A Bigger Splash Blu-ray Review
Score: 75
from 5 reviewers
Review Date:
Though not without flaws, 'A Bigger Splash' boasts a sumptuous presentation, strong technical merits, and standout performances, particularly from Ralph Fiennes.
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Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 82
The Blu-ray presentation of 'A Bigger Splash,' with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer at 1.85:1, impresses with its sharp detail, vivid and natural color palette, and deep black levels. While there are occasional soft shots and sometimes overly intense sunlit scenes, the overall viewing experience is notably organic and artifact-free.
Audio: 82
A Bigger Splash's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix immerses listeners with dynamic surround activity, well-prioritized dialogue, and vibrant rock soundtrack cues that punctuate the island setting, ensuring a natural and engaging auditory experience.
Extra: 58
The extras for 'A Bigger Splash' are notably short, offering eight brief character and thematic featurettes, a photo gallery with manual and auto advance, and the theatrical trailer in HD; while these provide some insight into the film’s elements, their brevity may leave viewers wanting more comprehensive content.
Movie: 74
"A Bigger Splash" immerses viewers in a twisted and visually stunning psychological thriller set against Pantelleria's Mediterranean backdrop. While bolstered by dynamic performances, particularly Ralph Fiennes' electric turn, some reviews critique the film's pacing and emotional distance. The Blu-ray release offers standard yet satisfactory packaging and presentation.
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Video: 82
The Blu-ray presentation of "A Bigger Splash" is highly commendable for its high-definition rendering, marked by a sharp 1080p AVC encoded transfer that maintains the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Filmed predominantly on 35mm with some digital elements, this transfer excels in presenting fine details with sharp, crisp definition, especially in the many brightly lit scenes and close-ups. The Mediterranean setting provides a lush color palette, ranging from warm and vivid to cool and reserved, all captured with rich, noticeably deep blacks that enhance visual dynamism without compromising fidelity. Despite minor instances where intense sunlight softens the image, the clarity and detail are consistently top-tier, providing an authentic and engaging representation of the Italian locales. No noticeable compression issues or video artifacts detract from this transfer.
However, there are occasional challenges in specific scenes that merit attention. A tendency towards 'sun-drenched' visuals can lead to sections appearing overly bright and sometimes washing out fine details. Night scenes, while generally maintaining good depth, occasionally fall short in granular detail, though not to a distracting degree. The film's color grading and contrast manage to stay balanced overall, with skin tones remaining lifelike across varying conditions. One notable aspect includes some artistically intended soft shots that may momentarily obscure detail but align with the film's stylistic approach. Throughout, movements remain smooth with well-integrated background and foreground elements. The overall aesthetic remains organic and immersive, reflecting both the idyllic and dramatic moments eloquently.
Audio: 82
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix for "A Bigger Splash" delivers a refined and meticulously crafted audio experience that complements the film's eclectic soundtrack and immersive setting. The mix takes full advantage of the surround channels, creating an enveloping atmosphere with diverse ambient environmental sounds and music cues. Dialogue is presented with clarity and precision, occupying the center channel effectively. Notably, the rock-inspired elements bring the audio to life, with scenes featuring Swinton’s band and classic tracks like Nilsson's 'Jump into the Fire' and The Beach Boys' 'Good Vibrations' sounding vibrant and dynamic through the mix. This balance between dialogue, ambient noise, and music strikes an impressive harmony without feeling forced or overloaded.
The surround sound presentation includes panning effects and directional cues that enhance the viewing experience. While the film may have front-heavy moments typical of a drama, these transitions amplify during musical sequences, highlighting Fox's dedication to creating a robust audio track that defies the norms of the genre. The effective use of LFE channels ensures impactful bass during key scenes, notably during performances and when heavy instruments are introduced. Overall levels and voice reproduction are generous, with split effects seamlessly integrated to support the narrative without distraction.
The soundtrack includes a diverse array of pop tunes and background scores by iconic bands like The Rolling Stones, utilized effectively across both front and rear channels. This approach enhances the spatial audio experience, ensuring viewers are consistently engaged by the immersive sound field. The English Descriptive Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, and French Dolby Digital 5.1 options provide versatility for various audience needs, while subtitle support in English SDH, Spanish, and French further enhances accessibility. This DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix is a testament to creating a soundscape that feels both natural and powerful, making "A Bigger Splash" an exemplary showcase of modern audio engineering in film.
