10 Years (Blu-ray) (2011)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy Drama	Menu Animation & Audio-Live action montage and score Theatrical Trailer-Safety Not Guaranteed Theatrical Trailer-The Oranges Theatrical Trailer-The Intouchables
Rating
Year Of Production	2011
Running Time	100:42
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Jamie Linden
Studio Distributor	Voltage Pictures Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Channing Tatum Jenna Dewan-Tatum Justin Long Max Minghella Oscar Isaac Chris Pratt
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	$29.95	Music	Chad Fischer

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 English Dolby Digital 2.0 (448Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	Yes, Credits and action from beginning.

     10 Years is a class reunion movie. That genre established, the chances are that most viewers could anticipate what the movie is going to present from character to incident to conclusion. This movie, from novice writer / director Jamie Linden does not rely on the usual conflicts and contrived revelations to shock or surprise its audience, but there is a refreshing honesty about the film and the performances that raise this one above the crowd.

     Linden's screenplay focuses on a group of five males and their female interests. These attractive (of course) young adults gather at the ten-year class reunion to forget their disillusioned woes and relive past glories. First we have Jake (Channing Tatum), the former football hero who has become a mortgage-broker. Jake is attending the reunion with his girlfriend Jess (Jenna Dewan Tatum - Channing's real life missus), a ring in his car's glove compartment ready for a nervous proposal of marriage. Before taking this drastic step, Jake is anticipating the possibility of maybe seeing again his old school flame, Mary (Rosario Dawson) and finding closure for their former relationship. Mary does turn up, with her husband (Ron Livingston). Then there's Cully (Chris Pratt), the class bully now married to Sam (Ari Graynor) and with two kids. Cully's goal is to apologise to his former victims - and, if necessary, to bully them into accepting his apology. Marty (Justin Long), a successful New York publisher and the sycophantic AJ (Max Minghella) are former class buddies, each hiding from the reality of what has become of their lives since leaving school, while vying for the same girl. Finally we have Reeves (Oscar Isaac) who has become a successful rock musician, but despite success and acclaim is still pining for his high school crush, Elise (Kate Mara). For lighter moments we have Olivia (Aubrey Plaza) and her husband (Brian Geraghty). With this large number, the movie of necessity draws characters with rather broad strokes, and we maybe expect a few big surprises along the way as old dreams are confronted and realities are faced by these twenty-somethings. There are however no big surprises in Linden's screenplay, and in fact to have that sort of "revelation" in the screenplay would be to fall back onto cliché. True, the movie does not totally escape clichés. Of course Channing is the ex-jock and one of them did become a big rock star. But maybe the film is saying that we are all in danger of becoming a cliché, with the real challenge of life to find our own unique self and seek individual fulfilment. To the filmmaker’s great credit, what we are given is a largish group of young adults who are believable and rather ordinary, who, to varying degrees, face a new reality. They find that the past has to be accepted before they are able to move on. Watching these characters fumble their way through the reunion they become touchingly real.

     The performances from this young, large ensemble cast are uniformly fine. It is unavoidable, however, that the major focus is on Channing Tatum, due to his current box-office and sex symbol status. Here the young star is far removed from the lithe, tanned and oiled sensuality of Magic Mike or the romantic idealism of Dear John. No shirt is removed, and the actor's hulking frame looks a little overweight and his face a mite pudgy. What counts here is his acting performance and it is understated, low keyed, with a real sense of vulnerability underneath that male facade. This is a solid, sincere performance that bodes well for Tatum's acting future.

     Technically this indie film is modest - Channing Tatum was one of the producers. The photography from Steven Frierberg (Love and Other Drugs) is interesting given the limited scope of the basic party setting, making excellent, unobtrusive use of the hand-held camera. Music makes a strong contribution, from the original score by Chad Fischer (Garden State), to well-chosen pop songs from artists including The Felice Brothers, Kidz in the Hall and Human Highway - and two songs very well sung by Oscar Isaac.

     This film deserves to be seen. It is a comedy about young adults that does not depend on vulgarity, sex and nudity. In content it is decidedly mature, and it treats its audience as adults, probably young adults, and never descends to the cheap devices that frequently sell tickets. Well worth seeing - even if you are not a fan of Channing Tatum.

Video

     10 Years is given a Blu-ray transfer that varies in its image quality.

     The aspect ratio is 1.78:1, the original aspect ratio. The film is presented 1080p, but there are scenes which look more like an excellent DVD rather than a top high definition rendering.

     Detail is generally very good, particularly in close-ups. There are some scenes in darker rooms and the shadow detail here suffers with a general murkiness and a shallowness to the blacks. Colour throughout is most attractive, with the full spectrum of the rainbow - note the strong primaries in an early scene with kids' toys. Skin tones are especially accurate, with every blemish showing on Channing Tatum without any makeup.

     The transfer is artefact free, giving a nice, clean image.

     There are English Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired. The text is white and centred at the foot of the screen, apart from during the credits when it is in some cases placed so as not to obscure names.

Video Ratings Summary

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Audio

     There are two audio streams : English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Encoded with narration for the vision impaired.

     This is a dialogue driven ensemble piece, and all dialogue is particularly clear, with no sync problems. Dialogue is front and centred with little movement across the fronts. The surrounds are really only used for ambience, but are in constant action. Obviously the party is going to provide opportunity for active use, but in every scene there is interesting activity going on in the rears which really adds to the atmosphere of the film. The music is also very active in the rears, although I would have preferred a bit more dominance in the party scenes, particularly in the bass area.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
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Overall

     There is nothing extra, just a few trailers for other movies.

Menu

     The menu screen has a still of Channing Tatum and his two female co-stars, music from the film and an insert montage of live action scenes.

Start-up Trailers

     Safety Not Guaranteed, The Oranges, The Intouchables

    There is censorship information available for this title. Click here to read it (a new window will open). WARNING: Often these entries contain MAJOR plot spoilers.

     This class reunion comedy succeeds where many before have failed. This is mainly because the writer/director has resisted vulgar jokes and the big reveal. None of the reuniters has become a priest, or a serial killer or a hooker. Instead we have believable, rather ordinary young people who are still in the process of finding themselves. The large and talented young ensemble is led by Channing Tatum who adds considerably to his credibility as an actor. Not a great film, but a fine, honest effort from the young writer/director and his young cast - with fine assistance from the cinematography and music. The Blu-ray transfer is attractive, but not a standout. No extras, which is a pity.

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