The Lobster Blu-ray Review

The Lobster," presented on Blu-ray by Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.84:1 aspect ratio, showcases the film's unique visual style, as captured by Arri Alexa XT cameras. This stylistically strong and technically proficient video presentation accurately transmits the film's deliberately dreary and oppressive atmosphere through its color grading. The cool blue-gray and desaturated tones, with occasional shifts to a yellowish/green tinge or vibrant splashes of color, mirror the protagonist David's emotional journey. While the digital source maintains a high level of clarity, revealing fine details and textures from hotel carpets to forest foliage, it also exhibits a light to moderate sheen of grain-like noise, especially notable in lower light conditions or certain stylistic slow-motion sequences that evoke a 16mm film quality.

The video's depth of field is particularly noteworthy in outdoor scenes, contributing to a life-like dimensionality in the director Yorgos Lanthimos and DP Thimios Bakatakis’s carefully composed shots. Although the film's color palette and contrast - with slightly elevated blacks resulting in faintly muddy darkness - might not cater to traditional preferences, they serve the narrative's thematic intentions well. The intentional aesthetic choices are sharp and authentic, ensuring that the director's vision is preserved on this Blu-ray release.

Details in both interior and exterior shots remain impressive despite occasional digital "murk" in low-light settings, maintaining the presentation's overall excellence. These visual elements, from the slight granularity to the nuanced color grading and the strategic use of depth, create a cohesive and immersive viewing experience. This Blu-ray edition of "The Lobster" not only succeeds in replicating the film’s distinct visual style but also enhances the viewer’s engagement with its bleak yet evocative world.

The audio presentation of "The Lobster" on Blu Ray is delivered through a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that champions subtlety while providing a consistently engaging surround experience. This mix splendidly captures the ambient environmental effects, from the symphony of birds and whisper of wind to the more defined sounds such as a brief storm, ensuring a gently enveloping soundscape especially noticeable in outdoor scenes. The film's unique score, intertwining strident string quartets with elements of Greek folk music, is judiciously spread across side and rear channels, offering an immersive auditory environment that complements the on-screen narrative well.

Dialogue and narration within the mix are rendered with clarity and precision, ensuring they remain intelligible and well prioritized amidst the film's various audio elements. This clarity is maintained throughout, without any notable balance issues or technical quirks disrupting the listening experience. The track adeptly balances its more subdued moments with occasional dramatic music cues and environmental sounds, creating a sound design that is both delicately immersive and thoughtfully directed.

Despite its relatively subdued nature, the track does not shy away from making effective use of LFE channels when appropriate, adding a marginal but noticeable oomph to certain scenes without overpowering the film's often understated emotional tones. Furthermore, the inclusion of optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles ensures accessibility for a wider audience. Overall, while the audio may not be characterized by bombastic highs, its careful and considered approach to sound design offers an intimately absorbing experience that greatly enhances the viewing experience of "The Lobster.

The extra presentation of the Blu-ray edition of "The Lobster" notably includes "The Fabric of Attraction: Concocting The Lobster," a feature that stands out due to the film's peculiar narrative. At 23 minutes in length and presented in 1080p with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio, this behind-the-scenes documentary delves into the film's unique approach to exploring themes of love and relationships, its distinctive visual style, and the casting process. Interviews with the cast and crew enrich the content, providing insight into their experiences working with the director and their perspectives on the film's concept. It's a succinct yet informative piece that adds value for fans seeking a deeper understanding of the creative process behind "The Lobster."

Extras included in this disc:

• The Fabric of Attraction: Concocting The Lobster: A behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interviews with cast & crew, exploring the film's themes, visual style, and casting.

The Lobster," with its patently unique premise, unfolds in a dystopian future wherein single individuals face the bizarre mandate of finding a romantic partner within 45 days or be transformed into an animal of their choice. Helmed by the visionary Yorgos Lanthimos, this film stands as an audacious satire on modern love and societal pressures, examining the extremes to which one must go to avoid loneliness and achieve societal acceptance. Through the story of David, played with nuanced vulnerability by Colin Farrell, who navigates the absurdly strict regulations of a hotel designed for matchmaking, the film crafts a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is deeply satirical. The inclusion of Rachel Weisz as the Short Sighted Woman adds layers to this narrative, offering both a sense of hope and profound commentary on the arbitrary nature of relationships forged under societal duress.

Employing a distinctive stylistic approach characterized by deadpan humor and a subdued emotional palette, Lanthimos challenges the audience to question the very nature of companionship and conformity. The film's deliberate pacing, accompanied by strikingly composed shots and a penchant for long takes, crafts an atmosphere that is simultaneously surreal and uncomfortably familiar. This meticulously crafted world, governed by an off-kilter logic that absurdly mirrors our reality, invites viewers into a reflection on the desperation inherent in the conventional pursuit of love and the oftentimes superficial criteria upon which relationships are built.

Notwithstanding its esoteric narrative and peculiar characters, "The Lobster" resonates due to its earnest exploration of human connection, loneliness, and societal expectations. Lanthimos’s cinematic tableau is replete with characters devoid of passion yet defined by idiosyncratic traits, highlighting the sheer arbitrariness of matchmaking criteria. While the film's unorthodox premise and stilted dialogue might alienate some, its incisive satire and unique aesthetic offer a compelling dissection of the lengths to which humanity will go to avoid isolation. As such, "The Lobster" is not merely an exercise in surreal storytelling but a poignant critique of the commodification of love and the inherent absurdity of societal norms surrounding relationships.

The Lobster," directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, emerges as a distinctive and unorthodox exploration of love and societal pressures regarding relationships. The film's surreal approach captures the audience's attention through its blend of dark humor and sharp insights into human connections, distinguishing itself from the typical cinematic experience. Not only does it carve its own niche through its innovative story-telling, but it also boasts strong technical merits. The Blu Ray presentation enhances this unique viewing experience with high-quality video and audio presentations, ensuring that the film's peculiar ambiance is fully appreciated in the comfort of one's home. However, the scarcity of supplements on the disc, with only a behind-the-scenes featurette included, might leave viewers craving more content to explore the film's creative process.

Critics and cinema enthusiasts alike will find "The Lobster" to be a refreshingly original film that challenges conventional narratives about relationships. Its documentarian style, coupled with a bleak sense of humor, meticulously mines human emotions, offering comedy amidst trauma. Despite its potential divisiveness due to its odd tone, those with an affinity for the surreal aspects of cinema will undoubtedly find much to admire here. The technical quality of the Blu Ray complements the film excellently, making it a valuable addition to any collection, albeit one might wish for more in-depth supplemental material to delve into Lanthimos' artistic vision.

In conclusion, "The Lobster" on Blu Ray stands out not only for its unconventional narrative but also for its superior technical presentation, making it a compelling choice for those drawn to the fringes of cinematic storytelling. While the lack of extensive extras is a slight drawback, the overall quality of the film and its presentation makes it highly recommended for viewers seeking something beyond the mainstream. This Blu Ray offers a testament to Yorgos Lanthimos’ mastery in crafting films that are both intellectually stimulating and distinctly unique.