Extra: 58
The Blu-ray extras for "A Bigger Splash" are rather minimalistic, offering a scant but adequately presented selection of supplementary materials. Chief among them are Promotional Featurettes, which serve as brief, character-centric vignettes that include insights from the cast and crew. While these segments are remarkably concise—more akin to promotional snippets than in-depth featurettes—they do provide a glimpse into the film's characters, story elements, and the stunning Mediterranean backdrop. Additionally, the disc includes a photo gallery with auto and manual advance options, a theatrical trailer, a bonus DVD, and a digital HD copy.
Extras included in this disc:
- The Silent One: Character insight video.
- The Extroverted One: Character insight video.
- The Young One: Character insight video.
- The Mysterious One: Character insight video.
- Story and Cast: Overview featuring the main actors and narrative.
- Beneath the Surface: Brief exploration of thematic elements.
- The Inspiration: Insight into the creative process behind the film.
- Another World: Visuals and thematic elements discussed.
- Gallery: Collection of 28 stills and behind-the-scenes shots.
- Theatrical Trailer: Original trailer for the film.
- Bonus DVD
- Digital HD Copy
Movie: 74
Luca Guadagnino’s "A Bigger Splash" enticingly explores the complicated lives of rock legend Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton), who is recuperating from vocal cord surgery on the idyllic island of Pantelleria, alongside her boyfriend Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts). Their tranquil respite shatters with the unanticipated arrival of Marianne’s old flame, record producer Harry (Ralph Fiennes), and his enigmatic daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson), igniting a volatile whirlwind of jealousy and passion. Swinton's portrayal of a silently suffering rock star, rendered speechless post-surgery, is magnetic yet underwhelming due to sparse dialogue and minimal opportunities to shine vocally. Conversely, Fiennes commands attention with his ebullient, sometimes obnoxious character, bringing a vibrant energy that contrasts sharply with Paul’s quieter, more brooding demeanor and Penelope’s calculated seductiveness.
The narrative weaves through tangled relationships and hidden agendas against the breathtaking backdrop of Pantelleria’s volcanic landscape. Despite its intention to delve deep into the psyches of the rich and famous, the film sometimes fails to elicit empathy for its emotionally distant characters, leading to disjointed motivations and actions that do not always resonate. The screenplay by David Kajganich periodically enriches the backstory via flashbacks, fostering a semblance of mystery around Penelope’s true intent and Harry’s manipulative charms. The plot takes an unexpected turn towards darker themes involving refugees and a murder investigation – elements that disrupt the soap opera-like dynamics among the quartet.
While the film sprawls with scenic vistas and captivating performances, especially from the dynamic Fiennes, it occasionally falters in maintaining a gripping tension or delivering fully developed character arcs. Guadagnino’s direction ensures visual splendor, but the film's broader socio-political subtext feels inadequately integrated, leaving some narrative threads hanging. Nonetheless, "A Bigger Splash" manages to offer substantial drama and suspense, driven by its ensemble cast’s engaging performances and the lush, picturesque setting.
Total: 75
"A Bigger Splash" offers an intriguing yet uneven cinematic experience, elevated by superb performances, particularly from Ralph Fiennes. The film's premise is rich, set against a sumptuous backdrop that effectively utilizes its beautiful location. However, it does grapple with tonal inconsistencies, vacillating between high melodrama and near-farcical elements, which may detract from its literary ambitions. Despite these narrative shortcomings, the film maintains interest through its compelling cast and striking visuals.
While not perfect, "A Bigger Splash" provides quality entertainment for its duration. It is punctuated by standout moments, including a twist that, though predictable, remains impactful. Some characters feel underutilized, yet they retain intrigue, adding layers to the storytelling. The film operates at a deliberate pace that may not resonate with all viewers but rewards those who appreciate nuanced character studies and scenic filmmaking.
The Blu-ray release enhances the viewing experience with strong video and audio quality, though it falls short in terms of additional features. The main feature's visual appeal is heightened by the technical merits of the Blu-ray, making it a worthwhile consideration for fans of the cast and those who appreciate visually driven narratives.
In conclusion, "A Bigger Splash" succeeds in creating an immersive atmosphere, bolstered by excellent performances and a beautiful setting. Despite some flaws in pacing and character development, it remains an engaging watch. The Blu-ray version further enriches the experience through its superior technical presentation, making it a recommended addition for enthusiasts of the genre and admirers of high-caliber acting.
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 80
The palette is wonderfully vivid, though occasionally either color grading or pushed contrast can tend to blanch things, as in an early scene when Paul and Marianne have covered themselves in clay and...
Audio: 80
A Bigger Splash's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks plays off the fact that Marianne is a supposed rock idol by filling the soundtrack with all sorts of source cues, not necessarily relegated to the world...
