Parts Per Billion Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Parts Per Billion" on Blu-ray features a crisp 1080p transfer that, while technically sharp, may not appeal to all viewers due to its deliberate, subdued aesthetic. The film's image is highly detailed, with intricate textures visible in facial features, clothing, and various background elements. Hair strands, skin textures, and fabric patterns are clearly delineated. Colors tend to lean towards muted and artificial tones, offering a subtle mix of pasty whites and sickly grays. This choice appears intentional to align with the film's thematic undertones but contributes to an overall sterile and inorganic look. Black levels are generally satisfactory but can appear slightly washed out, while whites are stable without appearing blown-out.

The director’s use of distinct color palettes to differentiate narrative threads is a notable aspect of the transfer. While each palette serves to distinguish the separate stories, the rationale behind these choices is not always clear. Nevertheless, the color filtering does not compromise the level of fine detail present throughout the presentation. The film's high contrast provides robust black levels and vivid whites, particularly during key character moments. While most colors are subdued and maintain a drab appearance, darker hues occasionally stand out, offering a nice dynamic contrast within the flat visual style.

Overall, "Parts Per Billion" presents an above-average visual quality for a film likely produced with a limited budget. The attention to fine detail and accurate texturing help create a polished and visually engaging transfer. However, the deliberately muted color scheme and flat contrast may not be universally appealing but are consistent with the filmmaker's intended look.

The audio presentation of "Parts Per Billion" on Blu-ray features a solid Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Dialogue is delivered cleanly and with precise balance from the center channel, ensuring that voices are clearly heard even amidst concurrent sound effects. The track excels in achieving a natural and organic flow, with music and environmental sounds supporting the narrative effectively. The score and sound effects are well-integrated, providing an immersive experience that heightens moments of tension with finely detailed atmospheric sounds.

While the film is predominantly dialogue-driven, the surround channels are utilized skillfully, delivering ambient noises such as automobile horns, background radio chatter, and blaring warning sirens to create an engaging auditory environment. These elements give depth to the scenes, especially enhancing settings like hospitals and busy streets. The front channels handle larger, more robust sounds and occasional low-frequency effects, though these are limited by the narrative's focus on character interaction. Overall, the mix is understated yet effective, contributing significantly to the storytelling by maintaining clarity and balance across all audio elements.

The Blu-ray release of "Parts Per Billion" is notably sparse in terms of supplemental content, with no film-specific special features or behind-the-scenes materials included. The only extras provided are standard-definition trailers for other Millennium Entertainment titles. This lack of additional content might be disappointing for viewers seeking deeper insights or exclusive footage related to the film itself.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailers: Previews for other Millennium Entertainment titles, presented in 480i standard definition.

Parts Per Billion embarks on an ambitious exploration of the end times through the intimate lens of three interconnected couples. The cast, featuring Penn Badgley, Teresa Palmer, Josh Hartnett, Rosario Dawson, Frank Langella, and Gena Rowlands, diligently conveys the characters' experiences. However, despite their commendable efforts, the convoluted script and over-affected directing often undermine their performances. The film oscillates between various timelines, creating a disjointed narrative that struggles to sustain coherence or generate genuine emotional involvement. The portrayal of a banal routine amidst a global catastrophe seems intended to reflect the characters' detachment or self-absorption but ultimately falls short of delivering any profound statement.

A significant drawback of the film is its inability to effectively juxtapose the catastrophic backdrop with personal stories. Although it aims for intimacy instead of epic disaster scenes, it feels constrained by its limited depiction of the external world—sporadic sirens, lifeless bodies, and sparse abandoned vehicles. The narrative lacks urgency and depth, leaving the audience disengaged from the characters' plight. While Langella and Rowlands' arcs offer some semblance of survival effort, most storylines are driven by petty domestic issues rather than a compelling connection to the apocalypse. This disconnect hampers the film’s intended exploration of human reactions to an imminent biological threat.

The screenplay falls into clichés and misses opportunities for substantive character development. For instance, debates on trivial matters like kitchen cabinet organization reveal an effort to build relationships but come across as trivial given the context. Scenes that could have infused gravitas or dramatic tension eschew this for inadequately justified transitions and superficial dialogues. The film’s overarching themes of selfishness and emotional detachment are masked by attempts at visual metaphor and non-linear storytelling which ultimately fail to resonate. Parts Per Billion aspires to be a thoughtful narrative on the end of civilization but suffers from uninspired execution and lackluster storytelling.

"Parts Per Billion" endeavors to present a high-concept narrative situated within the end-of-the-world genre but falters significantly in execution. The film's initial premise indicates potential for engaging drama and tension; however, this potential is squandered due to poor character development and a convoluted storyline. Despite the presence of capable actors, the script’s lack of coherence and continual purpose renders the characters bland and unengaging. The time-jumping narrative and structural disarray further detract from any real sense of peril or immersion in the film’s world.

The Blu-ray release by Millennium Entertainment showcases commendable technical aspects, including very good video and audio quality. The visual presentation is crisp, and the audio mix effectively captures the intended atmosphere of the film. However, these technical merits are overshadowed by the inadequacies of the film itself. The absence of supplementary features on the Blu-ray disc also diminishes its value as a collectible or extended viewing experience.

In conclusion, "Parts Per Billion" fails to deliver on its ambitious premise due to a fragmented and uninteresting narrative compounded by poor character development. Though technically proficient in terms of Blu-ray presentation quality, the film's disjointed execution makes it difficult to recommend. Rent it if curiosity prevails; otherwise, this is one to skip.