NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (June 2023): Criterion have transferred Barry Jenkins's Medicine for Melancholy to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New high-definition digital master, approved by director Barry Jenkins and director of photography James Laxton". Shot in sepia-ish desaturated video (Panasonic AG-HVX200) the image on Medicine for Melancholy is the softest I have yet seen from a Criterion 1080P transfer. I strongly assume this is a direct function of the production. The filmmakers went through the film shot by shot and pulled out the majority of color. It's hazy and mostly flat but the film's expression comes through even in this modest appearance. It, obviously, was not meant to look tight, crisp and glossy.

NOTE: We have added 28 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English language. Medicine for Melancholy has a few outdoor-related separations (traffic, the fair, restaurant etc.). Medicine for Melancholy's music is credited with compositions by Mondo Boys but there is plenty of other music from the likes of Tom Waits, Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, Yesterday's New Quintet, Total Shutdown, Igor Romanov, Tandemoro, White Denim, Bloodcat Love and many others... accompanying the film. It doesn't supersede the image but supports the tone of certain scenes exceptionally well. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray offers two commentaries. There is a 2008 commentary featuring Barry Jenkins, producers Justin Barber and Cherie Saulter, and editor Nat Sanders. The group effort focuses on production details. The other commentary is new (2023) by Jenkins alone reflecting on decisions of his debut feature with details of what has happened since. There is a new program, Be More Bandry, with actor Wyatt Cenac and editor Nat Sanders who detail the making of Medicine for Melancholy. There is a 1/4 hour of camera test footage shot by cinematographer James Laxton on his Panasonic AG-HVX200 while accompanied by associate producer Amy Seimetz and director Barry Jenkins, this footage features Jenkins and his friend Brittany Edwards rehearsing Micah and Jo's walk from the Museum of the African Diaspora to Yerba Buena Gardens while the filmmakers gauge the depth of field, experiment with desaturation levels, and discuss filming logistics. This footage was archived in a highly compressed file format, which greatly affects resolution. Lastly, are a short blooper reel and a trailer. The package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic Danielle Amir Jackson. 

Barry Jenkins' Medicine for Melancholy has one-night stand partners Jo and Micah 'hang' over 24 hours expanding their superfluous hormone-influenced relationship by verbally sparring as they wander through San Francisco in Eric Rohmer-esque fashion. Race, Urban displacement, black identity are broached with modest-to-high passion surrounded by the joys and frustrations of hipsterism. I started to dislike Medicine for Melancholy but it eventually won me over and I look forward to another viewing. The Criterion Blu-ray won't appeal to those who want to showcase their home theatre but rather a movie-night of well-realized, cerebral, alternative-romance. I really enjoyed the director's later Moonlight and hope more of his films will be covered by Criterion. Barry Jenkins is a relevant, important filmmaker.

Gary Tooze