All Is Bright [Blu-Ray]
Director: Phil Morrison
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd, Sally Hawkins
Release Date: Now Available on Blu-Ray & DVD
A Review By: Kevin Lovell
Film Rating: 9/10
Disc Rating: 8/10
Plot Summary:
While out on parole, Dennis reluctantly takes a job selling Christmas trees with his old buddy Rene in order to make enough money to buy his estranged daughter the piano she’s always wanted.
When Dennis (Paul Giamatti) is paroled from prison he intends to start over and do things legitimately this time around, but unfortunately that becomes problematic when he discovers that there is absolutely no work to be
had for him and he can’t leave the county due to regulations of his parole. On top of that, it looks like his good friend Rene (Paul Rudd) has taken over his place as the man of his family and is now in a relationship with his wife who conveniently told their daughter that ‘Dad is dead’. Desperate for work but intent on playing it straight, he joins Rene in a scheme selling Christmas trees regardless of the friction between them now that Rene is with Dennis’ wife. Naturally, things get tense and complicated as the two are forced to not only work together, but also deal with the added tension that has already developed between them.
Directed by Phil Morrison (Junebug) ‘All Is Bright’ may not be your 
standard feel-good holiday film, but it is a truly exceptional piece of filmmaking. All of the performances are outstanding, most notable those of Giamatti and Rudd who have some amazing chemistry in this movie which helps extraordinarily in adding to the believability factor and helps really pull you into this amazing and emotionally unsettling holiday tale.
‘All Is Bright’ is a gloriously dark and emotional film filled with plenty of laughs as well as heart and truly exceptional performances by both Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd who have some amazing chemistry here. If you are in the mood for a very different kind of Christmas film that is absolutely phenomenal, I highly recommend giving this one a shot, but don’t let the name mislead you, because ‘All Is Bright’ is quite dark and a very different kind of holiday film.
VIDEO:
The Blu-Ray release of ‘All Is Bright’ features a full 1080p High Definition presentation utilizing the film’s original 2.40:1 Cinemascope Aspect Ratio. As is almost always the case with Anchor Bay’s Blu-Ray releases, the video transfer looks wonderful and is given a more than sufficient bit rate. All of the colors, details and images look sharp and completely spot on. Everyone should be more than happy with this video presentation.
AUDIO:
This Blu-Ray release features a lossless 5.1 channel Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. Considering the type of film ‘All Is Bright’ is, the lossless soundtrack doesn’t get too many chances to show off its stuff, though the music and few louder elements are sharp and discrete, in addition to balancing quite perfectly with the quieter elements. This lossless 5.1 channel soundtrack definitely does an exceptional job of everything required of it from this film.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Unfortunately the one down side to the Blu-Ray release of ‘All Is Bright’ is there are no extras included on the release.
Film Rating: 9/10
Disc Rating: 8/10
‘All Is Bright’ is now available to own on Blu-Ray & DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment.
