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Released by: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Released on: April 9, 2013.
Director: Harold Guskin
Cast: Famke Janssen, James Gandolfini, John Magaro, Maria Dizzia, Gabrielle Lazure
Year: 2011
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The Movie:
The indie drama with a strong focus on authentic location has long been a staple of the film world. Think TREES LOUNGE or ROADIE (the Ron Eldard one not the Meat Loaf flick). DOWN THE SHORE fits nicely in that tradition.
Bailey (James Gandolfini) is a bit of a sad sack. He lives alone on the Jersey shore and runs a shoddy little amusement park to pay the bills. His neighbors are his lifelong crush Mary (Famke Janssen), her husband Wiley (Joe Pope) and their learning disabled son Martin (John Magora). It's a fairly depressing day to day existence.
Bailey also has a sister - who we see in the film's prologue - who disappeared years ago while on vacation in France. Turns out she met a mysterious Frenchman named Jacques with whom she had a passionate affair and quickie marriage. She also left all of her money and half of everything she owns (including the house that Bailey lives in) to Jacques.
And Jacques has traveled to the USA and shown up at Bailey's door to inform him that his sister is dead and make his claim.
A traditional drama about love, loss and the destructive power of secrets long kept, DOWN THE SHORE isn't going to win any awards for originality. What it does deliver extremely well however is two distinctive things: naturalistic acting and effective use of authentic location. All of the acting is excellent but the standouts are Janssen and Gandolfini. The former has come a long way from her early James Bond sex bomb days - she's now a first rate character actor that plays believable and complicated women. Janssen's Mary is a subtle and nuanced piece of work. Gandolfini has always been limited by his physical type, but he slips seamlessly into his role here. As Jersey as Springsteen, and with a perfect stoop-shouldered shuffle and pitch-perfect vocal delivery Gandolfini is simply perfect here. As for the location shooting the small area covered (essentially a neighborhood and the pathetic amusement park) probably made this an easy shoot on a technical level, but the strong direction puts the viewer strongly "in place". The sound field is also noteworthy - gulls screeching and waves lapping in the distance add enormously to the feel of the film.
It all builds to a moderately predictable conclusion but the pleasure is in the journey with this one - not the solution to the "mystery" in the film.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Anchor Bay's 1080p 1.78:1 transfer boasts strong detail (notice the paint chipping on some of the rides at the amusement park for a good example) with faces and clothing faring well. The color palette for the film is on the drab side so there is not a lot of "pop" in the image but the stability and balance are solid. There is no digital manipulation visible.
The audio is a highly effective Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless track. This is the kind of mix that won't win plaudits but should. The use of ambient sound (those gulls and waves) is both discrete and well thought out. Dialog is centered and clear. The disc has no extras.
The Final Word:
DOWN THE SHORE is a strong indie drama with predictable themes that rises slightly above the pack due to fine acting and strong direction. Recommended for those with an inclination towards this kind of material.
Click on the images below for full sized Blu-ray screen caps!
