Plot: What’s it about?
Part of me never wants to watch another movie in which a girl is sitting on front of a bike with her arms spread like “she can fly!” Yes, ironically enough, that’s the image I chose to represent the movie (look to the side, if you would) but that’s the dichotomy of being, well, me. A few years ago I watched a movie called The Invisible. It was along the same lines as this film in that it featured a teenage boy who was beaten and thrown down a well left to die. The movie showed us as his “spirit” was searching for answers and, well, I won’t give away the ending. Any Jennifer Love Hewitt fans out there? Some? That’s good enough. Well Miss Hewitt used to star in a television show called Ghost Whisperer in which she played a psychic who can speak to the dead (think The Sixth Sense but with a more attractive lead). She would help them literally see the light and would then go about her day. Ok, why am I mentioning this? When I popped in If I Stay, I thought it might be something a bit different, but it’s actually more of the same thing that I’ve seen before. Is it good? Not bad. Is it original? If you didn’t read what I wrote above, the short answer is “No.”
The story is narrated by Mia (Chloë Grace Moretz), an up and coming cellist with aspirations for Julliard. Mia, along with her annoyingly hipster parents: Kat (Mireille Enos) and Denny (Joshua Leonard), loves music and all it embodies. She’s got a thing for Adam (Jamie Blackley), but feels that a relationship might take her mind off the prize of Julliard. However she’s flattered when he asks her out and, wouldn’t you know it, a budding romance blossoms. This is all fine and good until Mia and her family are involved in a car crash that claims the lives of her parents, though her younger brother, Teddy (Jakob Davies) remains stable. From there Mia recounts her past as well as her relationship with Adam, all the while clinging to life in an emergency room. And, as is the case in every film or television show of this nature, Mia seems unable to conceptualize that she’s a spirit and that no one can see, hear or interact with her. That never gets old, either.
Truthfully, I really didn’t dislike the movie. Yes, it’s a bit played out and utterly predictable, but there were some pretty moving scenes in there. That and for some reason that’s beyond my knowledge, I’ve always loved the cello and could listen to it for hours. Yes, Yo Yo Ma is one of my heroes – go figure. Like the recent The Fault in Our Stars, this too deals with love, life and loss only from the vantage point of teenagers. I suppose filmmakers are trying to reach this audience as if the leads were in their 40’s it wouldn’t mean as much? I have no idea. I do like the backdrop of music and, admittedly this does feature a pretty good soundtrack. I had to pause the film to listen to Iggy Pop’s “The Passenger” (played, of course, when the car accident occurs). I’ll also say that Chloë Grace Moretz has blossomed into a fine young actress. Some might remember her from the Kick Ass films, but she shows potential and will most likely be one of those that actually sheds the burden of the “child actress” moniker and might actually have a future in films. At the risk of sounding sexist, I think women will get a lot more out of this than men, but despite the “been there, done that” plot of the movie, it does have its moments.
Video: How’s it look?
I’ve got to five Fox some credit here as If I Stay looks downright amazing. Then again, most every new to Blu-ray film looks downright amazing, so I rescind that compliment! All kidding aside, the 2.40:1 AVC HD image looks beautiful, brilliant and as glossy as it comes. I’m convinced that anything dealing with the afterlife or features a spirit walking around a hospital looking for answers, will most certainly have to have an etherial look and feel to it. This fits the bill. Colors are bold, but not overly so. Black levels are solid, with contrast offering up a nice, aesthetically-pleasing image. Detail, as we might expect, brings out the little intricacies in the image (take the scratches on the cello, for instance). All in all, another solid effort which should leave viewers amply satisfied.
Audio: How’s it sound?
You know what? I was actually very impressed with the DTS HD Master Audio mix on this film. Generally speaking, teen-oriented romantic films aren’t really associated with good sound, but this one actually breaks the mold. The scenes in which Mia plays the cello have a very rich, deep robust feel to them and it really resonated in the surround speakers. As I mentioned above, the film has a pretty decent soundtrack and the film itself (factoring out the romance) is musical in nature. It’s a good-sounding film that surprised me. A nice effort.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Fox has given If I Stay a nice little array of supplements here, with some being exclusive to the Blu-ray. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a Music Commentary until this film, so I was excited to see what was included.
DVD Extras
- Audio Commentary – This is actually a pretty decent track with director R.J. Cutler and Alison Greenspan. Tons of technical information is shared, from the shooting locations to the overall look, tone and pace of the film. For true fans of the film, this one is actually a must listen.
- Music Commentary – This is more of a screen-specific commentary that focuses on, you guessed it, the songs and musical numbers chosen for the film. You can skip to the selections directly and listen to the comments.
- Deleted Scenes – Two total: “Hospital Chapel” and “Bookstore”
- Still Gallery – Some stills as well as publicity photos.
- Music Video – “Never Coming Down” by Willamette Stone.
- Theatrical Trailer
Blu-ray Exclusives
- Beyond the Page Featurettes
- The Love of Music – A short segment on the focus on music in the film.
- “I Never Wanted to Go” – Music Montage – As the title suggests, a montage of Mia and Adam scenes, set to one of his songs.
- DVD/Digital HD Copy
Adapting If I Stay – In essence, bringing the book to the big screen.
An Out of Body Experience – Some of the themes explored in the movie.
