Review: 'The Fall' is a reason to buy a Blu-ray player
Posted Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 9:32 PM Central
by John Couture
Ever since Blu-ray won the high-def DVD war, they have been searching for that game-changer title. You know, that one movie that's so much better on Blu-ray than regular DVD that people will literally buy Blu-ray players because of it. Sort of like when The Matrix came out and sounded the death knell for VHS.
But, The Fall is a great Blu-ray movie. The crisp visual style of director Tarsem, first seen in The Cell, is right at home in the next generation disc.
Unfortunately, much like that misaligned Jennifer Lopez starrer, The Fall loses itself in its grandiose visual style more often than not. That's not to say that The Fall isn't without merit, because it is, but it's just another example of a movie that trades substance for style.
The nice thing here is that the style by itself speaks to the viewer. The texture of the movie is so rich that as an audience member, you find yourself swept up by the rolling landscapes.
The Fall was filmed over four years in 18 countries and is truly a testament to Tarsem's unique visual style. In a time, when studios are looking to cut costs and expenses in any way possible, it is refreshing to see a filmmaker stick to his guns and get the movie that he really wanted.
In the digital age, it would be easy and cost effective to use a computer to bring all the pieces together, but computers can't capture the scope of awe on an actor's face from really being there. The Fall captures the old time Hollywood feel that is portrayed in the wrap-around story that serves as the portal to this elegant story of Governor Odious and the five brave heroes with a grudge and an axe to burn.
The real gem in the movie is Lee Pace who is getting quite used to being associated with visually stunning creative works. Since filming ended on this project, Pace landed the lead in the equally visually interesting TV series Pushing Daisies.
Pace lands the double lead roles of Roy and the Blue Bandit and each presents very different acting challenges that would confound a lesser actor. Thankfully, Lee Pace thrives under both roles or this movie would truly be a lost cause.
Another fresh nugget in the movie is the young actress Catinca Untaru who plays Alexandria, whose budding friendship with fellow patient Roy provides the launching pad to the more interesting story of Governor Odious. Catinca brings a wide-eyed innocence that really plays into her role. The fact that she's so unpolished is a refreshing take and really sets her apart from her over-trained peers.
The extra features on the Blu-ray are very similar to those of the regular DVD. The deleted scenes, featurettes and commentaries are pretty standard for what you would expect from an offering these days. One exception would be the two behind the scenes features. Much like the movie itself and in keeping with Tarsem's vision, the visuals are on display. They aren't overproduced, slick marketing tools. No, these features are mainly from handheld cameras and truly give the viewer a behind the scenes feel that most features only dream of.
Unique to the Blu-ray is a picture gallery that really demonstrates the power of the increased visual style of both Tarsem and the format. This movie was made for Blu-ray and vice versa.
Overall, the movie is rich and vibrant. The alter-ego story of Governor Odious is visually stunning and provides an epic feel that is sorely lacking in movies today. The hospital bookend sometimes takes away from the movie and at times it resembles the plot device that it truly is.
What the story lacks in substance, it makes up for in visual style and uniqueness. Ultimately though, the movie is not for everyone and many will be turned off by the slow and sloppy storytelling. As a movie aficionado with a keen eye toward unique visual style, I found it a refreshing departure from the everyday.
I found it to be right up there with Claude Lelouch's Les Miserables in terms of visual acuity and style. If you're a fan of Lelouch and the more visual filmmakers, then I would highly recommend The Fall. If you've never heard of Claude Lelouch, you might want to take a pass.