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Anywhere But Here
List Price: Unknown [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
Oooohhhh no. I really didn't like "Anywhere But Here", and although I hoped it would improve as it went on, it really doesn't go anywhere. Maybe some will accuse me of not liking films geared towards women(commonly known as "chick flicks"), but I was very impressed by Tumbleweeds, which I saw a week or so ago. Let me put the comparison between the two films this way: "Tumbleweeds" is really the same story as this, but it's twice as honest and twice as good.
In "Tumbleweeds" a mother took her daughter on the road to escape her latest relationship. Although the two characters in that tale have arguements, they don't feel manufactured, and the love that the two seemed to have as mother and daughter felt real and it was touching. In "Anywhere But Here", a mother(Susan Sarandon) takes her daughter (Natalie Portman) on the road to Beverly Hills to simply start a new life. While characters in "Tumbleweeds" enjoyed each other's company, the two characters in this film just argue and fight, and argue some more. It simply gets tiring after a while.
Of course, Ann(Portman) hates her new surroundings, but we know that during the course of the film we will see her grow up to become a young woman. Yawn. And, of course, she's really already "the adult" in the relationship between her and her goofball mother. If things weren't obvious enough, someone apparently felt the need to throw in a song every few moments to tie together the film, which is essentially a series of "special moment" scenes.
I've always liked Natalie Portman as an actress, even in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace", which I otherwise didn't care for. "Anywhere But Here" is sort of the same way, with Portman's performance being the only one that surfaces above the boredom. Sarandon's performance is fine, but she's stuck with an annoying character.
There are a few decent moments stuck in a slow two hours, but after watching "Tumbleweeds" recently, I can't help but see this as very pale in comparison. I'd rather see those two characters again than see these two argue and act snotty to each other for two hours, which is painful to sit through.
The DVD
VIDEO: Fox has provided a nice, but not remarkable transfer for "Anywhere But Here". Anamorphic, and presented in the film's original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the film occasionally looks a little on the soft side, but I think that's by intent. Colors are a little subdued at times, but occasionally colors such as red pop out with strength, looking vibrant. Colors have no problems and are generally natural looking.
There's a few little problems with the transfer. Once or twice, a slight trace of pixelation makes itself known, but it's never to the level of being distracting. Although there's no shimmering, the print shows a few marks and scratches here and there. Again, noticable, but I didn't find it distracting. A good transfer that shows off the cinematography of ace cinematographer Roger Deakins("The Big Lebowski", "The Shawshank Redemption") nicely.
SOUND: There's almost nothing to "Anywhere But Here" besides dialogue. The music comes through clearly, but not with too much strength. Surrounds are almost never used, and the film simply sticks with expectations of being purely "dialogue-driven". Dialogue is clear and easily understood in a film where it's pretty much the only element going on.
MENUS:: Nice, basic menus with no animation that are built around images from the movie.
EXTRAS: A short featurette with interviews from the cast, as well as the theatrical trailer.
Final Thoughts: I've heard that Fox is lowering their retail price down from $34.99 for new releases which is good, because $34.99 for this title isn't worth it. Definitely take a look at "Tumbleweeds", which is a fine disc from New Line and a great film.
Oooohhhh no. I really didn't like "Anywhere But Here", and although I hoped it would improve as it went on, it really doesn't go anywhere. Maybe some will accuse me of not liking films geared towards women(commonly known as "chick flicks"), but I was very impressed by Tumbleweeds, which I saw a week or so ago. Let me put the comparison between the two films this way: "Tumbleweeds" is really the same story as this, but it's twice as honest and twice as good.
In "Tumbleweeds" a mother took her daughter on the road to escape her latest relationship. Although the two characters in that tale have arguements, they don't feel manufactured, and the love that the two seemed to have as mother and daughter felt real and it was touching. In "Anywhere But Here", a mother(Susan Sarandon) takes her daughter (Natalie Portman) on the road to Beverly Hills to simply start a new life. While characters in "Tumbleweeds" enjoyed each other's company, the two characters in this film just argue and fight, and argue some more. It simply gets tiring after a while.
Of course, Ann(Portman) hates her new surroundings, but we know that during the course of the film we will see her grow up to become a young woman. Yawn. And, of course, she's really already "the adult" in the relationship between her and her goofball mother. If things weren't obvious enough, someone apparently felt the need to throw in a song every few moments to tie together the film, which is essentially a series of "special moment" scenes.
I've always liked Natalie Portman as an actress, even in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace", which I otherwise didn't care for. "Anywhere But Here" is sort of the same way, with Portman's performance being the only one that surfaces above the boredom. Sarandon's performance is fine, but she's stuck with an annoying character.
There are a few decent moments stuck in a slow two hours, but after watching "Tumbleweeds" recently, I can't help but see this as very pale in comparison. I'd rather see those two characters again than see these two argue and act snotty to each other for two hours, which is painful to sit through.
The DVD
VIDEO: Fox has provided a nice, but not remarkable transfer for "Anywhere But Here". Anamorphic, and presented in the film's original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the film occasionally looks a little on the soft side, but I think that's by intent. Colors are a little subdued at times, but occasionally colors such as red pop out with strength, looking vibrant. Colors have no problems and are generally natural looking.
There's a few little problems with the transfer. Once or twice, a slight trace of pixelation makes itself known, but it's never to the level of being distracting. Although there's no shimmering, the print shows a few marks and scratches here and there. Again, noticable, but I didn't find it distracting. A good transfer that shows off the cinematography of ace cinematographer Roger Deakins("The Big Lebowski", "The Shawshank Redemption") nicely.
SOUND: There's almost nothing to "Anywhere But Here" besides dialogue. The music comes through clearly, but not with too much strength. Surrounds are almost never used, and the film simply sticks with expectations of being purely "dialogue-driven". Dialogue is clear and easily understood in a film where it's pretty much the only element going on.
MENUS:: Nice, basic menus with no animation that are built around images from the movie.
EXTRAS: A short featurette with interviews from the cast, as well as the theatrical trailer.
Final Thoughts: I've heard that Fox is lowering their retail price down from $34.99 for new releases which is good, because $34.99 for this title isn't worth it. Definitely take a look at "Tumbleweeds", which is a fine disc from New Line and a great film.
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