Drinking Buddies Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Drinking Buddies" on Blu-Ray, shot with a Red camera by Ben Richardson, is a commendable example of modern digital filmmaking. Magnolia Home Entertainment's 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer offers a clean, noiseless, and detailed image that effectively balances the naturalistic style of the film with technical precision. The colors are handled well, capturing everything from the gleaming brewery tanks to the browns and greens of the woods. Exceptional black levels and a consistent color palette contribute to a visually appealing experience, free from artifacts and maintaining an average bitrate of 24.97, which is more than adequate for the conversational nature of the film.

Despite being categorized as an indie feature, "Drinking Buddies" manages to deliver impressive levels of detail and contrast. Fine detail is particularly notable in close-ups, yet it also extends to long shots involving complex scenes within large spaces like the brewery. While some scenes exhibit a slight softness, overall clarity and detail remain strong. The differentiation between indoor and outdoor scenes, day or night, is distinct and well-executed, with strong black levels that effectively convey shadows and bright whites that avoid washing out the image. The consistent color palette displays vivid colors without oversaturation, enhancing the film's visual narrative.

The Blu-Ray's 1080p, 2.40:1 (16X9) widescreen presentation attempts to retain the film's raw and natural aesthetic, leveraging primarily natural lighting. However, occasional issues with contrast overkill in daylight cabin shots and somewhat shallow black levels were noted. Despite these minor drawbacks, "Drinking Buddies" boasts exquisite flesh tones with no signs of digital scrubbing or other anomalies, elevating its presentation above many low-budget comedies. Overall, the video quality supports the film's storytelling effectively while delivering a pleasant viewing experience.

The audio presentation of "Drinking Buddies" on Blu-ray is delivered via a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that skillfully balances the film’s primarily dialogue-driven content with subtle ambient sounds. This mix emphasizes clear and distinct character interactions, ensuring that every nuance of the improvised dialogue is easily heard. Although the soundtrack is relatively simple, it effectively utilizes the surround channels to imbue scenes with a sense of environment, including the sounds of a bustling brewery or busy bar. The music, curated by Chris Swanson, fits flawlessly into the film's mood without drawing attention away from the dialogue.

In terms of spatial audio, "Drinking Buddies" leverages front and rear channels to create a modest but immersive sound field. The rear channels provide background noise and ambient music, contributing to an authentic atmosphere without overwhelming the listener. While the LFE channel is sparingly used, it provides occasional depth during musical sequences. Overall, the sound mix delivers a crisp and clear experience that suits the film's character-driven narrative, making efficient use of the DTS-HD MA format to enhance the viewing experience without unnecessary complexity.

The Blu-ray release of "Drinking Buddies" impresses with a robust array of special features that deepen the viewer's understanding and appreciation of the film. The disc includes an engaging and insightful audio commentary by director Joe Swanberg and producers Andrea Roa and Alicia Van Couvering, focusing on the origin of the project, actor collaboration, and production challenges. Highlights include a 30-minute interview with Swanberg conducted by Zane Lamprey, various interviews with key cast members, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Revolution Brewery. Deleted scenes with optional director commentary and a theatrical trailer round out the package. The only redundant element is the AXS TV featurette, which reuses material from other interviews.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Writer/Director Joe Swanberg, Producers Andrea Roa and Alicia Van Couvering: Origin of the project and production insights.
• Deleted Scenes/Outtakes with Director Commentary: Optional commentary on scenes that didn't make the cut.
• Interviews: Cast members discuss their characters and involvement.
  • Olivia Wilde
  • Jake Johnson
  • Anna Kendrick
  • Ron Livingston
• AXS TV: A Look at Drinking Buddies: Recycled excerpts from cast interviews.
• All Things Drinking with Director Joe Swanberg and Drinking Made Easy Host Zane Lamprey: Extended interview with focus on filmmaking and beer.
• Behind the Scenes at Revolution Brewery: Brewery tour by brewmaster James Cibak.
• Theatrical Trailer: Brief glimpse of the film's style without revealing much of the plot.
• Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment: Additional trailers and promos.
• BD-Live: Platform indicating updates available later.

Joe Swanberg's film Drinking Buddies masterfully utilizes the craft beer brewing scene of Chicago as a vibrant backdrop for an engaging and nuanced dramedy about workplace dynamics and unspoken romantic tensions. With Swanberg’s established improvisational directing style, there’s a refreshing spontaneity to the film, resulting in characters who feel real and relatable. Olivia Wilde and Jake Johnson deliver standout performances as Kate and Luke, co-workers whose deep friendship flirts with romantic possibility. Swanberg uniquely crafts their interactions to feel natural and unscripted, skillfully leveraging the working brewery setting, which serves not just as a location but as a catalyst for many pivotal moments in the plot.

The narrative follows Kate, the public face of the brewery, and Luke, a brewer, as they navigate their strong bond against the backdrop of their respective relationships. Luke’s long-term girlfriend Jill (Anna Kendrick) and Kate’s boyfriend Chris (Ron Livingston) introduce contrasting dynamics that add depth to their interpersonal tensions. The film’s clever use of subtle details and natural dialogue offers depth without forcing exposition, creating a story that breathes authenticity.

What makes Drinking Buddies distinct is how Swanberg focuses on the complexities of near-romantic relationships through unplanned dialogue, driven by actor improvisation, and an attentive editing process that captures the raw essence of human interaction. Events such as a weekend trip to Chris’ cabin provide the perfect storm for emotions to surface, exploring themes of friendship, flirtation, and fidelity. As both Luke and Kate confront their true feelings amidst a series of revealing events, the film narrows its focus to highlight personal transformation and the impact of life's small yet significant moments. The narrative ultimately offers an absorbing exploration of modern relationships, marked by ambiguity and poignant realism.

"Drinking Buddies" is an evocative indie film that first garnered attention at SXSW 2013, where it was an official selection. Directed by Joe Swanberg, this movie skillfully balances a straightforward narrative with engaging performances. The plot centers around characters navigating complex relationships, made all the more interesting by the naturalistic, improvisational style of filmmaking Swanberg employs. While it may have a seemingly simple premise, the depth brought to the characters by the actors—especially Olivia Wilde's nuanced and layered portrayal—ensures that viewers are invested from start to finish.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray release of "Drinking Buddies" excels. Magnolia has provided a high-quality transfer that belies the film’s lower budget, delivering crisp visuals and clear audio. The supplementary features are substantial and add valuable context to the film, including noteworthy cameos by Jason Sudeikis and director Ti West. Fans of independent cinema will appreciate these added extras, deepening their understanding of the movie's production and themes.

In conclusion, it may be impossible to banish the term mumblecore from the vocabulary of film fans, but "Drinking Buddies" serves as a reminder that such labels don't tell us much. A good film is always more interesting and offers more substance than the category or genre to which it may appear on the surface to belong. "Drinking Buddies" is such a film. Highly recommended.