Before We Go Blu-ray Review

"Before We Go" on Blu-ray features a commendable 1080p transfer that delivers a satisfactory visual experience. The fine details are well-rendered, capturing intimate facial features and clothing intricacies as well as the more complex urban environments with notable precision. The film's digital origins are evident, providing a naturally sharp and clean appearance. The detailing on Chris Evans' beard, for instance, is impressively articulate, and city storefronts showcase a pleasing level of texture. Colors, largely derived from bright city lights, are stable and vivid, contributing to the overall visual appeal. While flesh tones can occasionally appear slightly pasty, they generally maintain a healthy and natural look.

The transfer performs most admirably in scenes set indoors under controlled lighting conditions. These scenes present fine detail levels with accurate color reproduction, warm flesh tones, and a good sense of depth. However, the image quality shifts notably during outdoor night scenes set against the darker backdrop of New York City. Here, the finer details somewhat diminish, with colors adopting cooler tones and black levels struggling to retain the same strength, somewhat compromising the image's depth perception. Despite these hiccups in darker sequences, the absence of digital noise enhances the clarity and smoothness of the overall visual presentation.

In summary, while "Before We Go" might not dramatically impress, its Blu-ray transfer still manages to present the film effectively. The visuals are crisp and detailed in well-lit scenarios but do face challenges in darker settings. Overall, it offers a clean, stable, and enjoyable viewing experience despite minor shortcomings.

The audio presentation of "Before We Go" on Blu-Ray is impressively dynamic, featuring an engaging DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The sound mix excels at creating an immersive urban environment, with detailed street-level sounds such as clattering footfalls, passing traffic, and distant honking horns vividly brought to life. The surround channels contribute significantly, offering a natural distribution of ambient noises that effectively draw the listener into New York's bustling nightlife. Noteworthy are the Grand Central Station public address announcements, which are crisply detailed and well-articulated across the rear speakers. Additionally, the film's music benefits from a well-balanced stage immersion that utilizes natural surround support, ensuring a seamless and coherent auditory experience.

Clarity and fidelity are top-tier in this presentation, with dialogue that remains clean, crisp, and centered, never succumbing to the ambient city sounds or musical score. The audio mix maintains a balanced approach to sound levels, ensuring that all elements have adequate space around them to avoid any distortion. Although the film leans heavily towards dialogue-driven scenes rather than action-packed sequences, imaging remains robust. Surround channels do their part without overwhelming the primary soundstage, contributing to a consistent and alive audio atmosphere. This track delivers a detailed low end that complements the overall mix without becoming overpowering. Overall, "Before We Go" offers a solid and high-fidelity audio experience that enhances its narrative through expert sound design.

The Blu-ray of "Before We Go" includes a concise but engaging supplementary feature titled "A Conversation with Director Chris Evans." This 3:31 minute HD interview provides insightful commentary on Evans' directorial vision, the film's structure and stylistic choices, his dual role as actor and director, and the process of learning the trumpet for the film. Despite its brevity, the feature effectively conveys Evans' genuine and articulate perspective, though it would have benefited from a more extensive commentary.

Extras included in this disc:

• A Conversation with Director Chris Evans: Brief interview covering directorial goals, film structure, acting experience, and learning the trumpet.

Chris Evans makes a confident directorial debut with "Before We Go," a charming, character-driven film set against the backdrop of New York City. The film unravels over one night, exploring themes of chance encounters and emotional connection through the serendipitous meeting of two strangers. Evans not only directs but also stars as Nick Vaughan, a semi-pro trumpet player who crosses paths with Brooke Dalton (Alice Eve) after she misses her train and loses her purse. Together, they navigate the city, facing personal crises that draw them closer. The film’s simplicity is one of its strengths, capturing an authentic, if familiar, atmosphere of bittersweet romance and human connection.

Nick and Brooke's interactions are layered with genuine chemistry—Evans and Eve deliver performances that are relatable and engaging. Evans' portrayal of Nick exhibits a blend of outward charm and inward complexity, while Eve adds depth to Brooke, who grapples with revelations about her marriage. The narrative, reminiscent of films like “Before Sunrise,” doesn’t introduce groundbreaking themes but treads familiar ground with sincerity and warmth. Despite its predictability, the script benefits from moments of humor and emotional candor. Evans' direction avoids over-stylization, opting for handheld camera work that, albeit slightly unsteady at times, fosters an intimacy that aids the film’s core dramatic elements.

While "Before We Go" may echo established romantic dramas in its structure and themes, it remains an appealing watch due to its heartfelt performances and well-developed characters. The film posits that even fleeting encounters can leave lasting impacts on our lives. Evans shows aptitude behind the camera, capturing the essence of New York City as both a sprawling, anonymous place and a setting for personal epiphanies. The resulting film is an enjoyable mix of drama and lightheartedness that persuades the audience to invest in Nick and Brooke’s journey, culminating in a poignantly visualized final shot. Evans’ directorial debut suggests promise for future projects that might explore more innovative storytelling paths.

Chris Evans' directorial debut, "Before We Go," is a heartwarming film that, while not groundbreaking, showcases Evans' capability as a storyteller. Stepping away from his superhero persona, Evans delivers a relatable and grounded performance alongside Alice Eve. Their on-screen chemistry is palpable, culminating in a charming romantic narrative that, despite its familiarity, holds an enchanting quality. Alice Eve's performance complements Evans superbly, ensuring that the film is enjoyable and engaging.

Starz/Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of "Before We Go" demonstrates technical proficiency with a solid video transfer and atmospheric audio quality. The visuals are crisp, enhancing the film’s intimate and visually appealing cinematography. Audio-wise, the track faithfully supports the film's emotional beats and dialogues. However, the Blu-ray release is somewhat marred by a minimalistic approach to supplementary content. Those expecting a deep dive into behind-the-scenes aspects or additional features may find themselves longing for more.

Overall, "Before We Go" stands as a satisfying romantic narrative that promises good things for Chris Evans in his directorial endeavors. Despite the absence of robust extra content on the Blu-ray release, the film's technical qualities and heartfelt performances make it a worthwhile experience. While it may not be innovative, it is a commendable effort from Evans that deserves recognition and appreciation.