Sympathy for Delicious Blu-ray Review

The AVC encoded image of "Sympathy for Delicious" presents a 1.78:1 aspect ratio in 1080p, revealing notable weaknesses in shadow detail and an overall softness that leaves some textures less defined. The film's heavy reliance on shadowy photography often leads to crushing issues that obscure intricate details in costuming and set design. Despite these drawbacks, close-ups are effective in capturing the full range of emotions and grit, with textures maintaining reasonable integrity. Skin tones swing from healthy representations to occasional yellowish tints, disrupting natural human qualities. Colors exhibit strong vibrancy, especially under bright exterior light, with bold reds and yellows standing out, although a mild layer of grain persists throughout.

The presentation struggles particularly in darkly lit scenes where shadows dominate, obscuring faces and objects instead of enhancing detail. This issue is pronounced during dim concert venue settings where the shadow handling fails to accentuate nuanced features. While daytime scenes showcase clarity and precision, they too fall short of providing the intricate level of detail generally expected from the 1080p format. For instance, individual hairs on beards and mustaches often merge together rather than displaying distinct edges. These stylistic and technical choices result in a somewhat lifeless and underwhelming visual experience overall. While the majority of the picture remains acceptable, the presentation doesn’t rise to the high standards set by superior Blu-ray transfers.

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track on the Blu-ray of "Sympathy for Delicious" delivers a mixed experience. Dialogue exchanges are primarily anchored in the front channels, where voices are weightily blended to maintain dramatic clarity. However, consistency can be an issue, as conversations can transition from clear to garbled during heightened action sequences. Healing sequences instill a mild surround effect, giving a subtle sense of group dynamics. Stage performances are vivid, producing an intense cacophony that captures the raw energy of the band's music, coupled with a robust low-end throb.

Despite these strengths, the audio presentation falters in several areas. The music from the band frequently overpowers other elements, causing important dialogue to be obscured, which can be particularly frustrating during key scenes. Additionally, the rear channels are underutilized, even during potentially immersive moments like concert scenes with clamoring fans or communal healing gatherings. This results in a lossless track that fails to fully engage the listener or deliver a consistently high-quality experience.

Overall, while the 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix adequately covers essential aspects such as ambient noise and interior echoes, it falls short of providing an impressive auditory experience. The track's inability to balance musical and dialogue elements, combined with the underwhelming use of surround effects, leaves something to be desired for both audiophiles and fans of the movie.

The Blu-ray extras for "Sympathy for Delicious" provide a comprehensive and insightful look into the film's creation, elevating the viewer's understanding of the story and the characters. The Audio Commentary features an engaging discussion among actor/director Mark Ruffalo, writer/actor Christopher Thornton, and actor Orlando Bloom. It's an incisive exploration of the film's frames, character motivations, and behind-the-scene anecdotes including real-life incidents tied to Thornton's experiences. However, it occasionally struggles with awkward pauses and side notes that do not add significant value. The Behind the Story featurette is a touching recount of the deep friendship between Ruffalo and Thornton, detailing their personal journeys which have profoundly impacted the making of the film. Additional promotional material, such as the theatrical trailer, enriches the extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Features Ruffalo, Thornton, and Bloom dissecting the film’s particulars.
• Behind the Story: An exploration of the longstanding friendship between Ruffalo and Thornton.
• Theatrical Trailer: Promotional material providing a glimpse into the movie.

Mark Ruffalo's directorial debut, Sympathy for Delicious, is a sincere yet fragmented feature that struggles to maintain coherence amidst its lofty ambitions. Christopher Thornton, who wrote the script and plays the lead role of paraplegic turntablist Dean O’Dwyer, imbues the narrative with heartfelt authenticity. However, Thornton's portrayal of Dean—a man with newfound healing powers—falls short due to a combination of weak scripting and Ruffalo's overly ambitious yet uneven direction. Despite cameos from seasoned actors like Orlando Bloom, Laura Linney, and Juliette Lewis, their performances often feel disconnected and fail to deliver the emotional depth needed to make us care about their characters.

The story delves into Dean's Faustian journey as he grapples with his ability to heal, a gift he soon exploits for personal gain by joining a rock band fronted by the aptly named The Stain (Orlando Bloom). While the premise holds potential, the execution falters with melodramatic dead spots and clichéd resolutions that never fully explore Dean's moral and spiritual dilemmas. Ruffalo's use of handheld camerawork adds a raw, indie feel but often comes across as artificial rather than organic, further diluting the film's intended impact.

The film's most compelling elements—Dean’s healing touch and his psychological turmoil—are undermined by a disjointed narrative that introduces legal troubles in the third act, abruptly halting the movie’s momentum. Thornton’s screenplay attempts to position Dean towards a formulaic redemption, but the result is an uninspiring and strained conclusion that fails to resonate. Ultimately, Sympathy for Delicious aims to be a deep exploration of redemption and faith but instead stumbles, leaving viewers with an odd, flat experience devoid of emotional engagement and meaningful character development.

"Sympathy for Delicious" grapples with a narrative that holds significant potential yet consistently falls short of fully realizing it. Dean's journey, flawed and deeply human, deserved a script with more courage and depth, and potentially a director with greater experience to tease out its complexities. There are moments where vulnerability and spirituality shine through effectively, but these instances are fleeting, failing to push the characters into innovative or compelling scenarios. Instead, the plot often seems tangled in its own ambition, missing opportunities to explore its themes fully.

The film's shortcomings are not limited to its storytelling but extend into the technical aspects as well. The video quality is passable but far from exceptional, with some noticeable inconsistencies in clarity and color grading. More disappointingly, the audio fails to rise even to average standards, lacking the sharpness and dynamism that viewers expect from a Blu-ray release. This detracts significantly from the overall viewing experience and underscores the sense of a deeply flawed final product.

In conclusion, "Sympathy for Delicious" evokes a sense of frustration. Despite a talented cast led by Mark Ruffalo's commendable efforts in the acting domain, his directorial debut feels poorly managed, allowing the film to spiral out of control. The lack of technical finesse further compounds the disappointment. While there are glimmers of what could have been a remarkable narrative journey, they are too few to salvage the production. This is one release best missed.