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Chloe [Blu-ray]
(Atom Egoyan, 2009)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: The Montecito Picture Company Video: Optimum / Studio Canal / Kinowelt / Sony
Disc: Region: 'B'-locked (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player) Runtime: 1:36:07.762 Disc Size: 38,771,042,758 bytes Feature Size: 24,105,406,464 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.94 Mbps Chapters: 16 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release dates: Above
Video: Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 3893 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3893 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio French 3580 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3580 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles: English (SDH), Dutch, French, none
Extras: • Making Of Chloe Directed by Atom Egoyan (25:41 in SD) • Interviews with Atom Egoyan (22:00), Julianne Moore (4:57) and Amanda Seyfried (6:58 all in SD)• The Strange Case of Atom Egoyan (1:25:57 in SD)• Two Deleted Scenes (5:19 in HD!)• Alternate Ending (5:21 in HD!) • Trailer (1:53 in HD!) • Photo Gallery (38 stills in HD running slideshow fashion 4:00 minutes) • Video and Audio configuration test • Previews of Leap Year, The Last Station, Coco Before Chanel and a Maltesers avert.
Bitrate:
Description: An untrusting wife attempts to prove that her husband is cheating by hiring an escort to seduce him, inadvertently endangering her entire family in the process. Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfried star in a thriller written by Erin Cressida Wilson, and directed by Atom Egoyan.
The Film:
Director Atom Egoyan finds intrigue at the edges of conventional sex. "Chloe,"
like his great film "Exotica" (1994), is about sexual attraction
confused by financial arrangements. "Chloe" centers on a powerfully
erotic young woman with personal motives that are hidden. It is not
blatant but seductive, depending on the ways that our minds, more than
our bodies, can be involved in a sexual relationship. It's not so much
what we're doing as what I'm thinking about it -- and what you're
thinking, which may be more complex than I realize.
Firstly, what I have is a European, 'B'-locked, Blu-ray screener. I believe it is the Optimum (UK) disc in my possession (it starts with their logo) although I understand that the Kinowelt German package will be the exact same - offering German subtitles, menus etc. Ditto for the Studio Canal with French subs and menus. I don't have any evidence that the North American Sony will be the same transfer - although I suspect so but with, probably, different extra features. Stay tuned on that front.
The image quality is rock solid. The film doesn't sport any grandiose visuals or effects - as it is not that type of movie. What it does do on Blu-ray is present a consistent and pristinely clean representation of the theatrical. There's some depth and the oft-used close-ups impress with strong detail. It is dual-layered with a middling bitrate but without any notable digital manipulation. It looks excellent without ever blowing you away with dynamic eye-popping effects. This 1080P rendering, in the original 1.85 aspect ratio, looks like the film I saw in the theater (in Toronto, by the way, - where it was shot) and I have zero complaints with the image transfer.
Audio :The DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at an underused 3893 kbps flawlessly reproduces the film's audio. There aren't any significant moments for effects to spring loose and separations are, not surprisingly, modest but there are some good subtleties tucked in here and there making there way to the rear speakers. Mychael Danna always does exceptional scores and this is yet another. It runs with alongside Chloe accentuating each dramatic scene - a few times bursting forth in the more climatic moments. This disc offers English, French and Dutch subtitles and m y Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked Blu-ray. As we stated the corresponding geographic region in Europe will presumably offer those necessary subtitles or even DUBs. This particular disc initially asks you to choose between the UK, France or The Netherlands.
Extras :Quite stacked in the supplements department starting with The Strange Case of Atom Egoyan which is a full-length documentary directed by Alain Mazars, Professor at La Fémis (Paris), running 1.5 hours in SD. It has extensive input throughout from Egoyan (speaking English) and his wife Arsinée Khanjian (speaking mostly French - with English subs), as well as actor Maury Chaykin and others with scenes from many of his films. A lot of the time Egoyan appears to be in his home and many topics are covered - when he met his wife, how he started in film etc. Fans of the director may enjoy - others not so much as it seems a bit scattered. There are two deleted scenes - Chloe's Story about her mother/Cath's story about Michael (about 2-minutes) and Chloe arrives at Home coupled with Michael tells Chloe his story running about 3.5 minutes. There is a 5.5 minute Alternate Ending in HD which appears to be the same as the original but with a Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) voiceover. On top of that is a 1/2 hour Making of... with soundbytes from cast and crew and three SD video interviews with Egoyan (22:00), Julianne Moore (4:57) and Seyfried (6:58). We get an HD trailer, a Photo Gallery (38 stills in HD running slideshow for 4-minutes), Video and Audio configuration test and previews of Leap Year, The Last Station, Coco Before Chanel and a Maltesers (yes, the candy) avert...
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze May 26th, 2010
on July 19th, 2010
on October 7th, 2010
on July 13th, 2010
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 3500 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I
find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. So be
it, but film will always be my first love and I list my
favorites on the old YMdb site now accessible
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