Tamara Drewe Blu-ray Review
Score: 61
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
. A technically excellent Blu-ray with superb video clarity and sharp audio, though the film itself is visually appealing but ultimately forgettable.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 69
The Blu-ray of 'Tamara Drewe' boasts a stunning 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer with a crisp, clean source and light grain, capturing the natural earthy tones and deep blacks of the British countryside in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The audio excels in dynamic range, clarity, and stereo spread, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Audio: 65
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio of "Tamara Drewe" delivers a clear and immersive experience with precise dialogue front center, natural countryside ambience in the surrounds, and robust LFE during rock concert scenes. The mix is well-rounded, capturing both subtle environmental sounds and dynamic musical elements effectively.
Extra: 43
Tamara Drewe's Extras provide lighthearted anecdotes in the audio commentary by Gemma Arterton and Luke Evans, though lacking the technical depth a director might offer. The 'Making of' and 'Reconstructing' featurettes delve into the transformation of Posy Simmonds' graphic novel into film, highlighting the directorial vision and creative process.
Movie: 58
The Blu-ray of 'Tamara Drewe' offers a visually stunning 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer with sharp colors and contrast, and a DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix that delivers crisp dialogue and immersive soundscapes. The well-directed film by Stephen Frears features a complex, witty narrative, though its focus on superficial charm weakens its emotional depth.
Video: 69
The Blu-ray presentation of "Tamara Drewe" delivers an exceptional 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer in the widescreen 2.40:1 aspect ratio, showcasing the picturesque British countryside with vibrant, captivating visuals. The transfer retains the lush greens and earthy browns of the setting, alongside a golden warmth in sunlight scenes. Contrast remains strong, delivering impressive shadow detail and deep blacks. The clarity allows for the intricate texturing of bricks and stone surfaces, as well as subtle details such as wrinkles and gentle smile lines. While film grain is present, it’s finely distributed, enhancing the film-like texture without distracting from the viewing experience.
Skin tones are depicted naturally, capturing the slight paleness associated with overcast outdoor scenes, yet appearing authentic and accurate within this context. Colors are rich and bold, notably in greens and browns, creating a realistic and immersive viewing experience. Texture details are sharp and well-defined, from the tight-knit weave of clothing to the delicate features on actors' faces. Although a few dark scenes show minor color gradation issues, these are barely notable against the overall pristine quality. Aliasing and artifacts are kept at bay, ensuring a smooth and pleasurable visual presentation.
The level of detail maintained throughout long shots and close-ups is remarkable, illustrating every nuance with precision. Blacks are deep and consistent, never compromising shadow detail. The video presentation stands out as a testament to Sony’s commitment to high-quality transfers, ensuring that every texture and hue is accurately represented without technical distractions. This release offers an exemplary showcase of "Tamara Drewe," providing an absorbing and visually delightful viewing experience.
Audio: 65
The audio presentation of "Tamara Drewe" on Blu-ray is delivered through a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that provides a gently immersive experience well suited to the film's dialogue-driven narrative. Predominantly front and center-weighted, the dialogue continuously remains clear and precise. Ambient sounds of the countryside punctuate the mix, with chirping birds, the rustling of leaves, and the moo-ing of cows filling the surrounds, crafting a very realistic and absorbing auditory environment. The directionality is commendable, with sound panning skillfully following the movements, such as the precise left-to-right motion of cows and other ambient actions.
The score by Alexandre Desplat is thoughtfully integrated, offering a light and unobtrusive background that supports the narrative while maintaining a gentle presence across the main stereo pair. Subwoofer activity is minimal but effective, notably during Ben's rock concert scenes where the heavier elements come to life. The rock beats create an authentic feel of a live performance, although some listeners noted a minor lack of clarity in the lower registers, which can be viewed as a faithful rendition of an outdoor live music setting. Despite these minor observations, the track overall brings a sense of balance and depth that enriches the film's talk-heavy nature.
Overall, this DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix stands out for its natural, discrete integration, enriching the storytelling without overwhelming it. It effectively uses subtle sound cues to enhance immersion, from environmental noises to musical elements, thus providing a technically sound and audibly pleasing experience conducive to the film's scenic and narrative essence.
