Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Jack’s (Jacob Tremblay) fifth birthday is typical: He says good morning to the various objects in his home, brushes his teeth, then exercises with Ma (Brie Larson). Gradually, however, we realize that Ma was kidnapped seven years earlier by a sexual predator, and her son’s knowledge of the world extends no further than the inner walls of the tiny, locked shed he calls “room.”

Striving to provide Jack with some semblance of a normal childhood while shielding him from his sociopathic father, Ma eventually concocts a scheme to liberate her son from Room. The pair is reunited with their family, though neither mother nor son is equipped to cope with the world outside. Both Larson (whose portrayal earned the Best Actress Oscar) and Tremblay deliver superb performances in one of the most gripping and genuinely disturbing movies of 2015.

Filmed within the (mostly) artificially lit confines of the shed, Room’s first half is notable for low-light, high-contrast images—and little else. Fleshtones possess a pallor (probably a conscious directorial decision), while fine details—hair, clothing, shadows, etc.—are universally vague. Once Jack and Ma are out in the world, however, images become more detailed and, though outdoor and indoor lighting are equally subdued, embody a subtle vibrancy that’s absent during the shed scenes. Still, the use of subtle lighting and drab scenery for both indoor and outdoor shots yields a mundane visual tapestry.

Defined by dialogue, Room’s audio track offers little opportunity for excellence. Voices—particularly Jack’s—are convincingly rendered, but there’s little else to commend or condemn sound quality. The childlike “tone poem” musical scoring is clearly conveyed. Simplistic surround is confined to some minor atmospheric cues and a parsimony of Foley effects. For both subwoofers and surrounds, the film’s 118 minutes are a snooze fest.

As befits a film of great artistic merit, we’re treated to a cornucopia of worthwhile extras, including an engrossing, full-length commentary by director Lenny Abrahamson and his talented team. There’s a making-of featurette and “11 x 11,” which explores the process of fitting Jack’s universe—as well as an entire production crew—within a cramped shed. Although Room’s artistry is unimpeachable, audio and video quality are entirely ordinary, about as far from a showoff disc as you’ll find.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Lionsgate, 2015
Aspect Ratio: 2:40:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 118 mins.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen