I
don’t want to heap the praises to highly, but LOVE ACTUALLY ($27)
is a warm, witty and funny romantic comedy with genuine feeling.
Writer/director Richard Curtis beautifully weaves multiple intersecting
tales, involving numerous characters, into a story that goes to show that
love actually is all around-- especially in London, in the weeks leading
up to Christmas. Considering the huge ensemble cast number of storylines
in LOVE ACTUALLY, Richard Curtis pulls a hell of a juggling act;
effortlessly keeping all of the balls in the air at the same time, without
ever losing the audience’s interest in a single one of them. Of course,
it doesn’t hurt to have all of the multiple roles played by a very
engaging British and occasionally American cast.
The
various story threads in LOVE ACTUALLY include: the new British
Prime Minister falling for a pretty staff member. A recently widowed man
dealing with the loss of his wife, while trying to connect to his ten year
old step son, who has romantic problems of his own. A clueless married
executive has to deal the amorous attentions of his pretty secretary, and
then go home to face his loving wife. An aging, down and out rock
musician, who comes to find a rather unexpected source of love in his
life. A recently separated writer finds a mutual attraction with his
housekeeper, even though neither of them speaks a common language. A
couple of very nude movie stand-ins form a connection that is more than
physical, while going through the motions on the set. The wonderful
ensemble cast of LOVE ACTUALLY features Bill Nighy, Colin Firth,
Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Keira
Knightley, Martine McCutcheon, Rodrigo Santoro, Lúcia Moniz, Thomas
Sangster, Billy Bob Thornton, Rowan Atkinson, Joanna Page, Martin Freeman,
Ivana Milicevic, January Jones, Elisha Cuthbert, Claudia Schiffer, Shannon
Elizabeth and Denise Richards.
Universal
Studios Home Video has made LOVE ACTUALLY available on DVD in a
2.35:1 widescreen presentation that has been enhanced for playback on 16:9
displays (a separate full screen version is also available for anyone who
cares). LOVE ACTUALLY looks really quite nice on DVD, with the
widescreen transfer producing a sharp and really nicely defined image.
Colors generally appear attractive, but with the wintry season of the
film, outdoor hues can be a bit subdued in appearance. Still, the flesh
tones always look pretty darn natural, as well as appealing. Blacks are
accurately rendered, whites are crisp and the picture produces good shadow
detail and smooth contrast. The film element used for the transfer appears
virtually pristine and displays little appreciable grain. Digital
compression artifacts are always nicely contained.
LOVE
ACTUALLY comes with Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack that has a
rather standard romantic comedy type sound mix. The film is virtually
always dialogue driven, which puts very little pressure on the outlying
channels of the soundstage. Most of the sound effects are presented across
the front; although, the rears do get a few licks in, as well as helping
to augment incidental music and the film’s score. Ambient sounds are
also directed through the rear channels, which also gives the track a nice
sense of acoustic space. Fidelity is quite nice, with the music coming
across in a full-bodied manner and the occasional sound effect always
being convincing. Dialogue is crisp, fully intelligible and the voices
have a nice natural timbre. The bass channel doesn’t have much to do
other than enhancing the film’s musical content and keeping the other
sounds grounded. French and Spanish Dolby Surround tracks are also
provided, as are English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as a nice complement of supplements. Director
Richard Curtis, plus actors Hugh Grant, Bill Nighly and Thomas Sankster
are on hand for a running audio commentary track. The track has its share
of amusing moments, plus it provides a good level of background detail on
the production, making it something that fans should enjoy. Director
Curtis is back to introduce a series of deleted scenes that provide over
thirty-five minutes of rather entertaining material. The Music of
Love Actually allows the director to discuss the musical choices
for the film and shows clips in which they are contained. A Kelly Clarkson
music video The Trouble With Love Is and some bonus trailers
closes out the supplements.
As
romantic comedies go, LOVE ACTUALLY is a best of breed that is
certain to entertain. Universal has done a fine job with the DVD, giving
it a great looking and sounding presentation, as well as some very nice
extras. If romantic comedies are you thing, LOVE ACTUALLY is a must
see movie. Recommended.
