Review | Black Limousine | Blu-ray Authority

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Plot: What’s it about?Video: How does it look?Audio: How does it sound?Supplements: What are the extras?

Plot: What’s it about?

Jack MacKenzie (David Arquette) was once a married man with a prosperous career as a composer for Hollywood movies, but those days have passed. Now he is divorced, his career has crumbled, and he struggles with his recovery from alcoholism. Even as he tries to get his life back on track, he is haunted by the past and what he has endured. He now works as a limousine driver, which pays some bills, but is a far cry from his former lifestyle. Jack seems to face demons of all kinds, from financial to emotional and beyond, with no end in sight. But when he meets a beautiful, but unstable model (Bijou Phillips), he feels alive again and is quickly obsessed with her. So while he attempts to get his life back, he also teeters on regression thanks to the presence of this potent new female in his life. Can Jack manage to overcome his past and get back to the kind of life he wants to lead, or is this simply the beginning of the ultimate end for him?

I have to be honest, I wasn’t all that optimistic about Black Limousine. I am not much of a David Arquette fan and I had doubts about him in a lead role. But in the end, I am glad I took a chance, as the film is quite solid. Arquette still didn’t win me over, but he is passable here and holds his own. He benefits from a capable supporting cast, as they elevate scenes and make him seem a little better than he is. Bijou Phillips is fun to watch as always, in a role tailor made for her. While not an ideal screen match, the two work well enough here. The story is good as well, with a darker edge than I expected. The writing makes some noble attempts at depth, but those instances stand out as ineffective. But when Black Limousine is just a dark drama, it works well and provides more than solid entertainment. So if you want a good drama with some solid performances, Black Limousine is well worth a rental.

Video: How does it look?

Black Limousine is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen. The movie looks good here, but this isn’t the kind of transfer that turns head. I found detail to be passable, but not remarkable. This isn’t to say the image is soft, just that there is room for more clarity in the visuals. The colors are natural and stable throughout, while black levels are crisp and stark. So while not as refined as I’d like, this is still a more than capable treatment.

Audio: How does it sound?

This Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is good, but not great. The film’s sound design is not that expansive, so the track isn’t really able to do all that much. The music sounds good, which is where most of the surround use comes from. The vocals sound great, which is crucial in this case. The dialogue makes up most of the audio, so it needed to be well handled and it is. Not a lot else to talk about, a basic, but acceptable soundtrack.