Extras: 43
The Blu-ray extras for "Tamara Drewe" provide a mixed bag of behind-the-scenes insights primarily for fans of the film and its actors. The Audio Commentary features Gemma Arterton and Luke Evans sharing light-hearted and entertaining anecdotes from the set. While enjoyable, it lacks the depth and technical details a director's commentary would offer. The Making of Tamara Drewe delves into the development of the film from Posy Simmonds' graphic novel, highlighting performances and directorial choices in an engaging 14-minute featurette. Reconstructing Tamara Drewe gives a closer look at adapting the graphic novel to film, with input from Stephen Frears and Arterton, offering illuminating insights into this creative process. The disc also includes various trailers and BD-Live capability.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: Anecdotes from actors Gemma Arterton and Luke Evans.
- The Making of Tamara Drewe: Insight into the graphic novel adaptation and performances.
- Reconstructing Tamara Drewe: Detailed exploration of the adaptation process.
- Tamara Drewe Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer.
- Other Trailers: Previews of additional Sony titles.
- BD Live: Online features.
Movie: 58
"Tamara Drewe" arrives on Blu-ray with a stunning 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer in a widescreen 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The picturesque English countryside is vividly captured with outstanding color strength, contrast, and sharpness. Accompanied by a DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix, the Blu-ray offers clear, crisp dialogue from the front center, supplemented by immersive surround sound that brings the rural setting to life. Bonus features include an actor's commentary, mini featurettes, and a trailer. Directed by Stephen Frears and based on Posy Simmonds' graphic novel, "Tamara Drewe" boasts a witty and poignant narrative, with Gemma Arterton leading a talented British cast including Roger Allam, Tamsin Greig, and Dominic Cooper.
The film centers on Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton), who returns to her village of Ewedown with a transformed appearance, igniting chaos and passion among the town's residents. Her presence destabilizes the tranquil writers' retreat hosted by Nicholas Hardiment (Roger Allam) and his wife Beth (Tamsin Greig). The plot intertwines various characters, including rock drummer Ben Sergeant (Dominic Cooper) and local groundskeeper Andy Cobb (Luke Evans), all captivated by Tamara's newfound allure. The screenplay oscillates between witty and overly precious, sometimes faltering in developing an emotional core amidst the comedic and dramatic entanglements.
"Tamara Drewe" is a smartly conceived film that unfortunately struggles to transcend its superficial tendencies. While it introduces a diverse array of creative characters, the narrative often prioritizes appearances over substantial character development. Despite these flaws, the film offers fleeting moments of brilliance, particularly due to Gemma Arterton’s radiant performance. Stephen Frears' direction adeptly manages the multitude of intersecting storylines, maintaining engagement through its brisk 111-minute runtime. The result is an intriguing but ultimately lightweight exploration of temptation and deception in a quaint English village setting.
Total: 61
"Tamara Drewe" on Blu-ray offers a mixed experience that caters well to those who value high-quality audiovisual presentation, though it may fall short in other areas. The film captures the English countryside's realistic color palette, which reflects the overcast weather with ghostly pale flesh-tones. High resolution enhances both long shots and close-ups, providing strong black levels without noticeable weaknesses. The audio performance is equally impressive, with lossless tracks demonstrating clarity and dynamism, particularly during the live concert scene. The stereo spread is precise, making effective use of sound-stage elements.
However, the film itself struggles with depth and character development, rendering the story somewhat one-dimensional. Despite catchy dialogue and an easy-breezy tone, "Tamara Drewe" fails to establish a deeper connection with its audience, resulting in an entertaining but forgettable experience. It comes across as a fluff piece lacking the creative spark to make it truly engaging. While the technical specs are commendable, boasting strong video and audio quality alongside a decent selection of extras, these factors alone are not enough to elevate the film above mediocrity.
In conclusion, "Tamara Drewe" is a technically polished Blu-ray release from Sony that excels in visual and auditory quality. However, its narrative shortcomings and lack of memorable moments may limit its appeal. While worth renting on a slow day for its aesthetic enjoyment, it may leave viewers wanting more from its story and characters.
avforums review by AVForumsRead review here
Video: 80
The lighting and camerawork is real eye candy as it captures the verdant greens and earthy browns of the British countryside within the ‘scope screen width....
