Elizabethtown (Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Elizabethtown (Blu-ray) review

Studio: Paramount
Release Date: February 9, 2021
Rating: PG-13
Film: 3.5/5
 
Plot
Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) and Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man) star in this heartfelt romance set against a fantastic rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack.  Hot-shot designer Drew Baylor’s (Bloom) life becomes completely unraveled when he loses his father and his job on one fateful day. En route to Elizabethtown to visit his family, Drew meets Claire (Dunst). She’s beautiful, unstoppably positive, and just the gal to guide Drew on his journey back home and to teach him what it means to live and love along the way.  The film also stars Susan Sarandon, Alec Baldwin, Judy Greer, and Jessica Biel.
 
My Thoughts
This is a movie that was released early in my movie reviewing life and since I wasn’t covering Paramount titles at the time, I never got around to watching it. To a lot of people, it’s Cameron Crowe’s worst film, but I think that’s a bit unfair. I think it turns so many people off because the first act is extremely slow as it attempts to set up the story. Once Bloom heads to Kentucky, the film finds its sea legs and starts to pick up the pace. About 20 minutes into the film my wife wanted to shut it off, but I convinced her to give it another 30 minutes or so and she ended up being glad she stuck with it. In the end, she really liked the message the film had to offer.
 
Video 4/5
 
Audio 4/5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
 
Special Features:
 

• Filmmaker Focus
• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• On the Road to Elizabethtown
• The Music of Elizabethtown
• “Meet the Crew” Featurette
• “Training Wheels” Featurette
• Photo Gallery
• Trailers & TV Spot
• Blu-ray + Digital Copy

 
 

 
 
Conclusion
Elizabethtown is the 14^th film released in the Paramount Presents line and while it isn’t one of Crowe’s best films, my wife and I found it enjoyable. Dunst really shines in her role and steal every scene and while it starts a bit slow, it’s message of fighting through adversity is a good one and I can definitely see myself revisiting this in a few years.
 
 
Reference Review System:
 JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
 (Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
 Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 88” 16x9 Fixed Screen
 Anthem AVM60 Audio/Video Processor 
 ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
 Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player 
 System Controller: URC MX-980
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)

M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
 Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
 SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
 HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
 SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer
 JL Audio Dominion D110 Subwoofer x 2 (configured as tandem mid bass modules)
 Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
 Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
 PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner