Easy Virtue Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Easy Virtue" impresses with its pristine image quality, featuring high-level detail and a crisp 1080p resolution in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The finely tuned colors maintain a balanced aesthetic throughout the film, aligning with its thematic undertones. Period clothing boasts vivid hues that stand out against the intentionally restrained color palette of other scenes, particularly outdoor sequences that sparkle with rich greens. Fleshtones retain lifelike authenticity, with warm natural highlights emphasizing their realism. Blacks are punchy and shadow delineation is excellent, while contrast remains both stable and dynamic, producing crisp whites and vibrant primary colors.

The transfer showcases a slight layer of grain, enhancing the cinematic feel without introducing noise or banding. This lends the image a naturally warm and accessible texture that accentuates the lush manor settings and elaborate costumes of the film. Detail levels are exceptional, allowing viewers to appreciate the minutiae of period clothing, from stitches to fabric textures. Despite the deliberately washed-out look employed in some scenes, particularly post-opening credits, the overall video quality remains inviting. While the transfer does not offer stunning dimensionality, it provides good depth, ensuring an engaging viewing experience.

Sony has delivered a solid effort with this Blu-ray transfer, ensuring that both interior and exterior scenes benefit from nicely balanced contrast and high clarity. Colours are vivid yet never over-saturated, enabling an enjoyable visual experience anchored by impeccable source material. Overall, the presentation underscores the fine production values of "Easy Virtue", making it a standout example of high-quality video encoding.

The Blu-ray of "Easy Virtue" features an exceptionally well-crafted Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The dynamics are both defining and subtle, with no tendency toward stridency or edginess. Dialogue benefits from clear and deep tonal character, thus achieving excellent room penetration. The front soundstage is dynamically articulated, showcasing impressive separation and detail. Although discrete surround sound may be minimal, spatial dimension is detectable with environmental sounds and front channel extension through the rear channels enhancing the sound field. Bass response is tight and occasionally tactile, underpinning the source elements aptly without being overwhelming.

The soundtrack's range shines notably in certain sequences. For example, the big band tune during the opening title sequence exudes a delightful clarity across the audio spectrum, coupled with a subtle yet palpable low end. Similarly, the naturalistic soundscapes featuring falling rain, chirping birds, and crowd noise envelop the listener effectively, particularly during scenes such as a memorial service or a stage production. These elements sonically recreate events convincingly, adding depth to the viewing experience.

Additionally, period tunes integral to "Easy Virtue" are rendered robustly and well-balanced within the audio mix, which also enjoys good stereo separation and seamless front-channel pans. Scenes like Larita's motorbike ride during a fox hunt benefit from decent bass accents that punctuate the action. Dialogue is generally prioritized and clear, although some frenetic exchanges might appear slightly muddled due to thick British accents. Overall, the audio presentation maintains a terrific dynamic range that ensures distortion-free playback and lends a resonant quality, making this a commendable effort from Sony.

The Blu-ray of "Easy Virtue" offers a range of bonus features catering to both casual viewers and film enthusiasts. The audio commentary by Director/Co-Writer Stephan Elliott and Co-Writer Sheridan Jobbins stands out for its engaging discussion, touching on the adaptation process and notable on-set anecdotes. The commentary's energy contrasts sharply with the more understated deleted scenes and blooper reel, which offer additional insights but lack significant entertainment value. The New York Premiere featurette provides brief red carpet interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, though it feels somewhat perfunctory. The disc also includes the theatrical trailer and several BD previews, boosting its overall appeal with high-definition visual quality for most features.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with director Stephan Elliott and writer Sheridan Jobbins: Engaging discussion on adaptation, cast, differences between play and movie.
• 4 deleted scenes: Additional scenes providing character depth.
• Blooper reel: Collection of on-set gaffes.
• New York premiere: Red carpet interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Theatrical trailer: High-definition presentation of the film's trailer.
• BD Previews: 1080p trailers for various films.
• BD-Live enabled

Noël Coward's "Easy Virtue," skillfully adapted to the screen by director Stephan Elliot, delivers a unique blend of drama and comedy set against the backdrop of post-World War One England. The film explores the tumultuous dynamics of familial relations when John (Ben Barnes), a young English aristocrat, brings home his daring, American wife, Larita (Jessica Biel). The ensuing cultural clash is amplified by John's disapproving mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) and his more accepting, yet indifferent, father (Colin Firth). Elliot manages to infuse the narrative with elements of both slapstick comedy and serious interpersonal drama, creating a compelling character study that expertly balances levity and melancholy.

Visually, "Easy Virtue" is a feast for the eyes, boasting lavish sets, exquisite period-appropriate costumes, and the picturesque British countryside that serves as a rich, almost character-like backdrop to the story. Technical execution remains top-notch with notable flair in cinematography, which skilfully avoids gimmickry while maintaining a quirky stylistic edge. Kristen Scott Thomas stands out with a powerful performance that anchors the narrative’s ebb and flow, adding depth to the otherwise light-hearted yet caustic family feud. Jessica Biel’s portrayal of Larita is commendable, though the modern undertones in her performance occasionally jar with the film’s period setting.

Despite its commendable strengths, "Easy Virtue" suffers from tonal inconsistencies that some may find jarring. The film's shift from whimsical comedy to serious drama might feel abrupt for certain audiences, notwithstanding its ability to keep viewers engaged through its surprising conclusion. This evolution in tone underscores underlying themes of spite and distrust, effectively conveyed through clever dialogue and intricate character interactions. Though not without flaws, "Easy Virtue" succeeds in presenting an engaging narrative that challenges conventional storytelling while delivering a visually and emotionally rich cinematic experience.

Sony's Blu-ray release of "Easy Virtue" presents a film that attempts to balance side-splitting humor with intense drama, set against a lush period backdrop. While some reviewers praise the movie for its unique integration of comedic elements and serious themes, resulting in an "upsetting but superbly-crafted unconventional Drama," others find this adaptation of Noël Coward's play a clunky attempt, failing to truly honor its source material. The combination of humor and drama may work for some, alleviating the otherwise heavy storyline, but for others, it renders the film an uneven experience.

Technically, the film's Blu-ray release is impressive. With high-quality video and audio presentations, the disc ensures a clear and immersive viewing experience. Specific calibration details such as the use of 1080p front projectors and THX Ultra 2 preamp/processors demonstrate the meticulous effort involved in presenting "Easy Virtue" in the best possible quality. Despite these efforts and a few commendable performances within the movie itself, the overall narrative execution left some viewers disconnected.

In conclusion, "Easy Virtue" on Blu-ray provides a mixed bag of sorts. Technically sound with its high-resolution video and immersive audio, it nonetheless struggles to captivate consistently due to its uneven storytelling. Nevertheless, for enthusiasts of period dramas who appreciate a blend of humor and depth, it may be worth a watch. However, those seeking more consistent offerings in indie cinema might find their time better spent with other options available on Blu-ray.