The Sessions Blu-ray Review

The Sessions' Blu-ray video quality is nothing short of stellar, presenting a striking 1080p/AVC-encoded picture that demonstrates the capabilities of the Red One camera system to its fullest. Shot digitally, the image boasts exceptional clarity without any detectable noise, showcasing fine details with extraordinary precision. Particularly notable is the sharpness observed in close-up shots where the textures of skin and clothing are discernibly detailed, contributing to a highly immersive viewing experience. The color grading enhances realism with a hint of amplification, presenting creamy warm highlights and vibrant saturation that bring the late 1980s setting to life with strong, punchy contrast. This Blu-ray does not suffer from common digital encoding problems such as compression artifacts, noise reduction, or edge enhancement, making for a clean and stable presentation throughout.

Furthermore, the Sessions is presented in a faithful 1.85:1 aspect ratio that complements its pristine detail and color rendition. The depth of blacks adds to the visual depth, producing inky shadows without compromising detail. Despite occasional intentional softening of the image to align with the film’s dreamlike or fairy-tale elements, these artistic choices do not detract from the overall high-definition experience. Colors remain vibrant and well-defined, avoiding vagueness or muting, while flesh tones are depicted with natural smoothness, despite minor inconsistencies. The technical proficiency extends to the avoidance of visual imperfections such as aliasing or edge enhancement, solidifying this release’s spotless appeal.

In summary, The Sessions delivers an exemplary video presentation on Blu-ray that’s sure to impress even the most discerning viewers. From its flawless detail and color accuracy to its commendable handling of both digital and artistic aspects of the picture, this release sets a high standard for high-definition home entertainment, with no significant drawbacks in its visual transfer.

The Sessions," primarily a dialogue-focused narrative, is endowed with a meticulously crafted DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, embracing its nature with a soundscape that prioritizes clarity and intimacy over aggressive dynamics. This track effortlessly maintains the film's intimate tone, ensuring dialogue is effortlessly articulated—crystal clear across all fronts, allowing every word to resonate with the intended emotional impact. Simultaneously, Marco Beltrami's somber score, uncharacteristic of his typically rhythm-intensive compositions, is elegantly laced throughout the channels, ensuring a coherent auditory experience without overshadowing the spoken word. Ambient sounds, including subtle cityscapes and background conversations, while soft, are adequately represented, enhancing the film's realism without detracting from its focal element.

The mix makes intelligent use of the surround channels to create a convincingly immersive environment—utilizing them for ambient effects such as oceanic sequences, spatial church reverberations, or the subtle hum of city life to support rather than distract from the narrative. The rear channels, though not aggressively employed, contribute to an enveloping atmosphere that complements the film's contemplative mood. Directionality, while not a prominent feature due to the nature of the film, is efficiently implemented when called upon, enriching the audio presentation's overall fidelity.

Supported by a range of audio options including Spanish and French dubs alongside English SDH and Spanish subtitles, and an English descriptive audio track, the Blu-ray disc ensures accessibility. The balance achieved between dialogue, music, and ambient sound frames "The Sessions" in an audio presentation that respects its narrative core while delivering a sonically rich experience that underscores the film’s emotional landscape without resorting to auditory excess.

The Blu-ray extras of "The Sessions" offer a deep dive into the creative process, featuring a mix of technical and thematic explorations that shed light on how the movie’s unique story was brought to life. Notably, the disc includes detailed featurettes on the cast's transformation into their roles, with special emphasis on John Hawkes and Helen Hunt delving into their complex characters and the meticulous preparation they undertook. Deleted scenes provide a glimpse into the editorial decisions made to streamline the narrative, affirming the strength of the final cut. Director Ben Lewin's personal connection to the story is highlighted, adding a layer of authenticity and passion to the project. Overall, these extras cater to fans looking for an in-depth look at the film’s production and thematic underpinnings, offering insights that enrich the viewing experience but remain accessible and engaging for a broad audience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Two removed scenes, focusing on character moments and fantasy sequences.
• Writer/Director Ben Lewin Finds Inspiration: Lewin shares the story's origin and casting insights.
• John Hawkes Becomes Mark O'Brien: An exploration of Hawkes' physical and emotional preparation for the role.
• Helen Hunt as the Sex Surrogate: Discussion on Hunt's portrayal and research for her character.
• A Session with the Cast: Cast and crew discuss the film's making and their personal connections to the story.
• The Women Who Loved Mark O'Brien: Insights into the real-life inspirations and female characters' perspectives.
• Theatrical Trailer: The official film trailer.
• Sneak Peek: Extended previews of upcoming releases.

