Third Person Blu-ray Review

"Third Person" on Blu-ray offers an exceptional video experience, delivering a pristine 1080p, MPEG-4 AVC presentation with an aspect ratio of 2.36:1. Sony's attention to detail is evident in every frame, presenting a digital clarity that is both crisp and precise. The imagery remains sharp, with no soft edges or blurred backgrounds, ensuring that every scene is captured in high definition. Facial features, clothing lines, and various on-screen objects benefit from a tactile and well-defined appearance. This impeccable detailing extends to both foreground and background imagery, making the visual presentation truly impressive.

The color reproduction in "Third Person" is another highlight of this Blu-ray presentation. The colors are natural yet vibrant, bringing out a beautiful spectrum from bold reds to subtle off-whites with excellent precision. The film’s palette is realistic and balanced, enhancing the lifelike quality of the visuals without being overly loud. Black levels are consistently deep and luscious, adding to the image's sharpness and definition, while preserving intricate details even in the darkest scenes. Flesh tones are consistent and lifelike, capturing every wrinkle and blemish with stunning realism.

Overall, Sony delivers a top-flight video effort with "Third Person." Free from digital anomalies, this Blu-ray boasts clean noise levels and artifact-free images, securing its position as a high-quality release. The presentation's three-dimensional depth further immerses the viewer, providing a tangible relation between background and foreground in various settings. This meticulous attention to visual detail ensures a rich and engaging viewing experience from start to finish.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Third Person" from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment delivers a robust and immersive experience, leveraging the impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Despite being a dialogue-heavy drama, the audio mix is anything but flat. Dialogue is reproduced with clean, crisp, and lifelike clarity from the center channel, ensuring that every word is delivered precisely and naturally. The ambiance and minor background effects are seamlessly integrated into the soundstage, enhancing the overall realism.

The film's musical elements are handled with expert precision and nuance, from light background scores to more intensive club beats, particularly noticeable in chapter nine, where they pulse with a powerful low end enveloping the listening area. Scenes such as Adrien Brody at a train station or his high-speed car ride through Italy are conveyed with an intensity and immersion that rival some of the best action movie soundtracks. The mix effectively utilizes the subwoofer for low-frequency extensions on vehicles, door shuts, and environmental vibrations, ensuring that the viewer feels the weight of these sounds.

Additionally, the surround sound presentation is well-executed, with ambient sounds and score primarily filling the rear speakers, while certain marketplace and action-oriented moments display impressive left and right channel interplay. Overall, the audio experience is excellently balanced, with smooth accompaniment from vocals, sound effects, and music that provide a gratifying and dynamic listening experience. This high-quality audio track makes "Third Person" an excellent addition to any Blu-ray collection, especially for those who appreciate well-crafted sound design in film.

The Blu-ray release of "Third Person" includes a modest but insightful set of extras that delve into various aspects of the film's creation. The most notable feature is the audio commentary featuring Writer/Director Paul Haggis, Production Designer Laurence Bennett, Editor Jo Francis, Producer Michael Nozik, and Actor Moran Atias. Their discussion is smooth and easygoing, offering valuable insights for audiences interested in both the narrative and technical intricacies of the film. Additionally, a 33-minute Q&A session with Paul Haggis, moderated by Pete Hammond, provides an informative post-screening discussion. A brief making-of featurette offers a snapshot into character construction and the film's overarching themes, while the theatrical trailer rounds out the extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Filmmaker Commentary: Insightful commentary from key members of the production team.
• Q&A with Paul Haggis: A 33-minute session discussing the film.
• The Making of Third Person: A 9-minute featurette on the film's basic ideas and character construction.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original trailer for the film's release.

"Third Person" unfolds as an intricate tapestry of intertwined love stories set against the scenic backdrops of New York, Paris, and Rome. Directed by Paul Haggis, whose previous accolades include "Crash" and "Million Dollar Baby," the film ambitiously explores themes of love, passion, trust, and betrayal. It's structured around three distinct storylines: one relationships' burgeoning beginning, another in its turbulent middle, and the third nearing its end. Despite this narrative interweaving, Haggis leaves many elements open to interpretation, demanding viewers to piece together the relationships' deeper connections and shared themes.

The cast is the film's undeniable strength. Liam Neeson portrays Michael, a once-celebrated writer now wrestling with personal and professional turmoil in a Paris hotel. Olivia Wilde plays his enigmatic mistress, Anna, whose secrets add layers of complexity. Adrien Brody's Scott falls for Moran Atias's Monika in Italy; their storyline involves a child's ransom demanded by gangsters. In New York, Mila Kunis shines as Julia, a mother fighting a custody battle against her estranged husband Rick, played by James Franco. The supporting performances, including Kim Basinger and Maria Bello, add further depth to the film.

While "Third Person" captivates initially with its promise of interconnected narratives and excellent performances, it often succumbs to its own ambitious structure. The screenplay's pacing can feel sluggish, especially as the plot transitions aim to maintain coherence but sometimes elongate the reveal unnecessarily. Haggis stretches the material, causing occasional narrative lag. Nonetheless, the actors' compelling portrayals sustain a level of engagement, contributing significantly to the film’s emotional albeit somewhat convoluted journey. This creates a paradox where stellar acting meets a script that occasionally underwhelms, resulting in a technically proficient yet emotionally uneven cinematic experience.

Paul Haggis' "Third Person" receives a commendable Blu-ray release from Sony, exemplifying technical perfection in both video and audio presentation. The lossless audio ensures immersive soundscapes, while the high-definition video delivers crisp, vibrant visuals that highlight the film's cinematographic nuances. The Blu-ray package is further enhanced with a decent array of supplements, providing viewers with additional insights into the film's development and themes.

Despite its promising premise and an ensemble cast showcasing strong performances, "Third Person" struggles to maintain its initial momentum. The narrative, rich in intricate characters and early engagement, becomes convoluted with excessive twists and turns in the second half, leading to a sense of unfulfilled potential. Viewers might find themselves more puzzled than enlightened by the film’s resolution, indicating missed opportunities in narrative cohesion.

In conclusion, while "Third Person" offers a mixed cinematic experience, Sony's Blu-ray release stands out for its superior technical execution. Fans of Paul Haggis or complex, character-driven stories might find it worth a purchase for the quality alone. However, for those hesitant about the film's pacing and narrative payoff, renting might be a more prudent choice.