Middle of Nowhere

The Blu-ray release of "Middle of Nowhere" presents a visual experience that, while faithful to its low-budget roots, leaves much to be desired in terms of high-definition clarity. The 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer showcases occasional sharpness, notably in brightly lit scenes such as those set at a water park, where the colors - especially the greens of grass and reds of lifeguard uniforms - pop with a level of vividness. Nevertheless, these moments are exceptions in an otherwise soft and often blurry presentation. The picture frequently falls into a softness so pronounced that even close-up shots lack the fine detail expected from a high-definition release, rendering the overall quality closer to an upconverted standard definition than a true 1080p image.

Night scenes and poorly lit environments further exacerbate the visual shortcomings, with softness becoming even more prominent and source noise becoming increasingly intrusive. Although the color palette is generally enhanced, bringing out bright blues, greens, and reds with natural-looking skin tones, the transfer suffers from a mildly flat contrast and acceptable but unimpressive black levels, resulting in a lack of depth and visual punch. A noticeable grain covers the entirety of the film, likely a consequence of its original filming conditions, either on 16mm or a particularly grainy 35mm stock. This grain not only contributes to the overall soft appearance but also gives rise to speculation about the film's shooting conditions.

In summary, while 'Middle of Nowhere' on Blu-ray does offer instances where its visual presentation shines through bright and vivid scenes, it predominantly struggles with a pervasive softness and a noticeable level of grain that detracts from the high-definition viewing experience. The color reproduction remains a highlight amidst these challenges, offering some solace in what is otherwise a middling to poor video transfer. Despite few issues with compression artifacts, the Blu-ray fails to consistently deliver the crisp and detailed image quality one might expect, leaving viewers with a presentation that could have benefitted from further refinement.

The Blu Ray audio presentation of "Middle of Nowhere" delivers a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that, while far from groundbreaking, serves the film's audio requirements adequately. The soundscape is primarily anchored around the front channels, emphasizing clear, intelligible dialogue which remains the focus throughout the film. Incidental music and a handful of hip hop tracks notably benefit from the arrangement, showcasing a respectable dynamic range and some instances of surprisingly robust bass response. However, the use of surround channels often feels more procedural than inspired, contributing an aura of ambient sound that, while present and occasionally enriching, seldom achieves a truly immersive auditory experience.

Environmental sounds, including the likes of crickets, birds, party noise, and water-related ambience, are appreciated efforts to fill out the soundfield through the rear speakers but do not consistently convey an enveloping atmosphere. Scenes set in potentially bustling settings such as water parks somewhat underwhelm in their spatial audio execution, with a tendency toward flat-sounding ambience that lacks the enveloping quality one might expect. This suggests a missed opportunity to further engage the listener in the film's more dynamic environments.

Notwithstanding these limitations, the audio track demonstrates a competence with its well-rendered music and effective dialogue reproduction. English SDH and Spanish subtitles are provided, featuring easy-to-read white lettering, enhancing accessibility. While the LFE channel is generally understated, selectively coming alive with dance music during party scenes, it sustains the audio presentation's overall balanced but conservative approach. In essence, while "Middle of Nowhere" won't dazzle audiophiles seeking a reference-quality soundstage, its audio performance is solid enough to support the narrative without distraction.

The Blu-ray extras of "Middle of Nowhere" offer a standard yet insightful peek behind the curtain of the movie's production. In both HD and SD formats, the extras include a making-of featurette that is notably clip-heavy, delivering a mix of promotional content and genuine insights from cast and crew, underscoring their camaraderie and shared enthusiasm for the project. The deleted scenes, while few, justify their exclusion without diminishing curiosity. Interviews with key cast members and crew provide repetitive yet valuable perspectives, echoing sentiments from the making-of documentary. The addition of the film’s trailer rounds out the package, providing a succinct, if standard, promotional piece that complements the more substantive extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making of Middle of Nowhere Featurette: A comprehensive documentary with cast and crew interviews alongside behind-the-scenes footage.
• Deleted Scenes: A selection of scenes cut from the final film.
• Cast and Crew Interviews: Individual interviews offering deeper insights into the making of the movie.
• Trailer: The original theatrical trailer for the film.

John Stockwell's "Middle of Nowhere" diverges from his known formula of sun-soaked, bikini-clad escapades, attempting a more grounded narrative amidst small-town Americana. Starring Eva Amurri as Grace and Anton Yelchin as Dorian, the film weaves a tale of desperation, family dynamics, and the convoluted path to easy money. Grace's battle with her financially irresponsible mother, portrayed by Amurri's real-life mother Susan Sarandon, sets a grim backdrop as she scrambles to salvage her college dreams. Dorian, a rich kid grappling with discipline and direction, pitches an illicit moneymaking plan to Grace, spiraling into a disjointed summer adventure filled with moral quandaries and tepid romance. Despite the shift away from his typical aesthetic, Stockwell's endeavor into the intricacies of youthful limbo and societal pressure stumbles into predictability and a lack of cohesion among its subplots.

The execution of "Middle of Nowhere" mirrors its characters' floundering – ambitious yet directionless. The narrative attempts to draw authenticity from the raw, awkward energy of Amurri and Yelchin, who deliver performances that resonate more with real-life teenagers than the caricatures often depicted in teen dramas. However, the film’s sprawling storylines, from a convoluted love triangle involving Grace's sister Taylor to Dorian's clichéd drug-dealing escapade, dilute the potential depth of its core characters. Insights into societal divides and family dysfunction are momentarily engaging but are ultimately lost in a script that tries to juggle too many themes at once.

Despite these pitfalls, "Middle of Nowhere" marginally succeeds in stepping out from Stockwell’s comfort zone, presenting a scenario where bikini scenes are swapped for a more earnest exploration of family and financial woes. The setting itself serves as a metaphor for the characters' internal struggles – trapped in the inertia of their small-town lives yet yearning for escape. While Stockwell commendably aims to navigate the complexities of adolescence without resorting to genre clichés, the film's execution falls short, leaving viewers wandering through its narrative aimlessness.

Middle of Nowhere," despite its attempts to rise above the typical teen drama fare, ultimately lands as a middling affair that struggles to leave a lasting impression. The film walks a fine line, offering a narrative that doesn't quite strike the emotional or narrative resonance it seemingly aims for. This is echoed in its transition to Blu-ray, presented by Image Entertainment, which, while boasting commendable video quality and adequate sound, doesn't prop up the film beyond its inherent limitations. It's a release that might find itself as a last-resort rental but hardly a staple in any collection.

The performances and the storyline, intended to engage a younger audience with more substance, fall short of their mark, leaving the film teetering on the edge of forgettable. While it doesn’t delve into the disastrous territory, thanks in part to a competently crafted Blu-ray release, it doesn’t quite manage to distinguish itself either. The technical aspects of the Blu-ray, with its "about average" video and "forgettable" audio according to critiques, mirror the film's overall impact - present but not particularly impactful. It seems even the director John Stockwell, known for ventures into more visually stimulating works, can't pivot this ship towards more memorable waters.

In conclusion, "Middle of Nowhere" on Blu-ray encapsulates the essence of being caught between potential and actuality. Its technical specs do not compensate for its narrative shortcomings, making it an option only when other choices have been exhausted. While it’s not entirely dismissible, thanks to a few merits in visual presentation, it remains a stark example of missed opportunities within its genre. This release might appeal to die-hard fans of the actors or those with a penchant for teen dramas, but for the discerning viewer seeking depth or lasting impact, it would be advisable to look elsewhere.