The Art of Getting By Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Art of Getting By" offers a competent video presentation, encapsulated through a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The film, shot on 35mm, retains a warm, naturally filmic quality that stands apart from the typical digital indie look. The color palette is well-rendered, albeit slightly muted to match the film's predominantly urban and cold-weather settings, with a satisfying range of neutral hues and warmer tones. Skin tones appear healthy and natural, while the overall contrast remains punchy without being overpushed. The black levels are adequately deep, though occasionally a bit elevated, leading to less dynamic scenes.

Despite its merits, the video quality fluctuates, particularly due to inconsistent focus throughout the film. While close-up details and textures—when in focus—show commendable sharpness and clarity, numerous wide-angle and mid-level shots suffer from a noticeable soft definition. This soft focus detracts from what could have been a more visually engaging experience. The grain structure is generally even and naturally rendered, avoiding the pitfalls of digital noise reduction or edge enhancement. Compression issues are minimal, though there are minor instances of banding during darker scenes.

Overall, this Blu-ray transfer delivers a visually satisfactory experience that aligns well with its low-budget indie origins. It lacks the polish seen in high-budget productions but succeeds in capturing the film's essence with a clean and colorful image. The occasional spikes in grain and noise during low-light scenes do not significantly detract from the overall viewing experience. While it may not be a visual spectacle, the transfer faithfully represents the film’s intended aesthetics, making it a decent offering for home viewing.

The audio presentation of "The Art of Getting By" on Blu-ray is delivered through a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and an English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The sound design is predominantly front-focused, emphasizing clean and clear dialogue through the front channels. Dialogue is generally intelligible but could benefit from a higher mix as softer spoken passages sometimes necessitate volume adjustments. The front three channels effectively handle the bulk of the sound, offering good clarity and imaging, while the surrounds and subwoofer predominantly provide light spatial dimensions and minimal bass response, especially during scenes set in bustling city environments and nightclubs.

Ambient sounds, such as traffic noise, party chatter, and high school clamor, are subtly introduced through the rear speakers, enriching the film's atmosphere without drawing undue attention. The track also supports Alec Puro's score and various soundtrack songs, including a noted cover of "Turn the Clock Around," with adequate depth and presence. Despite the realistic ambient street sounds that can create immersive moments, such as the distant wailing sirens convincingly blending with real-world elements, the overall use of the surround channels is sparse. The audio also lacks dynamic bass, which is particularly noticeable in scenes that should exhibit thumping music, like at a New Year's Eve rave.

Overall, while the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack competently conveys the film's elements and ambient effects, it doesn’t reach the demo-quality expected from newer titles. It maintains a balanced mix that avoids major discrepancies but does not leverage the full potential of a high-definition audio format to enhance the viewer's experience significantly. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are included, broadening accessibility for a diverse audience.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Art of Getting By" offer a typical set of bonus features that add limited insights into the film. The "Audio Commentary" with writer-director Gavin Wiesen provides some narrative depth, exploring directorial decisions and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Short featurettes like "New York Slice of Life" and "On Young Love" provide brief, somewhat generic overviews of shooting in New York City and the themes of young love, respectively. "Fox Movie Channel Presents: In Character with Freddie Highmore" delivers a concise interview with the star, albeit with repetitive clips. The "HBO First Look: The Making of The Art of Getting By" repackages earlier content into a lengthier featurette without adding substantial new information. Overall, while informative, these extras feel somewhat superficial.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Director Gavin Wiesen: Insightful narrative and behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
• New York Slice of Life: Brief look at shooting in New York City.
• On Young Love: Overview of young love theme.
• Fox Movie Channel Presents: In Character with Freddie Highmore: Interview with Highmore.
• HBO First Look: The Making of The Art of Getting By: Comprehensive yet repetitive making-of featurette.
• Theatrical Trailer: Promotional trailer.

"The Art of Getting By" centers on George Zingavoy (Freddie Highmore), a high school senior in New York who embodies nihilism and minimal effort. Despite his intellect and potential for high academic achievement, George refuses to engage in schoolwork, attributing his apathy to a fatalistic worldview. His life takes a turn when he befriends Sally (Emma Roberts), a popular girl whose own troubled circumstances eerily mirror his despondency. This relationship initially encourages George to become more active in school, pivoting slightly towards self-improvement. However, the film devolves as George's character remains largely unlikable, mired in cynicism and laziness, making it difficult for the audience to empathize or root for his success.

Highmore's performance, while showcasing his range from previous roles, falls flat due to the scripted character's incessant brooding and emotionally disengaged demeanor. George's existential musings and interactions with teachers and family come off as forced and off-putting, distancing viewers rather than garnering sympathy. Sally acts more as a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character, existing solely to prompt George's sporadic attempts at self-betterment. The introduction of Dustin (Michael Angarano), a successful artist who becomes George's mentor, adds an anticipated but ultimately unimpactful love triangle subplot that lacks genuine conflict or emotional depth.

Technically, the film suffers from banal dialogue and a predictable narrative structure. Attempts to inject quirky, indie romance charm fall short, reducing characters to clichés rather than providing refreshing takes on familiar tropes. The film's inadequacies are compounded by its inability to offer anything new within the crowded coming-of-age genre. While writer/director Gavin Wiesen infuses autobiographical elements into the story, the execution feels more like an exercise in self-indulgence than a compelling narrative journey. Overall, "The Art of Getting By" ends up reinforcing a troubling ethos: that one can achieve redemption and success through minimal effort, a message that feels both dishonest and uninspiring.

"The Art of Getting By" on Blu-ray represents a middling attempt at a coming-of-age drama, often hampered by its reliance on well-trodden clichés and an overall predictability. Despite the sharp picture quality and clear sound presentation, the narrative elements and character portrayals fail to deliver a compelling cinematic experience. The film, reminiscent of two-bit imitations of "The Catcher in the Rye," is likely to appeal mainly to brooding pre-teens who have yet to encounter Holden Caulfield's journey. Seasoned viewers may find the plot insufferably derivative and lacking in originality.

The technical aspects of the Blu-ray release are commendable, with excellent visual and audio fidelity. However, these strengths are overshadowed by the film’s inability to transcend its formulaic scripting and stereotypical character arcs. While the picture quality highlights the foreground and background well, the actors themselves often lack focus, further detracting from the intended emotional engagement. The sound mix is robust but is ultimately underutilized by the uninspired source material.

In conclusion, "The Art of Getting By" on Blu-ray fails to elevate its uninspired coming-of-age story despite its strong technical presentation. The film's overreliance on familiar tropes and lackluster performances hinder its ability to connect meaningfully with the audience. This release may satisfy those with a penchant for high audiovisual quality but will disappoint viewers seeking depth and originality in storytelling.