Franklyn Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Franklyn" features an exceptional 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that adeptly handles the film’s varied stylistic approaches. Each character's storyline exhibits distinct visual treatments: Emelia’s scenes are imbued with dark, high-contrast imagery; Milo’s narrative employs a more realistic yet subdued desaturation; Esser's story utilizes wide-angle lenses and silhouetting effectively; while Jonathan Preest’s Meanwhile City is depicted with colorful costumes juxtaposed against a bleak, directionally-lit metropolis. This transfer successfully maintains these unique stylistic choices, honoring the director's vision. Despite not being the sharpest film in recent memory, it provides solid clarity with fine facial and clothing details, and well-rendered background objects when in focus. Black levels are generally adequate, though a few scenes appear grayish. Contrast varies intentionally between storylines but leans towards an ultra-realistic and slightly heated aesthetic.

The glossy and highly-stylized transfer (2.35:1) complements "Franklyn’s" narrative and subject matter. It displays impressive clarity and sharp detail, with a predominantly restrained color palette. Daytime sequences are accentuated with vivid primaries, while nighttime scenes showcase rich, inky blacks and excellent shadow delineation. Architectural details are prominently visible and precise, while facial complexions are natural and textured. The balanced contrast and brightness levels provide a substantial depth of field. This transfer captures the film’s intentional photographic choices and looks great on Blu-ray, delivering a pristine presentation that skirts close to a big-budget look even if it falls just short of that standard.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for "Franklyn" provides a balanced yet subtly engaging auditory experience. While the audio lacks the immediate impact of the film's visual elements, it manages to adequately support the narrative without drawing excessive attention to itself. The track is largely front-heavy with sporadic activity in the rear channels, which are primarily utilized for ambient effects such as city sounds, rain, and wind. Although discrete effects and directionality make occasional appearances, they are not consistently immersive. The soundfield remains moderately engaging, with well-implemented Foley sounds that enhance specific moments—punches, for example, deliver a satisfying impact.

The audio presentation boasts a clear and detailed mix that maintains intelligibility of dialogue throughout. Notably, the mid-range frequencies are well-balanced, ensuring sharp and focused vocals, while the low bass adds depth during action sequences, although it can sound somewhat flat during quieter scenes. The musical score is subtle and subdued, bleeding lightly into the background and providing the only true moments of envelopment. Despite minimal LFE response and a soundstage that never fully envelops the listener, the audio track maintains an inviting and spacious quality with attractive imaging in the front soundstage. Overall, while not exemplary, the audio design suits the film's needs effectively, delivering a respectable yet understated soundscape.

The extras on the "Franklyn" Blu-ray disc provide a mixed bag of content, ranging from superficial promotional material to more in-depth interviews that delve into the making of the film. The brief featurette offers standard Electronic Press Kit (EPK) fare, with lightweight interviews and spliced film clips that don't add significant value. Conversely, the interviews with the cast and crew offer substantial insights into character motivations, visual aesthetics, and production details, making them a highlight. The deleted scenes are somewhat intriguing but offer minimal additional context. Lastly, the original theatrical trailer rounds out the collection.

Extras included in this disc:

• Featurette: Basic promo piece with clips and brief interviews.
• Interviews: In-depth discussions with cast and crew about various aspects of the film.
• Deleted Scenes: Three scenes with Emilia, Milo, and a group of bearded suits.
• Trailer: Original theatrical trailer.

"Franklyn," directed by Gerald McMorrow, intertwines the narratives of four seemingly unrelated characters against the backdrop of two contrasting worlds: the dystopian Meanwhile City and contemporary London. The film opens with a challenging first act marked by its non-linear storytelling and fragmented timelines. Here, the audience is introduced to Jonathan Preest (Ryan Philippe), a masked vigilante in the Gothic, hyper-religious Meanwhile City, and three other protagonists in modern-day London—Milo (Sam Riley), Emilia (Eva Green), and Peter Esser (Bernard Hill). As these stories unfold, McMorrow meticulously weaves them together, revealing their interconnected fates in a climactic yet somewhat predictable manner.

The film excels visually and conceptually, showcasing an imaginative, graphic-novel-inspired aesthetic in Meanwhile City that draws heavily from Tim Burton's Gothic inclinations and Terry Gilliam’s surreal world-building. McMorrow merits praise for creating such a visually engaging milieu on a limited budget. However, while the visual design and atmosphere are compelling, the narrative struggles with scattered thematic execution. Philosophical musings on fate, free will, and the nature of belief are touched upon but never deeply explored, often delivered through Philippe’s noir-ish voiceovers which, though pithy and thought-provoking, feel disconnected from the core storyline.

Performances by the cast significantly anchor the film; Philippe pulls off his role as Preest with surprising depth despite some accent inconsistencies, while Sam Riley embodies his lovelorn character with commendable melancholia. Eva Green delivers a haunting portrayal of Emilia, a distressed art student, and Bernard Hill presents a studiously concerned father in Peter. Nonetheless, despite solid performances, the characters' individual arcs lack sufficient development to elicit lasting emotional investment. "Franklyn" intrigues with its audacious blend of genres and visually rich presentation but ultimately feels somewhat unfocused and narratively diffuse.

Gerald McMorrow's "Franklyn" presents a visually captivating experience with a narrative that intertwines the lives of seemingly unrelated characters, culminating in an enigmatic finale. The film excels in its striking visual style, showcasing McMorrow's considerable directorial flair. However, while the film entices with its atmospheric and dystopian elements, it occasionally succumbs to a somewhat conventional and uninspired plot structure.

The Blu-Ray release delivers a strong audio/visual presentation that enhances the film's moody and dark aesthetics. It benefits from impressive detail and sharpness in the video transfer, with deep blacks and well-defined contrasts that emphasize the film's unique visual style. The audio quality is equally robust, ensuring an immersive viewing experience. However, the package lacks a wealth of supplementary materials, leaving viewers wanting more in terms of behind-the-scenes content and additional insights into the filmmaking process.

In conclusion, Franklyn may not be action-packed or thematically cohesive, but nonetheless it marks an impressive debut for director Gerald McMorrow, and I look forward to seeing whatever project he tackles next. Whatever Franklyn is, you certainly can't call it formulaic, and for that I'm appreciative. Fans of moody thrillers and dystopian parables will certainly find the film worth watching, but this one falls squarely in the rent first, buy if you like it camp.