Meet Joe Black Blu-ray Review

Universal’s 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer of "Meet Joe Black" presents a mixed bag, teetering between cinematic opulence and technical missteps. The transfer demonstrates strong color fidelity, infusing romantic scenes with the lush visual style crafted by director Martin Brest and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. Primary colors are vivid, and black levels are mostly deep and immersive, offering finely resolved textures, especially in close-ups. However, these strengths are undercut by noticeable edge enhancement artifacts, manifesting as glaring halos around objects and characters. This issue detracts significantly from the viewing experience, making scenes appear artificially sharpened and occasionally distracting. Additionally, minor artifacting, a small amount of wavering, and some noise and dirt issues do surface intermittently but are less detrimental compared to the omnipresent halos.

Contrast levels in this transfer are also a concern. Whites are excessively crushed in daylight scenes, which diminishes the image's intended richness by stripping away detail and nuance. Skin tones fluctuate between slightly sun-bleached and overly pink, although they generally maintain some consistency. Despite these flaws, the film does maintain a fine veneer of unobtrusive grain, suggesting that significant grain removal was avoided. This potential strength doesn't entirely save the picture quality, as deficiencies in texture and an overall lack of finer detail compromise the presentation. The end result makes "Meet Joe Black" seem more dated than it should be, impacting not just visual enjoyment but the filmic integrity of the piece.

In summary, while "Meet Joe Black" offers moments of vivid color and detailed imagery, the underlying issues like edge enhancement and contrast mismanagement substantially hinder its potential. The transfer stands as a testament to Universal’s variable quality in catalog Blu-ray releases. A more careful mastering process could have rendered a more faithful and visually pleasing version of this classic film.

The audio presentation of the "Meet Joe Black" Blu-ray excels with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Dialogue clarity stands out as a significant improvement over the previous Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 version, presenting clean, clear, and well-prioritized conversations throughout the film. The immersive soundscape captures the subtlety of settings like diners, boardrooms, mansions, and bustling hospital halls, along with more intimate environments such as quiet offices and studies. The ambient effects, while somewhat inconsistent in their distribution across front and rear speakers, generally create a convincing atmosphere. Highlights include whirring helicopters, bustling parties, and surprisingly potent fireworks in the finale.

Thomas Newman's score is a definitive highlight, filling the soundfield with a rich resonance that effectively utilizes the LFE channel, enhancing the film's grand romantic tone. The score's sweeping strings dance from speaker to speaker, offering an enveloping auditory experience that is both stirring and intimate. Despite some ambient effects not achieving full immersion, the overall precision and restraint of Universal’s lossless mix elevate the film's audio presentation to new heights. This DTS-HD track marks a considerable upgrade from the film's prior audio releases and confirms Universal’s dedication to quality preservation and enhancement.

The extras on the Blu-ray edition of "Meet Joe Black" provide a modest yet insightful look into the film's production, albeit limited in scope and format. Highlighting a theme of retrospection, the Spotlight on Location: The Making of Meet Joe Black featurette offers a standard behind-the-scenes glimpse with director Martin Brest and key cast members discussing the filmmaking process. Although visually dated as an old EPK, it includes some thoughtful comments on casting and production choices. The Production Photographs Montage presents a nostalgic view through a series of stills set to Thomas Newman’s evocative score. Lastly, the Theatrical Trailer rounds out this compact package without any groundbreaking additions. While unchanged from the HD DVD release, some may find the content lacking compared to more comprehensive editions.

Extras included in this disc:

• Spotlight on Location: The Making of Meet Joe Black: Directors and cast discuss the film and production insights.
• Production Photographs Montage: Photo gallery accompanied by Thomas Newman’s score.
• Theatrical Trailer: Promotional trailer for the film.
• My Scenes Bookmarking: Allows scene marking for easy access.

"Meet Joe Black," directed by Martin Brest, is a distinctive film that stirs passionate debate among audiences and critics. Portraying the young Brad Pitt as Death, accompanied by Anthony Hopkins' riveting performance as William Parish, a billionaire nearing his 65th birthday. The premise hinges on Death taking a break from his duties to experience human life, guided by the unsuspecting Parish in a narrative spanning three hours. Critics have lambasted the film's length and pacing, labeling it as sluggish and needlessly prolonged with repetitive, lingering shots. However, defenders argue that this deliberate pacing allows deep character exploration and emotional resonance.

Pitt delivers a nuanced portrayal of Death, embodying both childlike wonder and underlying menace. His dynamic with Hopkins drives the story, sustaining interest amid its gradual progression. Hopkins' Parish navigates his fate while tending to business affairs and familial bonds, notably with his daughters, Susan (Claire Forlani) and Allison (Marcia Gay Harden). Supporting performances by Jake Weber, Jeffrey Tambor, and Lois Kelly-Miller enrich the narrative, despite some unevenness in Forlani's early stiffness and Harden's overly tearful expressions.

Brest masterfully balances the film's supernatural elements with a grounded fairy-tale quality, fostering an environment where dramatic tension and romance coalesce naturally. The slow-burn love story between Susan and Joe Black (Death) evolves organically, amidst sprinkled moments of levity like Joe’s newfound love for peanut butter. While some may claim the film is overly sentimental or clichéd, others find profundity in its explorations of life, love, and mortality. Despite its imperfections and polarizing reception, "Meet Joe Black" endures as a grand tale marked by lush character storytelling, potent performances, and breathtaking cinematic moments.

"Meet Joe Black" is a film that has consistently divided audiences, with strong reactions on both ends of the spectrum. Despite this polarization, it remains a captivating exploration of life, love, and mortality. Anchored by magnetic performances from Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt, the film strikes a delicate balance between wit and sorrow. Its thoughtful pacing allows for deep character development, imbuing every scene with significant weight and emotion. The notorious sequence where Pitt’s character is hit by a car, although unintentionally humorous, epitomizes the film’s dramatic intensity and filmic romanticism.

The Blu-ray release of "Meet Joe Black" presents a slight but notable enhancement over previous European discs. The video transfer is eye-catching, marred only by some noticeable edge enhancement. This technical flaw, however, does little to detract from the overall visual allure. The DTS-HD Master Audio track is superb, offering an immersive audio experience that complements the film’s rich tapestry of sounds and scores. The absence of extensive special features aligns with its box office performance but doesn't detract from the value of the Blu-ray experience for devoted fans.

In conclusion, "Meet Joe Black" isn't for everyone, but what movie is? For those willing to give themselves over to its meditations on life, love, and loss, it can be a beautiful film, full of grandeur, wisdom, and good, old-fashioned character-driven storytelling. Both Hopkins and Pitt are magnetic, the tone strikes a careful balance between wit and sorrow, and it's capable of softening the hardest of hearts. Flawless? No. Absorbing? Absolutely. Fortunately, its Blu-ray debut -- while hindered by some rather apparent edge enhancement -- features an eye-catching video transfer and a delightful DTS-HD Master Audio track. There aren't many extras to speak of (box office bombs aren't usually teeming with special features after all), but it hardly matters. If you haven't had the pleasure, take a chance and "Meet Joe Black." You may find it to be as enchanting as we do.