Not Fade Away Blu-ray Review

Paramount's Blu-ray presentation of "Not Fade Away" delivers an exemplary high-definition video experience. The transition from the opening black-and-white footage to vibrant color scenes sets the stage for a visually stunning journey. The image boasts remarkable clarity and definition, highlighting both foreground and background details with exceptional precision. Period set pieces and costumes are captured beautifully across varied lighting conditions, whether under bright, sun-drenched exteriors or in low-light environments. Facial and clothing textures are particularly impressive in close-ups, showing even the finest lines. The color palette is handled with expert finesse, revealing every hue with perfect skin tones and deep black levels. Despite the smoothness indicative of its digital format (ARRIRAW), there are no signs of digital manipulation, ensuring a pristine viewing experience.

The high-quality digital source pays off in terms of detail and color reproduction, with warm tones that add a slightly aged aesthetic to the film’s modern sheen. While some purists may argue that the period piece would benefit from the grainier texture of film, the smooth digital look remains visually engaging. The cinematography, characterized by its warmth, does an admirable job of invoking a sense of the past, even if it falls short of achieving a fully “lived-in” appearance for some viewers. The superb contrast and deep blacks further enhance the visual appeal, solidifying this as one of Paramount's top-notch offerings.

In summary, this Blu-ray release of "Not Fade Away" provides a visually striking and meticulously detailed presentation that remains faithful to the film's artistic vision. Though some may wish for a more vintage film grain to suit the period essence, the overall quality and fidelity of the digital format present a highly commendable viewing experience.

The audio presentation of "Not Fade Away" on Blu-ray is delivered with exceptional detail and quality through its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Paramount has ensured the soundtrack maintains a rich, balanced sound that captures the essence of the film's rock-centric score. Whether featuring prerecorded tracks or live band performances, every instrument is crisply rendered, providing an immersive auditory experience. Dialogue remains clear and centralized, seamlessly blending with the music without getting overwhelmed. Although the environmental and ambient sounds are not abundant, their occasional presence enhances the film's overall immersion, such as the notable rumbles of a train in the film's opening scene.

While the story's structure does not necessitate extensive surround activity, the 5.1 track’s bright and crisp musical elements stand out, though some reviewers noted a lack of aggressive surround effects and slightly subdued dialogue levels during quieter scenes. Even so, the overall auditory experience fits well with the film's needs. Additional audio tracks, including French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English 2.0 DVS, provide versatility for different viewers, supplemented by subtitles in English, English SDH, French, and Spanish.

Overall, "Not Fade Away" features an audio presentation that is clean and effective. The detailed instrumentals and vocal clarity ensure a high-quality viewing experience. While some might argue that a 2.0 track could suffice given the film's dialogue-driven nature, the chosen 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track delivers an enriching and dynamic soundscape that supports the movie's themes excellently.

The extras of the "Not Fade Away" Blu-ray provide a comprehensive and in-depth look into the film's production and themes. The standout feature is "The Basement Tapes," a three-part making-of documentary that delves into various aspects such as the film's origins, character development, and the technical details of the shoot. Notably, it explores David Chase's passion for music and how it shaped the storytelling and character arcs, further enriched by discussions on the cultural influence of the 1960s. Additionally, "Building the Band" offers insight into the meticulous casting process, and a selection of deleted scenes provides extra narrative context.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Basement Tapes: A three-piece making-of feature focusing on the film's origins, production process, and the cultural backdrop.
• Building the Band: A short but focused look at casting the band members.
• Deleted Scenes: Additional scenes that include Naming the Band, Thanksgiving, Eviction, and You and Me Gonna Tangle.

David Chase's Not Fade Away presents a dramatically hollow coming-of-age tale situated in Vietnam-era New Jersey. The movie struggles with genre clichés—dreams of making it big, young love, group strife, family quarrels—without reinventing them, resulting in a lackluster narrative. While The Sopranos redefined genre storytelling with its richly developed characters and world, Not Fade Away fails to capture that same charisma and captivating cadence. The film, though technically sound, never quite escapes the confines of conventional storytelling, delivering old tropes without the sophisticated reshaping seen in Chase's previous works.

The storyline centers on Douglas (John Magaro), a college student who returns home transformed—sporting long hair and Cubans—in a stark contrast to his old-fashioned, lamenting father (James Gandolfini). Douglas, inspired by The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, seeks fame with his bandmates Eugene (Jack Huston) and Wells (Will Brill), which leads him to quit school and pursue his musical aspirations. The film tackles familiar themes: generational clash, rebellion spurred by adolescence, anti-war sentiments, and the influence of Rock 'N' Roll. However, it does little new with these elements, resulting in a narrative that feels routine and superficial.

Comparisons to cinema's dominant era-music film Almost Famous reveal Not Fade Away's shortcomings starkly. Cameron Crowe's film resonates with nuanced characters and a deeply felt authenticity born from an understanding of music’s transformative power. In contrast, Chase's film captures the era’s look and feel but is devoid of deeper character exploration and nuanced storytelling. Performances suffer from the script's lack of subtlety, although James Gandolfini stands out as the embodiment of generational resistance. John Magaro portrays outward and inward rebellion as best as the script allows but ultimately, Not Fade Away remains a superficial exercise in a well-worn narrative framework.

"Not Fade Away" offers a nostalgic dive into the 1960s rock-and-roll era, driven by its period-accurate aesthetics and sound design. Directed by David Chase, the film strives to capture the essence of teenage rebellion and musical aspirations but often falls into predictable narrative patterns. The portrayal of teen angst and coming-of-age dilemmas, while earnest, lacks the depth and unpredictability that could have set the film apart from its genre counterparts. However, it compensates with strong technical attributes; the film boasts vibrant, well-rendered visuals and a robust audio track that complements its musical theme perfectly.

The Blu-ray release by Paramount, albeit minimalistic in extras, does not disappoint in terms of quality. Viewers are treated to a high-definition experience that accentuates the film's period detailing and soundscapes. The supplementary content includes a series of featurettes collectively known as "The Basement Tapes," which are informative although brief. These featurettes—"Track 1: The Boys in the Band," "Track 2: Living in the Sixties," and "Track 3: Hard Act"—along with the "Building the Band" featurette, provide insights into the film's creative process. Additionally, the inclusion of deleted scenes and digital copy options extends some replay value but may not fully satisfy those looking for an extensive behind-the-scenes look.

Conclusively, "Not Fade Away" is a competent, if somewhat conventional, exploration of young musicians' dreams in the sixties. The technical presentation on Blu-ray is commendable, delivering visually stunning and audibly rich content that serves to enhance the overall viewing experience. Though the film lacks the narrative heft to elevate it to classic status, it's still engaging enough to merit a rental, particularly for fans of the era and genre. The package's limited extras might leave some viewers wanting, but it remains a solid offering worth considering for its technical merits alone.