Rubber - Blu-ray Review

4.2 Stars (out of 5)

Synopsis

Quentin Dupieux directs this inventive twist on low-rent revenge flicks, which follows a car tire named Robert that rolls through the desert Southwest using its strange psychic powers to blow up birds, bunnies, human beings and more. But when Robert spies a gorgeous woman motoring down the highway, he decides to follow her and take a chance on love. This gleefully over-the-top black comedy stars Stephen Spinella and Roxanne Mesquida. (Buy Now $22.99)

Starring:

Stephen Spinella, Jack Plotnick, Wings Hauser, Roxane Mesquida, Ethan Cohn, Charley Koontz, Daniel Quinn, Devin Brochu, Hayley Holmes

Director:

Quentin Dupieux

Blu-ray Release Date:

June 14, 2011

Subtitles:

English SDH, Spanish

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:
Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 4.4 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison
●        Subwoofer - 4.5 Stars
●        Dialog - 5.0 Stars
●        Surround Effects - 4.0 Stars
●        Dynamic Range - 4.0 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Most of this film is average for Blu-ray audio, but then there's the awesome sound of the tire's psychic powers. When the tire decides to blow someone's head into meaty shrapnel, it vibrates and wiggles like it has epilepsy, and when it does the subwoofer goes crazy. It's almost too much, most the film is quite and it stands out like a super model at a Star Trek convention. However, it is very fun to listen to. Dialog is handled great, and some parts feature subtle ambient noises like wind blowing, and cars passing by.

Video  4.6 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison
●        Color Accuracy  -  4.5 Stars
●        Shadow detail - 4.5 Stars
●        Clarity - 5.0 Stars
●        Skin tones - 4.5 Stars
●        Compression - 4.5 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect ratio: 1.78:1, Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Digital film making has changed the face of independent film. Now a days inexpensive prosumer-grade digital cameras can be used to create a film with beautiful picture quality. This film has stunning clarity with almost no film grain. Every fine grain of desert sand, stitches in clothing, and the rough textures of the hot black asphalt are seen crystal clarity. Sometimes colors can be a little hot and a little banding is noticeable in some scenes however, it doesn't take much away from this film's great video performance.

Bonus Features 3 Stars (out of 5)

●        Interview with Director Quentin Dupieux (1080i, 8:34) - This is by far the weirdest interview I have ever seen.
●        Interview with actor Stephen Spinella (1080i, 4:08)
●        Interview with actor Jack Plotnick (1080i, 8:08)
●        Interview with actress Roxane Mesquida (1080i, 3:21)
●        Rubber Teaser Camera Tests (1080i, 00:49)
●        HDNet: A Look at Rubber (1080i, 4:44)
●        Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:26)
●        Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment Blu-ray (1080p, 5:44)

Movie - 1.5 Stars (out of 5)

Review

Like any small independent film by a French director, this film is weird and a little artsy. For the most part it’s intentionally absurd, stupid, and silly.  The first time I watched it, I didn't like it, the second time I watched I enjoyed some of it, because for some reason the subtle jokes became funny.

The plot of this film is crazy, it attempts tor prepare you for it by starting off with a strange deadpan speech about how this film is an homage to things happing for "no reason, that most powerful element of style". Even after watching it a couple of times, I still don't understand some key points in the writing. The movie really tries hard at breaking the third wall by referring to people watching the tire serial killer as watching a movie, and attempting to make jokes about the movie going experience. I was interested in watching this movie just based on its silly plot. I hoped it would be something like Machete or Terror Planet, but instead it ended up being a strange artsy comedy with a tire that could make people's head explode.