The Film
"The less you know about this, the better off you're going to be."
The above quote comes from and applies to the movie Apart. That's not a knock, per se. It's just that this super-dramatic indie film is sort of hard to describe without giving away too much of the plot.
Part Romeo and Juliet and part Final Destination, Apart is the story of Emily (High School Musical cutie Olesya Rulin) and Noah (Josh Danziger). The two share a grade-school bond and a rare psychological disorder. Oh, and they can also see into the future, but only when together. In case that's not enough of a plot, there's also a bus accident, a fire and a few fatalities. There are so many mysteries going on in this film, you'd better have a score card handy.
How it handles all of those twists and turns is interesting in some spots, but also comes off as incredibly rushed. Apart takes a while to get going -- and that's not a good thing when the runtime is a mere 86 minutes. That really doesn't give us much time to bond to any of the characters and will certainly leave you wanting more from the film's famous faces, which includes Bruce McGill, Michael Bowen and Joey Lauren Adams. It also makes the film seem rushed overall. Don't expect to feel like you're a part of Apart.
The Picture
For a movie that has very little info on it, Apart has a really good-looking Blu-ray. It's a low budget flick, so it shouldn't be too surprising that there's a little soft imagery. However, someone put a lot of time into making this film look the way it looks; it's very stylish, and has some great black levels and spot-on colors to back up that cinematography. The picture has plenty of sharp moments, too. Most impressive are the film's many close-ups, which show some nice detail on those pained faces.
The Sound
Apart's DTS-HD Master Audio track is very focused on the film's dialogue, which does come off clear throughout the film. However, it also packs in a lot of interesting ambient effects to keep those surrounds busy. Yes, this somber, sometimes pouty film has plenty of sounds to envelop the viewer, most notably the crackling fire, a bar scene, and when the marching band belts out a track.
The Extras
Despite the low budget, the filmmakers certainly didn't skimp on Apart's extras. Like the film, the commentary track takes a few minutes to get going. However, writer/director Aaron Rottinghaus, producer Ryan Rettig and writer/actor Josh Danziger seem to have a lot to say about the film. It's not a riveting track, but the trio does offer up a lot of little tidbits about the process. Other features include deleted scenes, bloopers, a behind-the-scenes peek at the car crash scene, and more.
Final Thoughts
Apart is a unique love story -- and certainly not one for everyone. The short runtime doesn't give viewers enough time to care about the characters. Heck, it barely gives us enough time to figure out what's going on. The film has its issues, but is surprisingly well made with a surprisingly good Blu-ray. If you're an indie fan, you may want to check out Apart.
Product Details
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