Audio: 80
While the film is mostly dialogue led with its focus being mainly front centre weighted, the surrounds are used to deliver the sounds of the countryside....
Extras: 60
but in fact we get Gemma Arterton and Luke Evans telling us amusing anecdotes about the other actors in the film as well as what they were like to work with....
Movie: 80
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix provides us with clear, crisp dialogue from front centre together with the sounds of the countryside courtesy of the surrounds....
Total: 80
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 90
This one offers a crisp, clean source that's covered in a light coating of grain that serves to accentuate not only a handsome film-like texture but bring out all of the wonderful detailing scattered throughout...
Audio: 80
Heavier rock beats, heard during an outdoor rock concert chapter five, create a reasonable facsimile of a live experience; the music isn't precisely clear and there's a slight sloppiness to the heavier...
Extras: 50
The Making of Tamara Drewe (1080p, 13:44): Cast and crew discuss the comic on which the film is based, the quality of the performances, the work of Director Stephen Frears, the film's look and photography,...
Movie: 40
That she had a nose job seems only to reinforce the point that the movie is only concerned about the external, and rarely does the film or its characters seem to care about what's on the inside, lest they're...
Total: 60
Strong video and audio alongside a decent assortment of extras wrap the package in pretty paper and a fancy bow, but quality technical specs aren't reason enough to give this one a shot when there are...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Textures take on a life of their own as tweed jackets and finely woven clothing is perfectly visible to the naked eye....
Audio: 80
Even though there aren't any whiz-bang sound effects, this is a wonderfully mixed soundtrack that lends itself to producing real, natural sounds from the English countryside....
Extras: 40
Reconstructing 'Tamara Drewe' (HD, 10 min.) — More of an in-depth look at what it took to turn the graphic novel into this movie with a hands on approach from Frears and Arterton....
Movie: 80
Still, when you watch it, it's easy to become lost in the lives and quirks of these people....
Total: 80
This is a brilliant little British comedy from a seasoned director who's shown his ability to cross over into multiple genres and continue to hold his own....
AVSForumRead review here
Video: 88
The live concert scene shows this lossless tracks legs, have a transparent and dynamic stereo spread while nicely utilizing the effects speakers....
Audio: 84
The live concert scene shows this lossless tracks legs, have a transparent and dynamic stereo spread while nicely utilizing the effects speakers....
Extras: 30
Reconstructing Tamara Drewe (HD) Trailers: A Man A Woman and A Noodle Shop, I Get Low, Made In Dagenham, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger, Barney;s Version BD Live enabled...
Movie: 40
When journalist Tamara Drewe returns to her parents' house with a new assignment - and a new nose - she sets the surrounding countryside's male hearts aflame, breaking the picturesque tranquility and transforming...
Total: 61
The live concert scene shows this lossless tracks legs, have a transparent and dynamic stereo spread while nicely utilizing the effects speakers....
Director: Stephen Frears
Actors: Gemma Arterton, Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper
PlotIn a picturesque English village, the story begins with a renowned writer's retreat managed by Beth and her husband Nicholas, a successful yet unfaithful crime novelist. Their tranquil life is disrupted when Tamara, a once-awkward local girl turned glamorous London journalist, returns to her childhood home following her mother's death. Tamara's stunning transformation and her intent to sell her family house attract the attention of the local men, stirring latent desires and causing jealousy among the villagers. She rekindles a relationship with Andy, her old flame who works on the nearby farm, but also catches the eye of rock star Ben, further complicating matters.
Meanwhile, two bored teenage girls, Jody and Casey, become obsessed with Ben and stir up trouble with a series of mischievous acts. Tensions escalate as Nicholas continues his philandering ways, affecting his marriage and the retreat's harmonious environment. The arrival of Tamara acts as a catalyst, unearthing buried emotions and long-held secrets among the villagers. As romantic entanglements and past grievances intertwine, the once-idyllic setting becomes a hotspot of drama and passion. The complex web of relationships sets the stage for revelations and decisions that will alter the course of several lives dramatically.
Writers: Posy Simmonds, Moira Buffini
Release Date: 10 Sep 2010
Runtime: 107 min
Rating: R
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English