Unforgettable Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of Unforgettable offers a visually compelling experience characterized by its glossy, high-definition quality. From the outset, the film benefits from a polished digital encode that delivers bright sunny colors and deep, inky blacks. The color palette is notably natural with vibrant greens and reds, which contrast starkly with the dark shadows found in the more intense scenes. Fine detail remains remarkably clear but is slightly softened by a gauzy layer, preventing the image from achieving maximum sharpness. Despite minor crushing, the shadow detail is impressive, providing enough depth to satisfy viewers. The cinematography by Caleb Deschanel, known for his rich and lustrous imagery, elevates the visual appeal with meticulous lighting that enhances both warm and cool tones, bringing out the sophisticated textures of the film’s lavish sets.

Technically, the presentation on Warner's 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray is exceptional, exhibiting high levels of detail that bring lifelike textures to the fore. Close-ups are intricately detailed, while mid-level pans offer enriching depth and dimensionality. The average encoding bitrate of 33.07 Mbps ensures an attractive surface with refined sharpness and excellent contrast, particularly in scenes that transition between light and dark elements. Colors are appreciably delineated, with punchy primaries standing out against secondary hues, and fleshtones rendered with vivid tonality. The visual experience is further enhanced by the skillful lighting that produces deep noirish shadows, providing a striking contrast that accentuates the film's themes.

Overall, this Blu-ray presentation of Unforgettable stands out with its detailed and richly textured video quality. It captures the essence of each scene through ingenious lighting and a well-balanced color palette. The visual depth and dimension offer an engaging viewing experience that remains consistently appealing throughout the film.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "Unforgettable" offers a competent yet unremarkable performance, well-suited to the film's genre. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 track demonstrates a polished mix that focuses primarily on dialogue. Dialogue is rendered with clarity and precise localization, ensuring it remains intelligible throughout the film. The surround channels are activated mainly for ambient sounds, adding subtle environmental textures without drawing too much attention. The generic thriller score by TV composer Tony Chu benefits from excellent fidelity and broad dynamic range, though it remains rather unmemorable.

While there are no significant sonic fireworks in "Unforgettable," the audio track supports the movie’s events capably. LFE (Low Frequency Effects) are used sparingly but effectively, providing necessary weight during the film’s more intense scenes. The overall sound stage leans heavily towards the front, delivering a rich and immersive audio experience for the primary narrative moments. Despite this, the surrounding audio elements manage to contribute meaningfully when required, ensuring the thriller maintains an engaging auditory backdrop throughout its runtime.

In conclusion, the Blu-ray’s audio mix is solid but not spectacular, aligning well with the modest aspirations of the film itself. It boasts clear dialogue, effective ambient sounds, and appropriate use of bass without venturing into blockbuster territory. The technical execution is proficient, making it a reliable audio package for a thriller of this caliber.

The Blu-ray extras for "Unforgettable" provide a thorough and engaging behind-the-scenes look at the film, with particular emphasis on contributions from the female cast and crew. Highlights include a featurette, "Reclaiming What's Yours," which delves into the making of the film, featuring insights from stars Heigl and Dawson, producer/director Denise Di Novi, producer Allison Greenspan, and screenwriter Christina Hodson. Di Novi’s commentary is particularly compelling, offering a nuanced discussion of performance, production design, and cinematography, although she occasionally skirts around the film's derivative nature. The disc also includes a deleted scene with optional commentary where Di Novi explains why an affectionate moment between characters Julia and David was cut. This attention to detail ensures that every aspect of the production is covered, providing fans and cinephiles with rich, valuable content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Reclaiming What's Yours: Making Unforgettable: Detailed featurette on the film's production.
• Deleted Scene: Optional commentary explaining the edit decisions.
• Director's Audio Commentary: Insights from Denise Di Novi on various aspects of the film.

"Unforgettable" revisits the 80s and early 90s trope of the crazed ex-lover with little innovation, resulting in a reheated narrative lacking freshness. The plot centers on Julia Banks (Rosario Dawson), who moves in with her fiancée David Connover (Geoff Stults), only to face sabotage from David’s ex-wife, Tessa (Katherine Heigl). Tessa's manipulations are textbook, revealing her as a typical psycho ex, slowly planting circumstantial evidence and driving a wedge between Julia and David. The story predictably escalates to a showdown between Julia and Tessa, replete with overused clichés and a conclusion that feels both inevitable and uninspired.

Director Denise Di Novi’s attempt to create suspense through a flash-forward opening instead telegraphs the plot, stripping away potential intrigue. The screenplay by Christina Hodson recycles familiar beats from past thrillers like "Fatal Attraction" and "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," but fails to inject any novel twists. Tessa’s orchestrations, including identity theft and gaslighting, fail to maintain the audience's engagement, leaving viewers waiting for the anticipated climactic catfight. While the film makes ambitious attempts at emotional depth through lingering shots on Heigl and Dawson, it never transcends its formulaic structure.

A standout performance from Cheryl Ladd as Tessa’s domineering mother provides brief respite, adding a needed dose of energy and insight into Tessa’s motivations. However, her limited screen time underscores the film’s missed opportunities to explore more extreme or unexpected narrative elements. Overall, "Unforgettable" is a tepid entry in the psycho-thriller genre, weighed down by its adherence to over-familiar narratives and lack of genuine thrills.

"Unforgettable" is a film that struggles to live up to its name, resulting in a final product that feels like a high-budget Lifetime movie. Helmed by Denise Di Novi and starring Rosario Dawson, Katherine Heigl, and Geoff Stults, the film fails to break free from the trappings of predictable "jealous girlfriend" tropes despite earnest efforts. The directing often comes across as heavy-handed and unoriginal, largely recycling clichés from similar movies. The performances of the leading actresses, while notable, are undermined by a lackluster script that offers little in the way of depth or innovation.

The technical aspects of the Blu-ray release from Warner Brothers, however, are commendable. The video quality is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 AVC and is paired with solid audio options, including DTS-HD MA 5.1 for English and additional tracks in French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English DD 5.1 with DVS. The visual fidelity maintains high standards, offering crisp images and vibrant colors that enhance the viewing experience. Similarly, the audio tracks ensure clear dialogue and well-balanced soundscapes that complement the on-screen action. Despite these strengths in presentation, the lack of substantial extras makes this release less compelling for fans of bonus content.

In conclusion, "Unforgettable" falls short of making a lasting impression, hampered by derivative storytelling and unoriginal direction. While the Blu-ray's audio and video quality are strong points, they are not enough to compensate for the film's shortcomings. As such, it is difficult to recommend this title beyond a casual rental. For those seeking a meaningful addition to their collection, this might be one to skip.