to live up to its genre. Berry shines as Rowena Ro Price, an investigative reporter who delves into the mysterious death of her friend, supposedly connected to Willis's character, Harrison Hill, a high-flying advertising executive. Despite the potential for a gripping narrative, the film is consistently let down by its meandering plot and lack of genuine suspense. Transitioning the production from New Orleans to New York City post-Hurricane Katrina offered a backdrop change, but not even this could salvage the flailing storyline which struggles to maintain coherence and intrigue.

The performances by Berry and Ribisi are commendable, with both actors bringing a level of dedication to their roles that is deserving of better material. However, Bruce Willis's portrayal of Hill misses the mark, leaning more towards his action-hero persona than the suave executive the role called for. The narrative attempts to weave in technological elements and undercover espionage in a bid to update the thriller motif, but these aspects feel outdated and fail to add any real tension or excitement. The film’s climax, aiming for a shocking twist, feels contrived and hastily executed, leaving viewers more perplexed than pleasantly surprised.

Despite its attempts to create a compelling thriller through a blend of sleek visuals and a premise that hints at dark industry secrets and digital voyeurism, "Perfect Stranger" struggles under the weight of its underdeveloped plot and character dynamics. While there might be a perverse enjoyment found in its unintentionally laughable moments for aficionados of bad cinema, it ultimately serves as a stark reminder of the misfires possible even with a cast of esteemed actors and a seasoned director at the helm. The movie's reliance on worn clichés and lackluster execution makes it difficult to recommend, underscoring a missed opportunity to deliver a memorable addition to the thriller genre.

"Perfect Stranger" on Blu-ray presents an intriguing paradox, balancing stellar technical presentation with a movie that, unfortunately, doesn't seem to live up to its visual and auditory quality. The film itself is marred by what many have described as unconvincing acting performances from its leads, with a particularly notable miscasting of Bruce Willis. Despite strong efforts from Halle Berry and Giovanni Ribisi, the thriller fails to deliver the suspense and twists it promises, culminating in a plot twist that has been labeled as far-fetched and insulting to the audience's intelligence.

Technically, the Blu-ray excels with its reference-quality picture and an uncompressed PCM 5.1 soundtrack that is well recorded, though it suffers from a lack of dynamic movement. The excellent AVC encoding showcases the high standard of the Blu-ray format, yet this high-quality audio-visual experience seems almost wasted on a film whose content has been widely criticized. The extras provided are minimal and underwhelming, featuring a short featurette that does little to add value or insight into the film's production, leaving much to be desired for those looking for a comprehensive home theater experience.

In conclusion, while "Perfect Stranger" on Blu-ray stands out for its technical merits, it ultimately falls short as a compelling or satisfying thriller. The disconnect between the film's quality of presentation and the quality of its content is stark. This release might appeal to those with a penchant for high-definition picture and sound who are less concerned with narrative achievement. However, for viewers seeking a thriller that is as engaging story-wise as it is technically sound, this Blu-ray might not be the investment they're looking for.