Good Morning Lovelies,

Ang Lee has long been a director who can bring incredible stories to life on the big screen. And he has two Oscars to prove it. In his latest release, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk - which is out today on DVD and Blu-ray – takes the best-selling novel and gives his own makeover to it.

With an all-star cast including Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Vin Diesel and Steve Martin, as well as newcomer Joe Alwyn, the film tells the story of a 19-year-old soldier who returns from war a hero to the masses. As Alwyn’s Lynn embarks on a victory tour around the country, he shares flashback of the real events that took place in Iraq, allowing audiences to see the true story.

Displayed in 4K, the film has been made with care, however by doing this some of the plot has been lost and elements seem to lack in appeal. Characters, especially Stewart’s whose role should have been in it more, were not able to be built on further due to the feeling that the look was more important than the story.

It is only held together by the incredible way in which the actors try and build relationships with the audience through their characters. Alwyn shines as the new face amongst many greats and his performance has sealed him in as one to watch. Whilst Stewart and Hedlund provide us with an even bigger look at their range of talents, in a film which if it had been thought out more carefully could have been award-winning for them.

Their talents are way more immersive in connecting the audience to the film, then the work that has been taken to do a 4K format for it. There is not really much need for this element and if it had been forgotten then it wouldn’t have been a miss. The film would have still stood out but for varied reasons.

Overall, Lee has made a film that takes you on a journey, but with more care and attention needed to the characters instead of the whole look being in 4K.

There so I am giving it…

3 Stars

Blog Soon,

Joey X