Permanent Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Permanent" showcases a polished and well-executed digital production. Filmed in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the cinematography by Paula Huidobro displays superior clarity and sharpness, characteristic of digital captures. The AVC-encoded transfer maintains an average bitrate of 21.98 Mbps, ensuring consistent image quality devoid of noise or artifacts. The film's color grading utilizes a golden hue to effectively evoke the 1982 setting, although some viewers might find it reminiscent of the 1970s. This specific color choice introduces a mild softness and occasional detail loss but does not detract from the overall stability and technical soundness of the image.

Blacks are rendered with depth and solidity, though they may experience slight washout due to the amber/yellow tinting and mild crush in specific scenes, such as those set in the locker room. Despite these minor issues, the colors remain vivid and engaging, contributing to the period piece's aesthetic without overwhelming brightness. Overall, the presentation is highly satisfactory, offering a clean and visually appealing experience that adheres to the high standards expected from modern digital filmmaking techniques.

"Permanent" features a predominantly front-heavy audio mix, primarily focusing on dialogue and mild ambient effects. The 5.1 soundtrack is encoded in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio. Dialogue is paramount in this film, and it is delivered with exceptional clarity, free from imbalance or distortion. Vocals are crisply defined, ensuring that the viewer can easily follow the conversations without any auditory distractions.

While the film is heavily weighted towards dialogue, the surrounds provide a good sense of environmental ambiance. Ambient sound effects subtly fill the back end, creating a more immersive listening experience without overwhelming the front-scripted narrative. The score by Craig Wedren benefits from this distribution, subtly expanding through the surrounds to enhance the overall atmosphere of the film. Low-frequency effects (LFE) are understated but present, with occasional bumps that add depth without drawing unnecessary attention away from the dialogue-centric audio.

This careful balance makes "Permanent" a noteworthy experience for those who appreciate clean and precise soundscapes in films that prioritize dialogue over action-packed audio dynamics.

The Blu-ray release of "Permanent" offers a thorough array of extras that enhances the viewing experience, appealing strongly to fans and those interested in behind-the-scenes content. The standout feature, "Getting Permanent with Rainn Wilson," provides a lighthearted and informative glimpse into Wilson's approach to his character. Additionally, the "Virginia is for Lovers" segment highlights the film’s unique connection to its setting, albeit briefly. Deleted and alternate scenes are also included, offering over six minutes of additional content. The standard inclusion of trailers rounds off the package, promoting related titles from the Magnolia Entertainment catalog. BD-Live functionality is mentioned, with an expectation for future updates, though current content details are not provided.

Extras included in this disc:

Deleted/Alternate Scenes: Over six minutes of extra footage not seen in theaters.

Getting Permanent with Rainn Wilson: A featurette focusing on Rainn Wilson’s character.

Virginia Is for Lovers: A short segment linking the film to its setting.

Theatrical Trailer: The original movie trailer.

Trailers: Additional trailers from Magnolia Entertainment.

BD-Live: Placeholder for future online updates.

Permanent, the feature debut by writer/director Colette Burson, co-creator of HBO's "Hung," falls well short of expectations. The film follows the Dickson family after father Jim (Rainn Wilson) leaves the Army to pursue a medical career in Virginia. Jim’s wife, Jeanne (Patricia Arquette), becomes a resentful waitress, constantly at odds with her husband. Meanwhile, their teenage daughter, Aurelie (Kira McLean), struggles at her new school, where she becomes a target of mockery due to her disastrous perm. Despite a promising premise and a solid cast, the movie flounders in a sea of genre confusion and poorly developed characters.

Permanent attempts to juggle multiple genres—coming-of-age, comedy, and drama—yet fails to excel in any. The narrative bounces from one subplot to another with little coherence. Jim's struggles with medical school, complicated by an implausible swimming requirement, feel forced and disconnected. Jeanne’s affair with an elderly neighbor and her vocational resentment are portrayed with shrill caricatures rather than authentic emotion. Aurelie's friendship with the only African-American student at her school seems arbitrarily tacked on and lacks depth. The film's humor, hinging on bizarre actions and exaggerated portrayals, falls flat, while its dramatic elements fail to resonate.

The direction is unfocused and the storyline fragmented. Rainn Wilson does his best with a poorly structured role, and Patricia Arquette's character oscillates between exaggerated frustration and cluelessness. Kira McLean's portrayal of Aurelie has moments of tenderness but often feels lost in a script that doesn’t know where it's going. Permanent comes across as a series of disjointed and unpleasant vignettes rather than a cohesive film. The movie ultimately underscores Burson’s strengths in episodic storytelling while exposing significant weaknesses in feature-length narrative execution.

"Permanent," directed by Colette Burson and set in 1982, aims to weave a personal, possibly autobiographical narrative around young Aurelie, played by Kira McLean. The film's nostalgic setting and bespoke details seem to render it more of a reminiscent piece for Burson rather than an engaging story for the general audience. Unfortunately, what should presumably evoke charm and character falls flat, resulting in a bizarre amalgamation of events that fails to meaningfully connect with viewers. The eccentric bits scattered throughout the plot do not coalesce into a coherent or compelling storyline, leaving audiences perplexed and disengaged.

From a technical perspective, Magnolia Pictures' Blu-ray release for "Permanent" offers a competent viewing experience. The video is framed in a 1.85:1 AVC aspect ratio that delivers a clean and sharp picture quality, adhering well to the nostalgic visual elements intended by the filmmaker. The audio is rendered through an English DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, providing clear dialogue and balanced soundscapes that effectively support the film's milieu. Subtitles are available in English SDH and Spanish, broadening accessibility. However, the special features included on the disc are minimal, further reducing the incentive for purchase.

In conclusion, despite the solid technical execution of the Blu-ray release, "Permanent" remains a perplexing viewing experience. The autobiographical elements and eccentric details feel painfully misaligned with coherent storytelling, leading to overall audience dissatisfaction. Given the lack of compelling features and the disjointed narrative, viewers are advised to skip this one.