Ricki
and The Flash (2015/Sony
Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: B Film: C+
Meryl
Streep does it again in Ricki and The Flash, the new film from
director Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, Silence Of The
Lambs) and written by Diablo Cody (Juno). While the plot
of the film is slightly predictable, the film manages to be a
entertaining and relatable dysfunctional family comedy/drama.
Streep's transformation is amazing in the film as she plays a middle
aged musician with three grown up kids she hasn't seen in exchange
for a failed attempt at stardom. The character is much different
than other roles I've seen her play in the past and everything down
to her unusual hairdo really makes it sell on screen.
Ricki
and The Flash
also stars Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer (Streep's real life daughter),
Ben Platt, Sebastian Stan, and real-life hitmaker Rick Springfield.
It's
been a roller-coaster ride for Ricki Rendazzo (Meryl Streep), a
one-time wife and mother of three who left her family behind to
follow her dreams of rock 'n' roll stardom in California. Now, the
bar singer and guitarist (and part time employee at a grocery store)
must face the music when she returns home to Indiana to reconnect
with ex-husband Pete (Kevin Kline), troubled daughter Julie who is in
the midst of a divorce, engaged son Josh and younger son Adam, who is
gay. Filled with regret for not being there and challenged by Pete's
new wife, Ricki hopes to find redemption for all of the bad choices
that she made in the past while maintaining her own unique identity.
The
film looks amazing on Blu-ray with a sharp 1080p high definition
transfer with a 2.39:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a nicely mixed,
lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 track that doesn't disappoint.
There are also tracks on the disc in French, Portuguese, Spanish, and
Thai depending on your region and a digital copy is also included.
Extras
include...
Deleted
Scenes
Getting
Ready for Ricki: The Making of Ricki and The Flash
Rediscovering
Rick Springfield
Cast
Photo Gallery
Previews
for other Sony Titles
All
in all, I would suggest this film to fans of Meryl Streep and
dysfunctional family films. There's something in here that everyone
can relate to and the film goes by in a 'flash' and doesn't lose
momentum though some moments predictable.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