I
don’t want to heap the praises to highly, but LOVE ACTUALLY ($27)
is a warm, witty and funny romantic comedy with genuine feeling.
Writer/director Richard Curtis beautifully weaves multiple intersecting
tales, involving numerous characters, into a story that goes to show that
love actually is all around-- especially in London, in the weeks leading
up to Christmas. Considering the huge ensemble cast number of storylines
in LOVE ACTUALLY, Richard Curtis pulls a hell of a juggling act;
effortlessly keeping all of the balls in the air at the same time, without
ever losing the audience’s interest in a single one of them. Of course,
it doesn’t hurt to have all of the multiple roles played by a very
engaging British and occasionally American cast.
The
various story threads in LOVE ACTUALLY include: the new British
Prime Minister falling for a pretty staff member. A recently widowed man
dealing with the loss of his wife, while trying to connect to his ten year
old step son, who has romantic problems of his own. A clueless married
executive has to deal the amorous attentions of his pretty secretary, and
then go home to face his loving wife. An aging, down and out rock
musician, who comes to find a rather unexpected source of love in his
life. A recently separated writer finds a mutual attraction with his
housekeeper, even though neither of them speaks a common language. A
couple of very nude movie stand-ins form a connection that is more than
physical, while going through the motions on the set. The wonderful
ensemble cast of LOVE ACTUALLY features Bill Nighy, Colin Firth,
Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Keira
Knightley, Martine McCutcheon, Rodrigo Santoro, Lúcia Moniz, Thomas
Sangster, Billy Bob Thornton, Rowan Atkinson, Joanna Page, Martin Freeman,
Ivana Milicevic, January Jones, Elisha Cuthbert, Claudia Schiffer, Shannon
Elizabeth and Denise Richards.
Universal
Studios Home Video has made LOVE ACTUALLY available on DVD in a
2.35:1 widescreen presentation that has been enhanced for playback on 16:9
displays (a separate full screen version is also available for anyone who
cares). LOVE ACTUALLY looks really quite nice on DVD, with the
widescreen transfer producing a sharp and really nicely defined image.
Colors generally appear attractive, but with the wintry season of the
film, outdoor hues can be a bit subdued in appearance. Still, the flesh
tones always look pretty darn natural, as well as appealing. Blacks are
accurately rendered, whites are crisp and the picture produces good shadow
detail and smooth contrast. The film element used for the transfer appears
virtually pristine and displays little appreciable grain. Digital
compression artifacts are always nicely contained.
LOVE
ACTUALLY comes with Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack that has a
rather standard romantic comedy type sound mix. The film is virtually
always dialogue driven, which puts very little pressure on the outlying
channels of the soundstage. Most of the sound effects are presented across
the front; although, the rears do get a few licks in, as well as helping
to augment incidental music and the film’s score. Ambient sounds are
also directed through the rear channels, which also gives the track a nice
sense of acoustic space. Fidelity is quite nice, with the music coming
across in a full-bodied manner and the occasional sound effect always
being convincing. Dialogue is crisp, fully intelligible and the voices
have a nice natural timbre. The bass channel doesn’t have much to do
other than enhancing the film’s musical content and keeping the other
sounds grounded. French and Spanish Dolby Surround tracks are also
provided, as are English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as a nice complement of supplements. Director
Richard Curtis, plus actors Hugh Grant, Bill Nighly and Thomas Sankster
are on hand for a running audio commentary track. The track has its share
of amusing moments, plus it provides a good level of background detail on
the production, making it something that fans should enjoy. Director
Curtis is back to introduce a series of deleted scenes that provide over
thirty-five minutes of rather entertaining material. The Music of
Love Actually allows the director to discuss the musical choices
for the film and shows clips in which they are contained. A Kelly Clarkson
music video The Trouble With Love Is and some bonus trailers
closes out the supplements.
As
romantic comedies go, LOVE ACTUALLY is a best of breed that is
certain to entertain. Universal has done a fine job with the DVD, giving
it a great looking and sounding presentation, as well as some very nice
extras. If romantic comedies are you thing, LOVE ACTUALLY is a must
see movie. Recommended.