The Sessions" emerges as a poignant and profoundly human portrayal of sexuality and intimacy, illuminated by the true story of Mark O'Brien (played with astonishing fidelity by John Hawkes), whose life in an iron lung following childhood polio neither quells his humor nor his quest for physical love. Directed with a deft touch by Ben Lewin, a filmmaker with his own history of polio, the movie offers an exploration that's both deeply personal and universally relatable. The narrative, inspired by O’Brien's own essay detailing his experiences with a sex surrogate to explore his sexuality at the age of 38, transcends mere biographical recounting to delve into broader themes of love, faith, and self-acceptance.

Central to the film's emotional core are the performances by John Hawkes and Helen Hunt, the latter portraying Cheryl Cohen-Greene, the sex surrogate who embarks on this intimate journey with O'Brien. Hawkes' portrayal is a masterclass in nuanced acting, delivering a heart-rending depiction of O'Brien without ever bordering on caricature or sentimentality. His physical transformation and restrained performance capture the essence of a man confined by physical limitations but unbounded in spirit and intellect. Helen Hunt, in a role requiring both vulnerability and strength, presents a layered character who navigates the professional boundaries and personal connections of her unique occupation with grace.

The technical craftsmanship of "The Sessions" deserves mention as well. Lewin's direction is commendable for its lack of condescension or exploitation, treating its subject matter with the dignity and honesty it commands. Through intimate cinematography and a sensitive script, the film succeeds in portraying sex not as it often appears in cinema, but as an awkward, meaningful, and sometimes humorous connection between people. In doing so, it challenges societal perceptions of disability, sexuality, and intimacy, making a profound statement on the universal desire for connection. Without descending into melodrama, "The Sessions" balances its heavier themes with lightness and wit, underscored by a nuanced understanding of human nature.

The Sessions," directed by the impressively adept 66-year-old Ben Lewin, has proven itself to be an extraordinary indie film, brilliantly blending drama and humor to tackle a rather sensitive subject. The film's portrayal of intimacy and emotional growth is not only life-affirming but comes with the promise of an unparalleled cathartic experience, echoed by viewers who find themselves deeply moved, even to tears, as the narrative unfolds. Lewin's direction alongside stellar performances by John Hawkes and Helen Hunt add a profound depth and realism to the story, making it one of the most unexpected gems of 2012. The Blu-ray release by 20th Century Fox complements this exceptional film with a stunning high-definition visual presentation and commendable audio quality that serves the film's comedy and drama aspects well. Alongside, although it brings a relatively modest collection of special features, they are informative and enrich the overall experience.

Critically, from a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray edition does not falter. It is praised for its visually clean and crisp presentation that enhances the viewing experience, allowing audiences to immerse fully into the compelling narrative and outstanding performances. The audio quality is noted to be decent, which is crucial for a film where dialogue and subtle sounds play a significant role in conveying emotions and advancing the plot. Although the additional content may seem sparse, what is provided is impactful and adds significant value.

In conclusion, "The Sessions" Blu-ray should be considered an essential addition to any film enthusiast's collection, promising not only a film of exceptional narrative depth and character portrayal but also a product of superior technical quality. With its high-definition visual clarity, decent audio, and insightful extras, it ensures that the emotional and cinematic journey of this film is preserved and presented in the best possible manner. Reminiscent of its theatrical impact, it remains highly recommended, a testament to cinema's power to explore complex themes with sensitivity and depth.