Syrup Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Syrup" offers a 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, sourced from a likely 2K digital intermediate. Julio Macat’s expertise in cinematography is evident in the deliberately heightened and stylized visuals that eschew naturalism. The film's world, dominated by cool hues like blues, whites, and grays, vividly reflects its cold-hearted advertising milieu. Within these deliberate aesthetic choices, the AVC encode performs commendably, maintaining a sharp and vibrant image despite the oversaturated colors, without any significant noise or interference. The consistency in color intensity showcases Scat and Six’s chilly environment, contrasting sharply with the warmer, albeit still hard-surfaced, locations like Scat's shared apartment.

The transfer manages to circumvent major issues typically associated with BD-25 formatting; its average bitrate of 22.99 Mbps sufficiently supports the film's visually-driven narrative without visible compression artifacts. Shadow details occasionally tend to wash out due to high contrast, with some blacks appearing overly bright and grayish, yet this appears to be an intentional part of the visual design rather than a flaw. Unique to "Syrup," the presentation emphasizes a magazine-like quality that suits its superficial marketing themes, augmented by the striking use of bold colors and heightened contrasts. While not as exceptionally sharp or dimensional as some contemporary releases, it nonetheless delivers a technically robust and clean image, free from significant problems besides minor shimmering and light noise in darker scenes.

Overall, the Blu-ray presentation of "Syrup" leverages its glossy, albeit slightly artificial, visual styling effectively, aligning it with the film’s marketing and advertising motifs. The meticulous digital effects and controlled color palette balance well within the transfer’s limitations, producing a clean, artifact-free viewing experience that remains engaging despite its deliberate lack of naturalism.

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack for Syrup is a standout feature, steering towards a hyper-expressive design rather than sheer realism. The sound mix thrives on its dynamic nature, effectively supporting the film’s narrative techniques involving rushing, zooming, and pausing effects that complement the visuals. Although the primary ambiance is subdued to accommodate abrupt transitions into marketing lessons narrated by characters, the track integrates ambient noises seamlessly when required. Dialogue clarity is impeccable, front and center, ensuring no balance issues. The bass extension is particularly laudable during key scenes, adding a substantial impact without being overwhelming.

The movie's score, composed by Peter Bateman and Andrew Holtzman, melds effortlessly with the vibrant visuals, enhancing the overall viewing experience. General city ambiance, from crowds to passing cars, is proficiently distributed across the front soundstage with occasional surround dispersal, adding subtle depth to the scenes. Flashy audio effects bolster the film's self-aware montages, ensuring a lively and engaging soundscape without descending into gimmickry. Low-frequency activity remains relatively reserved, fitting appropriately with the film’s content that doesn't demand excessive bass.

In summary, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track on Syrup does not seek to immerse but rather to complement and enhance the film’s unique storytelling style. The dialogue-centric approach ensures that narrative clarity is maintained, while environmental elements and score integration contribute to a well-balanced and vivid auditory experience. This thoughtful audio presentation elevates the film's atmosphere, making the most of its creative sound design without sacrificing naturalism or clarity.

The Blu-ray extras for "Syrup" are modest but insightful, offering a professional glimpse into the film’s production elements. Presented in 1080i with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound, the highlight is an interview with Executive Producer/Costume Designer Sophia Banks-Coloma, who delves deeply into the meticulous planning behind the film's $2-3 million wardrobe, solidifying the theme of image obsession. An AXS TV featurette serves as an extended trailer, providing snippets of cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. The disc also includes the official trailer and trailers for other Magnolia Home Entertainment releases, though BD-Live content was not accessible at the time of review.

Extras included in this disc:

Interview with Executive Producer/Costume Designer Sophia Banks-Coloma: Discusses the look for each main character and the valued wardrobe.

AXS TV: A Look at Syrup: Features excerpts from the costume designer interview and brief cast insights.

Trailer: Official film trailer.

Also From Magnolia Home Entertainment: Additional trailers for other releases.

Aram Rappaport's "Syrup," adapted from Max Barry's novel, attempts to delve into the world of marketing with a satirical edge but ultimately falls short. The film revolves around Scat (Shiloh Fernandez), an ambitious ad man who conceives an energy drink called Fukk and tries to pitch it to a deceitful executive named Six (Amber Heard). Despite its promising premise, the movie turns out to be a shallow exploration of marketing techniques. The film remains a flashy but insubstantial affair that's more focused on style than substance, undercutting its critical potential with oversimplified commentary and flat character development.

A significant portion of the film's satirical promise is delivered through voiceover narration by Toby Hemingway, which captures some marketing jargon humor. However, the narrative primarily follows predictable plot lines involving corporate betrayal and personal ambition, but without much depth. Scat’s journey from initial success to downfall feels overly simplistic and fails to offer insightful critiques of the advertising industry's cutthroat nature. Additionally, efforts to inject creativity—such as characters like Sneaky Pete (Kellan Lutz) or the all-knowing Three (Brittany Snow)—feel forced and do not significantly elevate the film.

The performances are serviceable but far from compelling. Shiloh Fernandez and Amber Heard lack chemistry, and their characters come across as superficial and unconvincing. This is further exacerbated by Rappaport's direction, which employs stylistic devices like voiceovers and direct camera addresses that ultimately feel misaligned with the film's intended biting satire. What could have been an insightful look into marketing's pervasive influence ends up as an uneven, pedestrian narrative plagued by hollow storytelling and lackluster character portrayals. Though some moments shine with potential, "Syrup" doesn't fully capitalize on its intriguing premise, leaving it a missed opportunity for substantive comedic critique.

"Syrup" presents an intriguing premise derived from a beloved novel that holds potential for sharp satire on the advertising industry. Unfortunately, the film struggles with delivering cohesive satire and falls short of offering biting wit or intelligent social commentary. The narrative's observations are superficial, and the movie fails to delve deep into its themes, thus making the overall experience somewhat hollow. Yet, despite these setbacks, the film does offer moments of enjoyment, particularly through its characters and performances.

Amber Heard stands out as Six, delivering a performance that interestingly marries physical allure with nuanced behavioral intricacies. Her portrayal captivates and retains audience interest through the film’s various turns, providing a substantial reason for viewers to stay engaged. Shiloh Fernandez, though competent as Scat, does not overshadow Heard’s compelling presence. While the film maintains an engaging start, its second half noticeably pales in poignancy and impact.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray release is solid but unremarkable. The video quality is inconsistent, presenting a mixed bag of visual clarity but the audio is delivered impressively. Supplementary content falls short, with only two brief features that fail to add meaningful insight into the production or its themes. Consequently, anyone looking for an in-depth exploration of the film will find this aspect lacking.

Perhaps the biggest waste of "Syrup" is Amber Heard's work in creating the character of Six, because she leaves you at least curious about what makes her tick. If there were ever a sequel, focusing on 'The Further Adventures of Six' might lead to a more compelling storyline. As it stands, "Syrup" offers enough curiosity for a rental rather than a purchase.