Capitalism: A Love Story Blu-ray Review

"Capitalism: A Love Story" is presented on Blu-ray with a reliable 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. This release effectively combines newly-captured HD footage with diverse stock footage, resulting in varying degrees of visual quality. While the archival clips display inherent artifacts, debris, and inconsistent colorization, these shortcomings are expected and handled aptly. The HD segments exhibit a stabilized image lacking in excessive technical flaws. Despite some scenes appearing flat and lifeless, especially compared to standard 35mm film stock transfers, the detailing of clothing, buildings, and foliage remains commendable.

Colors throughout the Blu-ray are largely accurate and stable, with primary colors showing significant improvement. Contrast and brightness are balanced, contributing to clear and detailed imagery. Close-ups may lack the sharpness and fine texture one might expect, but overall detailing is maintained across various locations and materials. Occasionally, the transfer is marred by posterization, color banding, and unanticipated spikes in contrast. Blacks are consistently stable, and flesh tones are generally natural without excessive redness. Although there are moments of unsightly noise, they do not detract significantly from the overall experience.

As a whole, "Capitalism: A Love Story" on Blu-ray delivers a solid viewing experience that is faithful to its source material. While it does not offer the sharpest or most vibrant image compared to other contemporary releases, fans will find a stable and well-presented transfer that honors the integrity of Michael Moore's documentary. Despite a few imperfections, this transfer stands as a worthwhile visual representation of the film.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Capitalism: A Love Story" stands out with its impressive Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack, setting a new benchmark for documentary soundscapes. The musical elements flood the soundstage with exceptional clarity and a robust bass presence, offering a rich and immersive auditory experience. Despite many atmospheric details being front-heavy, there is an appreciable sense of immersion that envelops the listener throughout the film. Michael Moore's utilization of sound effects, even in archival footage, combined with the bass’s effective deployment, enhances the overall impact — adding a powerful and dynamic layer to collapsing structures or jet flyovers.

From the perspective of dialogue delivery, the track excels with pristine clarity and intelligibility, ensuring that every spoken word is captured without compromise. The DTS-HD Master Audio enhances this further, providing a dynamic range that is both clean and expansive while maintaining adequate low-end support, which adds depth to the soundtrack. Although surround sound elements are prominent mainly through the musical selection, the overall front-heavy nature of the audio does not detract from its effectiveness. This balanced yet active soundtrack stands as one of the disc's technical highlights, delivering an unexpectedly high-quality auditory experience for a documentary feature.

The Blu-ray release of "Capitalism: A Love Story" provides a substantial but somewhat underwhelming collection of extras, primarily composed of what appear to be deleted scenes and extended interviews. Despite this, the supplementary materials offer valuable insights and complement the main documentary well. They are all presented in 1080p high definition and delve into various aspects of capitalism criticized by Michael Moore. Key highlights include an in-depth discussion with Harvard Professor Elizabeth Warren, extended interviews with notable figures like Congressman Elijah Cummings and NY Times' Chris Hedges, and an unabridged address by former President Jimmy Carter. These extras, along with others focusing on topics such as the food industry, worker cooperatives, and the practical applications of socialism in North Dakota, provide a broader context for understanding the film’s central themes.

Extras included on this disc:

• Elizabeth Warren on How Wall Street Got Away With Murder: Insightful discussion of Wall Street’s actions.
• Sorry, House-Flippers and Banks -- You're Toast in Flint, MI: Dan Kildee’s take on property neglect.
• Congressman Cummings Dares to Speak the Unspeakable: Regulatory suggestions from Elijah Cummings.
• Chris Hedges on the Killing Machine Known as Capitalism: Analysis of capitalism’s pitfalls.
• The Rich Don't Go to Heaven (There's a Special Place Reserved for Them!): Michael Moore’s conversation with Father Dick Preston.
• What If, Just What If, We Had Listened to Jimmy Carter in 1979?: Full 1979 address by President Carter.
• The Omnivore's Dilemma? It's Capitalism: Examination of capitalism’s impact on the food industry.
• Commie Taxi Drivers -- 'You Talkin' to Me?' -- In Wisconsin: The story of Union Cab in Madison.
• How to Run the Place Where You Work: Insights from Tom Webb on worker cooperatives.
• The Socialist Bank of -- North Dakota?: Educational piece on The Bank of North Dakota.
• The Bank Kicks Them Out, Max Kicks Them Back In: Discussion on Take Back the Land with Max Rameau.

Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story" is a complex and often contentious examination of the American financial system. Known for his distinctive style, Moore juxtaposes humor with grave realities, offering a deep dive into the precarious state of capitalism in the United States. The film begins with a satirical comparison between the fall of the Roman Empire and America's current economic instability, setting a tone that is both cynical and thought-provoking. Moore delves into the Reagan era's influence on today's economic challenges, emphasizing the manipulation by leading financial institutions. Through personal anecdotes and interviews, Moore poignantly highlights the struggles of families facing foreclosures and layoffs, bringing a human element to his critique of corporate greed.

Moore's filmmaking prowess is evident in how masterfully he assembles his narratives. The film balances structural integrity with emotional depth, ensuring that viewers are not just informed but also moved. His use of archival footage, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt advocating for a Second Bill of Rights, adds historical gravitas to the film's commentary. However, Moore's penchant for theatricality sometimes undermines his message. Stunts like placing crime scene tape around financial institutions or using a bullhorn outside corporate offices distract from the substantive issues at hand. While these acts are visually striking, they can come off as contrived and diminish the film's overall impact.

Despite its occasional lapses into sensationalism, "Capitalism: A Love Story" succeeds in fostering critical dialogue about economic inequality and corporate excess. The film’s strength lies in the real stories of hardship faced by average Americans. These narratives underscore the ruthless nature of unfettered capitalism and the widening chasm between the wealthy elite and the struggling masses. Moore's dual portrayal of Wall Street's unrestrained greed and the resilience of ordinary citizens offers a compelling and sobering reflection on the state of American society.

Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story" stands out as one of his most impactful and timely documentaries. The film scrutinizes America's economic framework, highlighting the vast chasm between the wealthy elite and the economically burdened, while largely bypassing the middle class. Moore's narrative is both provocative and divisive, often skewed to incite strong reactions. Presented in robust 1080p on Blu-ray, the visual quality delivers crispness and clarity that enhance the film's raw and engaging storytelling. Furthermore, the audio presentation is surprisingly rich and immersive, complementing Moore's vivid critique of capitalism.

The Blu-ray release boasts an impressive collection of bonus features, including a multitude of deleted and extended scenes that offer deeper insights into Moore's investigative process. While fans might lament the absence of a commentary track from Moore himself, the supplementary content remains substantial. From a technical standpoint, the transfer is faithful and preserves the integrity of Moore's filmmaking, with the lossless soundtrack delivering a compelling auditory experience.

Like most of his other films, Capitalism: A Love Story is bound to divide viewers, and mostly along party lines. That's not to say that this -- or any -- of Moore's films aren't worth watching. The filmmaker boldly crafts a film that dares to take on America's economic institution by focusing on either end of the spectrum -- the wealthy elite and the down-on-their-luck citizens -- without much in the way of even a glimpse into the middle. Moore's conclusion isn't surprising, and it's up to each viewer to decide if he came to the right one after watching the film and, hopefully, look into the issues he raises here and in the rest of his films with an open mind and, more importantly, into other areas of reference to draw a more personal conclusion. Capitalism: A Love Story represents Moore's conclusion after a lifetime of personal experience and dedicated research; it's up to each viewer to take his film not as gospel but as a springboard for further examination of the issues to reach a unique conclusion that may or may not end up reflecting Moore's. Technically, Capitalism: A Love Story is well-crafted if not a bit too long, but Moore again shows that he's got a command of the Documentary filmmaking process that should be the envy of most others in his class. This Starz/Anchor Bay Blu-ray release delivers a faithful 1080p transfer, a surprisingly rich and aggressive lossless soundtrack, and a fair collection of bonus materials, though a Michael Moore commentary track would have made a nice addition to the set. Nevertheless, Capitalism: A Love Story is worth checking out one way or another and by folks on both sides of the aisle.