Extasis
(aka Ecstacy/1996/Lionsgate DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: B- Extras: D Film: C+
An early
Javier Bardem film showing his range, Mariano Barroso’s Extasis (1996) is an interesting, if inconsistent tale of a man who
convinces his girlfriend to rob her family’s mom and pop business, then go on
the run with him. This leads to a crime
road film, though with some character and introspection. Fortunately, the performances are good enough
to give this a good look.
Unfortunately,
the script (by Barroso and Joaquin Oristrell) does not offer any surprises and
when the 92 minutes are over (budget restrictions or not) one feels more could
have been done and the result is not as memorable as it might have been when
things started out. At least it is ambitious
and worth seeing.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is a bit soft, but the look of the film
(even in this condition) is good, nicely lensed by Director of Photography
Flavio Martinez Labiano, A.E.C., whose work deserves an HD upgrade. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is very good
with decent Pro Logic surrounds. There
are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
