Why So Blu?

We Are The Best! (Blu-ray Review)

Lukas Moodysson directs We Are The Best!, a film adapted from the graphic novel Never Goodnight authored by Coco Moodysson.  Coco just so happens to be the wife of Lukas, so I’m sure this was an easy deal to make.  The film screen as a special presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013.  It was released in limited capacity in the United States at the end of May this year, following releases in its homeland of Sweden and one in Denmark.  We Are The Best! has received high marks from critics as well as scoring very well on popular films sites like Rotten Tomatoes and MetaCritic.

.

Film 

We Are The Best! takes place in the year 1982 in the city of Stockholm.  We follow two girls, Bobo and Klara, who are into the punk rock lifestyle and eventually form a band.  They are constantly told that punk is dead and they are wasting their time with their short hair and the like.  Hedvig, a guitarist, becomes the third member of their punk trio.  Conflict comes in the form of Hedvig’s mother a devout Christian who buts heads with Bobo and Klara over their punk rock and agnostic influence on her daughter.  There’s also plenty of other drama as the girls play shows and get to know other musicians in their quest to earn their street cred and be accepted.

I was initially intrigued by this movie because of the setting.  Punk rock during the early 1980s in Stockhom?  That kinda sounds like a really cool scene and premise to me.  And really this movie did not disappoint in that aspect.  Punk rock was a much harsher and in your face lifestyle than what it would later become and completely different from what is considered punk from the mid-90s to today.  This lifestyle deals with all rebellious lifestylings, politics, clothes and crazy haircuts and mohawks (real mohawks).

One of my favorites aspects of the film was the conflict between Hedvig’s mother and the other girls.  Its an issue that could still be found with classmates/bandmates/whathaveyou to this day.  The mother does make an interesting argument to her viewpoint on the reverse side of things, but its her way of getting herself across that is the real trouble.  And she doesn’t seem to be open to listening and learning Bobo and Klara’s viewopoints while she insists they be open and give a sample of her own.

Is We Are The Best! truly the best?  I thought it was all right and pretty good.  Not as high on it as many of the critics seem to be, but its a swell coming of age through music story.  I think I’ll give it a little higher recommend as you don’t too often see this type of film with female protagonists all too often.  There are some really good conflicts in the film that get resolved quickly and like normal adults would go about doing so rather than an overdramatic film would choose to do so.  You also get some really good performances from these young actors.  This is definitely to see if you’re a bit curious.

Video 

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Clarity/Detail:  This is a nice looking, lifelike picture.  One of the major compliments I can give it, is that not only does it look 1980s by the styles and props, but the aesthetic of the film looks that way too.  You get a little bit of a smokey appearance to the picture.  Detail is pretty high and you can make out clothing fabrics, patterns, smudges on things and surface textures.

Depth:  There is a good clarity between foreground characters and distant background.

Black Levels:  Blacks are a little softer than normal and not all too consuming.  It helps to enrich the picture and also add for the kind of style the film’s aesthetic is aiming for.

Color Reproduction:  Colors are solid and natural.  They’re not aiming to pop, but they’re not very muted either.  Most of the film is looking to be anti-colorful with its use of browns and such.

Flesh Tones:  Natural and lifelike.  Detail is heavy on close ups and buzzed hair and the like allows you to see plenty of stubble and facial features.

Noise/Artifacts:  None.

Audio 

Audio Format(s): Swedish 5.1 DTS-HD MA

Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish, French

Dynamics:  This is a solid track that does the trick.  I’ve heard much more masterful mixing of music in films before, but make no mistake this one is no slouch either.  There is accurate placement of effect and voice.  Also, there is a great variance in volume between effect, music and vocals.  Its also nice and loud, filling your room with a concert like sound.

Low Frequency Extension:  Some great low extensions are enhanced by the subwoofer.

Surround Sound Presentation:  There’s plenty of fun to be had when music is at the forefront.  During other places in the film, voice and sound is aptly applied to front speakers, but the rear are mainly used for ambient noises and scoring.

Dialogue Reproduction:  Dialogue is clean clear and front heavy.

Extras 

In true punk rock form, this release has rebelled against bonus material.

Also From Magnolia – Trailers for A Long Way Down, Tasting Menu, Frank, Frontera, Chideo, AXS TV

Summary 

The biggest complaint on the release is the complete absence of extras.  This is a pretty good film, and one you might want to learn more about.  The production, actors, husband and wife collaboration or even something about the graphic novel from which it was based.  But, you’re left with just the movie and nothing else.  Luckily the film is given an above average presentation.  Its a charming little punk rock coming of age story and you should definitely give this one at least a rental.