Collateral Beauty Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Collateral Beauty" is astoundingly impressive. The 2.40:1 1080p transfer captures every nuance with a perceivable sense of depth and detailed clarity. Close-ups and mid-level shots are sharp, revealing intricate subtleties within facial features, clothing, and background elements. The colors are vibrant, with primary and secondary hues appearing vivid yet natural, contributing to a visually gratifying experience. Skin tones are both vibrant and diverse, and black levels are deep and nuanced, enhancing scenes with both light and dark elements. There is exceptional discernment in shadowed environments, with backgrounds exhibiting clear shapes and structure.

Notably, Maryse Alberti's cinematography, captured with an Alexa camera, contributes a polished look that aligns with the film’s modern fable aesthetic. The lighting enriches New York’s Christmas decor, presenting clean lines and rich textures that highlight the narrative's thematic undertones. Warner’s 1080p AVC-encoded transfer accentuates this with a commendable average bitrate of 34.99 Mbps, highlighting a rarely seen dedication to image quality within its theatrical group. The film's digital acquisition allows for a film-like smoothness that complements its sharp detail.

This Blu-ray transfer stands as a testament to exemplary digital post-processing. The colors have been meticulously tweaked in post-production to offer a richly varied palette that maintains vibrancy without appearing cold, regardless of the film’s snowy urban setting. Free from interference or artifacting, the Blu-ray achieves superior clarity and smoothness, demonstrating the exceptional benefits of letting compressionists maximize the available BD-50 space. This results in a flawless visual experience that solidifies "Collateral Beauty" as a benchmark for high-definition presentations.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack of "Collateral Beauty" provides a high-fidelity audio experience marked by outstanding clarity in dialogue and a precisely rendered soundstage. Dialogue is nuanced, maintaining crispness and intelligibility across varying tonal inflections. The score by Theodore Shapiro integrates seamlessly into the mix, enhancing the overall emotional impact without overwhelming other sonic elements. The front soundstage commands the bulk of the audio presentation, augmented intermittently by atmospheric effects and panning sequences through the rear channels which enlarge the soundscape appropriately.

Ambient effects are subtly employed, creating distinct, realistic environments that elevate the film’s faux fairy tale atmosphere. Notably, busy scenes such as those in office settings or on New York City streets are layered with impressive imaging that preserves dialogue clarity amidst complex background noise. Bass response is adequate though not pronounced, serving to support rather than dominate the mix. Overall, this DTS-HD Master Audio track ensures a well-balanced and immersive listening experience.

The Blu-ray release of "Collateral Beauty" falls short on bonus features, reflecting the film's lukewarm critical reception and poor box office performance. The primary extra, "A Modern Fable: Discovering Collateral Beauty," is a 15-minute featurette that offers interviews with most of the principal cast (notably excluding Michael Peña), along with director David Frankel, screenwriter Allan Loeb, and producer Anthony Bregman. The featurette attempts to frame the film as an important human drama, which some find ironic given the film's modest success. Additional content includes usual introductory trailers, making this Blu-ray a rather sparse offering for enthusiasts seeking in-depth behind-the-scenes material.

Extras included in this disc:

• A Modern Fable: Discovering Collateral Beauty: Interviews with the principal cast and crew discussing their perspectives on the film.
• Introductory Trailers: Startup trailers for "Wonder Woman" and Warner's 4K disc promo.

"Collateral Beauty" presents itself as an emotionally charged, contemporary fable, centering on the universal themes of love, time, and loss. The story revolves around Howard Inlet, portrayed by Will Smith, whose life crumbles following his daughter's untimely death. Despite the film’s intentions to deliver a heartwarming narrative, it stumbles significantly in character development and emotional connection. The attempt to draw parallels with "It's a Wonderful Life" falls flat, as viewers are instantly thrust into Howard's deep sorrow without ever truly understanding his character or the bond with his daughter.

The narrative takes an unconventional turn with Howard's colleagues - played by Edward Norton, Kate Winslet, and Michael Peña - resorting to hiring actors (Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, and Jacob Latimore) to embody Love, Death, and Time. This elaborate scheme to reconnect with Howard blurs the distinction between reality and allegory, ultimately feeling manipulative rather than cathartic. While the ensemble cast - especially Mirren - delivers commendable performances, the film's superficial portrayal of grief and human relationships undermines the genuine emotion it seeks to convey.

Director David Frankel and screenwriter Allan Loeb fail to establish a compelling emotional foundation, opting instead for melodramatic twists that compromise the story’s integrity. Moments meant to be poignant are overshadowed by a contrived plot and lack of authentic character interactions. Despite the film’s aesthetically pleasing presentation, it lacks the emotional resonance needed to leave a lasting impact. Ultimately, "Collateral Beauty" is a missed opportunity where stellar acting cannot compensate for the deficiencies in storytelling and depth.

"Collateral Beauty" has certainly drawn attention due to its star-studded cast, including luminaries such as Will Smith, Helen Mirren, and Edward Norton. However, the film's narrative structure and character development are less impressive. The story, which had the potential for emotional depth, often comes off as trite and heavy-handed. The plot's attempt at poignancy falls flat due to ill-conceived twists that undermine the audience’s ability to genuinely connect with the characters. These weaknesses raise questions about how such a talented ensemble was drawn into a project so fundamentally flawed.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray release of "Collateral Beauty" is impressive. Presented by Warner Bros., the visual presentation is nothing short of exceptional. The high-definition picture quality brings New York City’s landscapes to life with vivid detail and vibrant colors, while the audio mix is equally sophisticated, delivering a rich surround sound experience. Unfortunately, while the technical aspects of the Blu-ray are commendable, they do little to salvage the viewer's overall experience of the film itself.

Extra features included in the Blu-ray are minimal, which may disappoint those looking for deeper insights or behind-the-scenes content. Given these factors, while the Blu-ray format of "Collateral Beauty" excels in visual and audio quality, the film’s narrative deficiencies make this release more suitable as a rental rather than a blind purchase. In conclusion, despite its technical proficiency, "Collateral Beauty" struggles to deliver substantively on its thematic ambitions, offering little beyond its polished veneer.