Third Person Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Adrien Brody, James Franco, Liam Neeson

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: September 30, 2014

Run Time: 137 minutes

 

        The ability to enjoy Third Person relies entirely on the viewer’s level of patience and willingness to accept significance and meaning to outweigh any emotional attachment to the characters. Many of the storylines and the characters in the film are contrivances meant to hammer in the thematic points, which take on more significance than believability or being relatable. This isn’t for lack of effort from the cast, however, who all give dedicated performances to filmmaker Paul Haggis’ vision.

 

        The film tells three separate stories which seem unrelated for much of the film, loosely tied together with a final cinematic revelation. The primary narrative seems to be Michael (Liam Neeson), a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who is holed up in a Paris hotel attempting to finish his latest book when he is joined by his enigmatic young lover, Anna (Olivia Wilde). We are simultaneously shown the grifter narrative involving a somewhat sleazy American business man in Rome (played by Adrien Brody), who helps an Italian woman (Moran Atias) in peril, and the story of Julia (Mila Kunis) and Rick (James Franco) in New York. Julia is a former soap opera actress who has recently seen hard times, and accusations of child abuse have taken custody of her son away, into the arms of her successful ex-husband, Rick.

 

        It isn’t really important how these stories connect. What is significant is how well made and how entertaining they are too watch. Although I was never bored watching these actors, I couldn’t help but feel that about 65 % of the film’s content was either unnecessary or indiscernible. The dialogue is not as clever as the cast deserves, and there are narrative loose ends answered only by a purposefully authorship-oriented ending.

 

        The Blu-ray release includes a high definition presentation which does not improve or distract from the flaws, or even effect the most admirable qualities of the film. The special features include a commentary track with director Haggis, actress Atias, production designer Laurence Bennett, editor Jo Francis and producer Michael Nozik.  There is also a Q&A with Haggis and a generic making-of featurette.

 

Entertainment Value: 6/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 6/10

Historical Significance:  4/10

Special Features: 7/10




Follow Real Movie News on Facebook and Twitter