Extras: 30
Another World (1080p; 1:51) Gallery (1080p; 2:25) offers both Manual and Auto Advance options....
Movie: 70
If La Piscine rather imaginatively wove together elements of everything from Diabolique to Lolita to Knife in the Water, A Bigger Splash would seem to have more on its mind than the roiling theatrics of...
Total: 70
Still, this is a really interesting and often quite sumptuous looking film, and fans of the cast should find enough here to satisfy them, despite some lingering flaws....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Beyond the setting in this transfer, it does have a small amount of issues related to night scenes where you lose some detail, but nothing major....
Audio: 80
There are large portions of this film that do feel very front heavy, with only a bird chirping here and there to give this track some life, and there is nothing wrong with that....
Extras: 20
Promotional Material (8:24 HD) – A series of very short clips that mainly focus on individual characters and locations....
Movie: 60
But Harry, on the other hand, loves the art of music so blindly and passionately that he considers this a travesty, and just being around Harry is enough for Marianne to miss that lifestyle and her relationship...
Total: 60
This isn't a movie that will stay with most people for days, but maybe, because of a very strong performance by Ralph Fiennes, it just might make your day....
Home Theater Forum review by Matt HoughRead review here
Video: 80
Color seems to be a tad bleached in the early reels though after a tragedy in the film color seems more normal and balanced....
Audio: 90
Background score and pop tunes by the Rolling Stones and others fill both the fronts and rears....
Extras: 50
The vignettes are “The Silent One” (0:34), “The Extroverted One” (0:34), “The Young One” (0:35), “The Mysterious One” (0:34), “Story and Cast” (2:10), “Beneath the Surface” (2:16), “The Inspiration” (1:09),...
Movie: 60
Director Luca Guadagnino makes sure we get generous views of Pantelleria with its green vistas dotted with houses and the village, rocky shores, and clear Mediterranean waters, and he really takes our...
Total: 60
A Bigger Splash offers Ralph Fiennes a fantastic opportunity to show his stuff (both literally and figuratively), and while the story is somewhat unfulfilling, fans of the stars may want to at least consider...
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 92
This is a solid looking high definition rendering that sports plenty of fine detail with sharp edges and crisp definition that provides discerning dimensional perspective during wide angle camera pans....
Audio: 80
Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control Canton "Ergo"...
Extras: 50
(HD) 8 Promotional Featurettes (Totaling 9 minutes): The Silent One The Extraverted One The Young One The Mysterious One Story & Cast Beneath the Surface...
Movie: 70
While the couple basks in the foreshadowing heat of the Mediterranean sun, their lives are soon disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old flame (Ralph Fiennes) and his seductive daughter (Dakota Johnson),...
Total: 73
Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control Canton "Ergo"...
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 80
Depth: Movements are smooth and always play well with the background and foreground elements....
Audio: 80
The rock star angle associated with the characters leads to some great moments involving soundtrack cues and the general sound of this movie set in a certain paradise is great....
Extras: 20
It would have been great to hear more about where this film came from and what the actors had to say beyond the mini featurettes presented....
Movie: 70
This is most evident in the first half, when the film is having a blast throwing these different personalities in together and letting us enjoy the mostly humorous results....
Total: 70
The Blu-ray presentation is quite good, as the location allows for strong video and the audio is solid as well....
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Actors: Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ralph Fiennes
PlotRock star Marianne Lane is recuperating on the idyllic Italian island of Pantelleria with her filmmaker boyfriend, Paul De Smedt. Seeking solace and respite from her demanding career, Marianne has taken a vow of silence to aid in her recovery. Their peaceful retreat takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Marianne's old flame and music producer, Harry Hawkes, accompanied by his daughter Penelope. Harry's boisterous presence and flamboyant demeanor stir old memories and create palpable tension, disrupting the tranquility that Marianne and Paul sought.
As Harry rekindles his connection with Marianne and makes unabashed attempts to win her back, old rivalries and insecurities begin to surface. Penelope, meanwhile, subtly inveigles herself into the dynamics between the adults, further complicating their relationships. The strain caused by Harry's unexpected arrival reaches a breaking point and sets the stage for deeper revelations and emotional confrontations. Each character finds themselves wresting with their past choices and desires, questioning the boundaries of love, loyalty, and trust during a scorching summer on the secluded island.
Writers: David Kajganich, Jacques Deray, Alain Page
Release Date: 13 May 2016
Runtime: 125 min
Rating: R
Country: Italy, France, United States
Language: English, Italian, French