The Film
Anyone expecting the trademark dry Brit wit and near-perfect comic timing from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant should think again. Instead the pair offers up Cemetery Junction -- a more somber tale of three friends who had grown up together in a small, working-class town in the early 1970s. Freddie (Christian Cooke) wants to get ahead, Bruce (Tom Hughes) wants to get out and Snork (Jack Doolan) just wants to get some.
After getting a job as an insurance salesman, so he can go home with clean hands instead of working in a factory like his father (Ricky Gervais), Freddie begins to see that the path he is headed down will trap him more tidily than either of his friends. After meeting his boss's daughter Julie (Felicity Jones), Freddie begins to imagine a world beyond the dead-end that is Cemetery Junction.
There are a few comedic moments, mostly with Gervais, as well as a typical moment with Merchant. Both make you question whether they really wanted to do such a serious movie, and this proves that while they can write and even direct this type of story, their future as actors does not lie in dramatic roles.
The Picture
There is something about England in the 1970s -- it usually appears bleak and lacking in vibrancy -- and this film is no exception. Maybe this is just a factor of the frequent overcast days and "soft" weather. Or maybe it really was a bleak place to live in a bleak time. Regardless, Cemetery Junction has the same hazy look of past films such as The Bank Job or TV series such as Life on Mars. The colors are somewhat muted, yet this effect holds up well on Blu-ray. The 2.40:1 presentation is actually clear and free of any noticeable problems. There may not be much in the way of scenery in this film, but there is much to see and it is clear why several of the characters would be interested in moving on.
The Sound
For a dialog-driven film this one really does take advantage of the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The sounds of the factory, from the grinders to the welders are intense, as much as if you actually visited the location. Likewise, the nighttime scenes in the dance clubs are equally immersing, where the sound tracks to the appropriate speakers as the characters wander through. About the only complaint is that some of the dialog is a tad low, which makes understanding the solidly lower class accents all the more challenging.
The Extras
This wouldn't be a Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant project if the pair didn't take the time to weigh in on their film, and the duo provide one of two audio commentaries - the other from the cast's three stars. There is also a featurette with an interview with Gervais and Merchant, while the cast also offers their take on the film. This results in a bit of overkill, but you can appreciate everyone's hard work - especially when hearing the actors' actual accents, highlighting the efforts they made to sound truly convincing. There are also deleted scenes, a blooper real, plus BD exclusives including featurettes that look at recreating the look of the 1970s, the start of filming, the first week and the directors on set. As with the other bonus features it is a bit much, but whoever would argue that Gervais knows to leave his audience wanting for more?
Final Thoughts
More drama than comedy this one won't have you rolling on the floor, but it is an enjoyable enough yarn about three friends looking for something more. And it offers a good look at the sights and sounds of the U.K. in the 1970s. It was a bleak place and time but it does look and sound clear on Blu-ray.
Product Details
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