The Ticket Blu-ray Review

Shout! Factory's Blu-ray debut of "The Ticket" offers a visually compelling experience, though not without its flaws. Encoded with MPEG-4 AVC on a BD-25 disc, this release presents the movie in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The film, shot using an Arri Alexa with Panavision Primo lenses, showcases a lush visual style thanks to Director of Photography Zack Galler. The video streams carry an average bitrate of 24992 kbps, peaking at 31.84 Mbps, but the transfer is marred by persistent digital chroma noise, particularly evident in both light and dark shots. This noise, along with occasional banding and macro-blocking, slightly detracts from the overall viewing experience.

In terms of detail and clarity, the transfer is commendable, delivering sharp and clear images that accurately reflect the modern indie aesthetic typical of digitally shot films. The depth of the image provides a decent separation between characters or objects and backgrounds, with natural motion free from blur or jitter. Black levels are generally satisfactory, maintaining detail despite a subtle grayish hue. Color reproduction is bold and vibrant; however, certain scenes tended to look undersaturated despite the vivid overall palette. The movie’s amber-lit scenes reveal variable color spacing, although the consistency in flesh tones and facial details throughout the film is excellent.

Overall, while "The Ticket" boasts vibrant colors and fine detail that reveal close-up textures powerfully, Shout! Factory's authoring and compression issues prevent it from being an exemplary transfer. Nonetheless, for fans of the film, this Blu-ray offers a sufficiently solid viewing experience that, despite its few flaws, faithfully represents the film's artistic vision.

The audio presentation of "The Ticket" on Blu-ray is delivered via a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround Sound track with a bitrate of 2995 kbps and a 24-bit resolution, accompanied by a downconverted DTS-HD Master 2.0 Stereo option at 1722 kbps and 24-bit. The audio experience is particularly notable for its handling of intimate dialogue exchanges, often delivered in sotto voce, necessitating occasional volume adjustments to warrant clear enunciation. Fluk and his sound design team expertly layer these vocal elements, drawing parallels to the approach seen in Malick's films. The front channels accommodate Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans's piano-oriented score, while ambient sounds such as passing cars and natural elements are judiciously employed in the surrounds to enhance the overall auditory environment.

The track exhibits balanced integration of vocals, music, and sound effects, although its dynamic range is slightly subdued, requiring minor volume enhancements for optimal clarity. The film's dialogue-focused narrative nature ensures that most of the auditory action is concentrated in the front channels with well-defined ambiance from the rear channels. Low-frequency extension is present but subtle, grounded in natural sounds like doors closing and segments of the musical score. Despite being light on deep action sequences, the surround sound presentation delivers engaging moments, particularly during scenes from a blind perspective, accentuating the listener's sense of immersion. Additionally, while optional English SDH subtitles are available, their inconsistency in identifying specific characters may detract slightly from the viewing experience.

The extras on the Blu Ray of "The Ticket" offer insightful, informative content that complements the film well. The standout feature is the Audio Commentary by Writer/Director Ido Fluk and Writer Sharon Mashihi. This feature-length track reveals an engaging dialogue where Fluk leads with detailed insights into the creative process, while Mashihi periodically affirms his points. Additionally, the Original Theatrical Trailer provides a crisp glimpse into the film's highlights, showcased in high definition.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary by Writer/Director Ido Fluk and Writer Sharon Mashihi: In-depth discussion on the film's creation.
• Original Theatrical Trailer: Brief but high-quality trailer of the film.

In his film The Ticket, Israeli-born director Ido Fluk explores the metaphorical implications of vision and blindness through the story of James (Dan Stevens), a man who, after years of blindness, mysteriously regains his sight. Initially, this miraculous event leads James to experience life with a renewed sense of wonder; however, it also gives rise to his unchecked ambitions and indulgences, including a higher-paying job, luxurious possessions, and extramarital affairs. This newfound materialism inevitably strains his relationships with his family and closest friend, fellow blind man Bob (Oliver Platt). The film captures both the external allure of James’s heightened world through vibrant, sun-drenched visuals, and the internal turmoil brought about by the consequences of his changed behavior.

Fluk's direction blends a dreamy yet precise visual style with an acute sense of character development. Cinematographer Zack Galler leverages stunning landscape shots and light spectrums that creatively illustrate the experience of blindness. Performances bolster the film's intricate narrative; Dan Stevens ably portrays James’s transformation from a grateful recipient of a miracle to a morally compromised individual. Malin Akerman excels as James's wife Sam, imbuing her character with palpable emotional depth. Oliver Platt also delivers a compelling performance, enhancing the dramatic tension as James's only confidant who reacts skeptically to his transformations.

Despite its ingenuity in aspects of visual storytelling and characterization, The Ticket wrestles with predictability and pacing. The narrative can feel disjointed, occasionally bogging down in exposition gaps and drawn-out scenes that diminish the story's impact. While the movie elicits empathy for its characters and drives home moments of stark realization about greed and morality, its appeal wanes over time. Nevertheless, those seeking a thoughtful yet flawed drama might find Fluk’s work worthwhile, especially for its artistic visual elements and strong performances.

The Ticket offers a unique premise and visually compelling moments, but doesn't consistently match its initial narrative promise. Directed by Ido Fluk, the film tells the story of a blind man who regains his vision, exploring themes of perception and identity. While the narrative occasionally stumbles with plot holes and underdeveloped characters, the cinematography remains a standout feature. Unfortunately, Shout's Blu-ray transfer does not fully capture the film's visual strengths, lacking the sharpness and detail one might expect. However, it remains the sole edition available at present.

Technically, the Blu-ray delivers a commendable performance in both video and audio departments. The video presentation is generally solid, with good color balance and contrast, albeit with some moments of softness. The audio track is clear and well-mixed, complementing the film's atmospheric score and sound design. The absence of featurettes is notable, but the inclusion of a commentary track adds value, offering insights into the film's production and themes.

In conclusion, The Ticket shows glimpses of experimental boldness and stylistic inventiveness that hint at what might have been a more impactful film. While it falls short of being avant-garde, it still contains well-shot scenes that make it worth viewing. Despite the less-than-optimal transfer quality, this Blu-ray edition offers a reasonable viewing experience bolstered by an informative commentary. Recommended with reservations; consider renting or streaming before committing to a purchase.