Plot: What’s it about?
Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “asunder” as …”apart from each other either in position or direction”. This is certainly the case with the same entitled movie starring Blair Underwood. While the back of the box touts it as the next Fatal Attraction or Unfaithful, after watching it I can safely say that it’s nowhere close to either of these. It seems that the modern trend for filmmaking is to take the successful parts of other successful movies, splice them up and put them in the same movie. Naturally if the sum of the parts should add up to the whole, then you have a hit movie on your hands. Something got lost in the translation for the movie Asunder. Now this isn’t a complaint, but the movie features almost a totally African-American cast. Not a thing wrong with that, but it seems that the plot has been done so many times before that we’re seeing a different version of what’s already been done, not a thrilling, original movie (like it claims). Underwood is the unquestioned star and Producer of the movie, but clearly all the gears aren’t meshing. If you haven’t figured out already, what’s Asunder all about…
Thirty-something Photographer Chance (Blair Underwood) has a pretty good life. He has a beautiful wife who’s pregnant with his child, but an accident on a Ferris Wheel of all things has left Chance without either a wife or a soon-to-be child. Grief-stricken, he shacks up with his best friends, Michael (Michael Beach) and Lauren (Debbi Morgan). At first, things seem normal as Chance seems to be handling the process of things pretty well. But little things start to happen and it’s not too long before he has attacked his friend, Michael and tried to romance Lauren. We also learn that he has had an affair with Lauren, though his wife knew of it, Michael does not (he knew of her affair, but not who with). In somewhat of a twisted scheme, Michael has also had an affair with someone, but has called it off in order to try and make amends and proceed with his wife (and his life).
As time passes, Chance starts making his affection for Lauren more and more obvious. Lauren, trying to rekindle what love there is between her and Michael, refuses him, but is still sucked into his grasp. Push comes to shove, literally, and Chance has been alienated by the ones who helped him. Now this is where the movie takes a turn for the worse…we’ve seen the “psycho stalker could be killer” thing so many times that it makes our head spin. So what is it about this movie that would make us want to sit through it and watch the ending credits roll? Nothing. If you’re looking for something like this that is truly original, rent Fatal Attraction or Unfaithful or some other movie of the genre. This is blatant rip off of things that have proven successful in the past and thought the talent involved isn’t at fault, the story is tired and overused. Possibly good for a rainy day (today it was pouring), but for other days, try another title…
Video: How does it look?
The 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer supplied by Disney is fairly good. The color levels seem to be in balance and the movie, for the most part, tends to focus on the warmer side of the color palette. Edge enhancement is at a minimum and there is no sign of artifacting at all. While some scenes do tend to suffer from some “blips” here and there, there really isn’t anything to complain about here. It’s not the best transfer out there, certainly, but it’s not the worst either.
Audio: How does it sound?
Only a Dolby Digital Surround Sound track is provided and let me tell you this: It sucks. Perhaps I’m spoiled by the constant 5.1 tracks that I listen to, but I don’t think that’s the case here. I could hardly make out what the actors were saying. I guess the trend must be towards “mumbling” or something, but I had to listen to some scenes a few times to hear what was actually being said. Other scenes were fine and surround effects were almost non-existent. If it’s a good movie-going experience that you’re longing for, this isn’t it. Maybe turn the subtitles on and then you can understand what’s going on in the film (not that it helps much).
Supplements: What are the extras?
No extras, not even a trailer; just some for some other Disney titles.
