Everything, Everything Blu-ray Review

The 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray presentation of "Everything, Everything" exemplifies the high standard expected from contemporary cinematic releases. The digital cinematography by Igor Jadue-Lillo delivers impressively sharp and resolute images, with crisp edges that impart significant detail. The visual experience is further enhanced by a two-dimensional depth that adds a notable sense of dimension to the picture. The Blu-ray's average bitrate of 33.89 Mbps underpins its ability to maintain superior image quality throughout.

Color representation in this release is impeccably managed, demonstrating exquisite delineation and a tonal warmth that enriches the visual palette. Fleshtones are rendered with lifelike accuracy, offering natural tonalities and clear complexional differences among the characters. The application of contrast is both bold and precise, ensuring blacks possess excellent dynamic range and gradational highlights, while maintaining depth of field in low-light scenes. Importantly, this Blu-ray showcases these qualities without the intrusion of video-related artifacts such as noise, aliasing, or interference.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack for "Everything, Everything" is an exemplary match for this dialogue-centric drama. Vocals are meticulously clear and maintain prominence, a pivotal aspect given the narrative-driven nature of the film. The track's front-loading ensures that dialog extends crisply into the viewing space, highlighting the film's emotional exchanges with remarkable precision. Surround channels, while not overly active, enhance the immersive experience subtly through spatial cues and occasional ambient sounds.

Sound effects and music are competently managed, with Ludwig Göransson's evocative score filtering through the surrounds, enriching the movie's atmosphere without overpowering the dialogue. Instances such as chirping birds and the immersive ocean dip craft an engaging listening landscape. This is not a dynamically demanding sound mix, but it articulates low-level details and nuanced sounds with keen definition.

Overall, this lossless DTS-HD MA presentation is perfectly attuned to the film's dramatic essence, employing a balanced audio mix that supports both dialog clarity and subtle environmental elements. While not ostentatiously three-dimensional, it offers exactly what is necessary for a genre that prioritizes the spoken word over auditory spectacle.

The Blu-ray release of "Everything, Everything" offers a comprehensive and engaging selection of extras, seamlessly enhancing the viewing experience. The highlight is the featurette "Trapped in Love: The Story of Everything, Everything," which delivers an in-depth look at the film's narrative and production elements. The inclusion of deleted scenes provides valuable context and additional depth to the characters and plot, with each scene thoughtfully introduced by title cards. From character-focused moments to extended scenes, these additions deepen the emotional impact and development of the story. Alongside these, there is a complementary DVD, a Digital HD Copy, and introductory trailers that round out the offering.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trapped in Love: The Story of Everything, Everything: In-depth look at the film's narrative and production.
• Deleted Scenes: Features thirteen scenes with title cards introducing each.
• Bonus DVD: Complementary disc with additional content.
• Digital HD Copy: Allows for digital viewing across various platforms.
• Introductory Trailers: Trailers for "Pure Country Pure Heart" and Warner's 4K disc promo.

"Everything, Everything" is a film adaptation of Nicola Yoon's young adult romance novel, directed by Stella Meghie. The movie follows Maddy Whittier (Amandla Stenberg), a teenager with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), an ailment that forces her to live a life of isolation in a controlled, germ-free environment. Her life changes dramatically when Olly Bright (Nick Robinson), a charming and adventurous boy, moves in next door. Despite her mother Pauline's (Anika Noni Rose) strict protective measures, Maddy and Olly's relationship blossoms through texts and covert meetings brokered by Carla (Ana de la Reguera), Maddy’s compassionate nurse.

The film initially captivates the audience with its tender and believable young romance. Stenberg and Robinson exhibit a palpable chemistry, making their characters' burgeoning love story endearing and relatable. Techniques like dramatizing text conversations as face-to-face encounters set against Maddy’s architectural model creations offer creatively staged sequences that enhance the narrative’s charm. These imaginative visuals subtly capture the characters’ emotions while providing a metaphorical context for Maddy's isolation and yearning for freedom.

However, the narrative takes an abrupt turn midway through the film with a plot twist that significantly undermines the story's credibility. This revelation not only disrupts the storyline but also diminishes previous emotional investments, leaving viewers disoriented and detached. The twist is unexpected and poorly integrated, stripping away the film’s authenticity just when it begins to realize its emotional potential. While Maddy’s condition serves as an intriguing metaphor for teenage alienation and parental protection, the third act's dark shift feels jarring and incongruent with the film's earlier tone of hope and romance.

Despite this flaw, "Everything, Everything" manages to highlight a heartfelt tale of young love, albeit one marred by an unconvincing climax that leaves viewers questioning the narrative's believability.

"Everything, Everything" delivers a visually captivating experience with its 2.39:1 aspect ratio and English DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio, ensuring viewers are drawn into its rich aesthetic and clear soundscapes. Directed by Stella Meghie and starring Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson, the film narrates a heartwarming yet ultimately divisive tale. The first hour is charming, inviting audiences to root for the characters’ budding romance against seemingly insurmountable odds. The Blu-ray release, produced by Warner, includes a decent array of special features that complement the main narrative without overshadowing it.

However, the film’s third act takes an unexpected turn, a stylistic departure so stark that it diminishes the overall narrative impact. While some might find this twist thought-provoking, it leaves others feeling disjointed and unsatisfied by the abrupt shift in tone. Even though the initial storytelling effectively builds emotional investment, the conclusion has faced criticism for undermining the established themes. Despite this, the superior Blu-ray presentation might still appeal to those who enjoy romantic tales with a flair for the dramatic.

In conclusion, "Everything, Everything" is a visual and auditory treat that stumbles in its latter half. The film’s strong start and engaging performances hold potential, making it an intriguing rental for viewers seeking light-hearted romance with an unconventional twist. The technical specifications elevate the viewing experience, but the narrative misstep in the final act restrains it from being wholeheartedly recommendable beyond a casual watch. For fans of the genre or the original novel by Nicola Yoon, this Blu-ray release offers a mixed yet worthwhile experience.