Plot: What’s it about?
Steven (Jude Law) is a handsome, smooth talking ladies man, but he doesn’t just want women, he needs them. He craves the intimacy and closeness, so much so that he seeks out perfection at all times, but of course, is unable to find a woman that fulfills all of his needs. But this dark, mysterious man doesn’t just break up or stop seeing these girls, he feeds on them and leaves them for dead, never to be seen alive again. After so many failed attempts to find what he needs, Steven is on the brink of hopelessness, until he meets Anna (Elina Lowensohn). She is different from the other girls, much better than them and in the same turn, much more elusive as well. But Steven is determined to have her and will do whatever it takes, no matter what that might be. The relationship between them is very unusual and sometimes dangerous, which means Steven has to choose between his love for her and his need to survive. This is the perfect female Steven has searched for all of his life, but will he destroy her, simply to extend his own miserable life?
If this all sounds familiar to you but the title seems off, there’s a simple explanation for that. As they often do, the folks at Buena Vista (i.e. Di$ney) have given a film a new name, one they feel better appeals to potential viewers. But while Immortality is a decent enough title, it pales in comparison to The Wisdom of Crocodiles, the film’s original moniker. So I fail to see the logic in why Buena Vista does this kind of operation, but let’s move on and try to leave all that behind us. I like vampire movies a lot and since this is one, I knew I would give a look and I am very pleased that I did. In the realm of vampire flicks, there’s little that hasn’t been done, but Immortality has a real edge to it and delivers a lot of fresh elements. A very dark visual style is present and creates an excellent atmosphere, in which the gifted cast work their characters to perfection. I can find little to complain about with Immortality, the cast is good, the direction is above average, the visuals are intense, and the storyline is more than solid as well. There is also some blood and sexual elements, but while not enough to scare off the squeamish, enough to gain the desired effect. I give this disc a very strong recommendation and while a rental will serve most needs, fans of the film shouldn’t hesitate to pick this one up, even if extras are a little sparse.
Although I was pleased with the entire cast of Immortality, I think Jude Law shines the most and he should, since he is the lead and all. Law has become a real force in movies, as he keeps getting better and better, which is impressive when you consider how good he’s been up to this point. While I don’t think his turn here is his finest work, I was very pleased with his performance, as he is full of charisma and energy, which are both vital to the success of the role. I’m sure several other actors could have filled the shoes for this character, but Law is very good and carries the film without much trouble, save a few small instances. Other films with Law include Gattaca, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Enemy At The Gates, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and eXistenZ. The rest of the cast here includes Colin Salmon (Mind Games, Tomorrow Never Dies), Elina Lowensohn (Schindler’s List, Six Ways To Sunday), Timothy Spall (Quadrophenia, Love’s Labour’s Lost), Jack Davenport (Fierce Creatures, Tale of the Mummy), and Kerry Fox (Shallow Grave, Welcome to Sarajevo).
Video: How does it look?
Immortality is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. I wasn’t blown away by the image present here, but I do think this is an above average presentation. The source print looks clean, which allows for a sharp, clean overall image, but it seems as though this transfer is lacking something. I can’t put my finger on it, but it just doesn’t seem as impressive as some other recent transfers. But even so, this is still a more than solid image and I doubt anyone will be let down much in the end. The colors look bright, flesh tones seem natural, and I saw no problems in terms of contrast, so all the elements seem in working order all around here. As I said, this is not a razor sharp image, but it is very good and I think it deserves some good marks.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a dialogue driven film most of the time, but when the atmosphere needs some audio presence, this track more than delivers the goods. The suspenseful sequences have a rich, well mixed environment, which adds to the tension and immerses the viewer, very cool indeed. The speakers never overload or get too loud, but then again, this kind of material never calls for it, so no harsh words in that respect. The main focus here is on the vocals, which come across in fine form and never falter, no issues at all to contend with there. This disc also contains a French language track (2.0 surround), as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc houses a seven minute behind the scenes featurette, as well as the disc’s theatrical trailer.
