Blu-ray Movie Reviews

On the gritty streets of LA, the destinies of four people desperate for connection and redemption are about to collide. Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta, Forest Whitaker and Eddie Redmayne lead a top-notch cast in this powerful thriller about an overwhelmed erotic dancer, a grieving husband who has lost his will to live, a terminally ill ex-con and a pathologically shy mortician. With Kris Kristofferson, Lisa Kudrow and Patrick Swayze in unforgettable supporting roles, this film movingly chronicles the imperfect lives of people teetering on the edge of despair and the miracles that bring them back.

One of those films that seems to be trying to catch on to the popularity of the Academy Award winner, Crash, Powder Blue is one of those intersecting tales with lots of characters and typical Hollywood drama. This is a great cast though and there are plenty of cameos as well. The film’s storylines are interesting but don’t have the arresting power of Crash despite the strong performances from all. Ultimately I think this one will be more remembered for Biel’s strip tease sequence more than anything else, which is a shame.

The film has a gritty look that again reminded me of Crash. There is plenty of fine film grain and the film has a desaturated look with inky blacks and muted colors. Depth and detail are still pretty strong though and the visual style does a lot to add to the emotion of the film. I did notice some minor digital noise in some of the backgrounds but it was hardly a distraction.

The soundtrack is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio and draws a lot from its score and small selection of song tracks. The film is moody and that is largely conveyed by the score, which is rich in atmosphere and fills up the main stage nicely. Surround use is abundant and adds a nice sense of ambiance to the mix. Dynamics are good, but this isn’t a very aggressive soundtrack so don’t expect too much in this department.

A feature commentary and short making of feature round out the supplements. You also get the film’s trailer.

Too many films are trying to be the next Crash and ultimately this one wound up falling right in line. The story is good, but ultimately forgettable. The presentation is pretty solid though so fans won’t have much to complain about.