The Film
It is hard not to feel for John Crowley (Brendan Fraser), who goes to extraordinary lengths to find a miracle cure for his two children. With crass and acerbic researcher Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford) the two form a partnership and even enter the world of corporate pharmaceuticals in a story that pulls no punches yet tugs at the heartstrings. But yet, perhaps because Extraordinary Measures is so clichéd and so predictable - you never really expect Crowley's pre-teens to die, especially 8-year-old and extremely precocious Megan - the film is actually rather bland. And while based on the real efforts to find a cure for the deadly Pompe, the film also bogs down with a bit too much medical babble, while being too reminiscent of other films that deal with academia. If we're to believe this film, scientists can barely cope in the real world, and cute kids always get cured. If only the latter were really true.
The Picture
There is nothing particularly eye-popping in this story about a medical researcher and a hard working salesman. While a few shots of major cities, along with dream homes provide some decent eye candy, the film is generally free of much truly interesting to see. Still the 1.85:1 1080p presentation is quite memorable nonetheless, simply because it is so clear and free of distraction that nothing notable distracted us from the story at hand. The colors were lifelike, including skin tones and again while free of any striking images or vibrant colors this one does provide exceptional detail. If anything it might actually up the bar on what we expect from such films, and hopefully this level of care can be applied toward something truly worth watching.
The Sound
The sound in Extraordinary Measures is on par with the visuals. It is actually beyond ordinary, even as the film has its roots in mundane everyday life. The 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack lacks any real moments where you'd expect discrete sound effects - so it comes as a surprise in the few moments where this is the case. Most of these moments involce Stonehill's stereo, as he tends to crank up the volume with a variety of classic rock tunes, and in these sequences it is easy to appreciate how the music may be enjoyable to him and while more of an annoyance, even a distraction, to his colleagues.
The Extras
Beyond a featurette with the real Crowley family, which inspired the source material for this film, the extras are less than extraordinary. In fact, with just a few deleted scenes, BD-Live and movieIQ the bonus materials seem as elusive as a cure for the common cold.
Final Thoughts
It is an inspiring story, and even somewhat uplifting, but with Ford as a disconnected researcher and Fraser as an executive who seems to be in a true conflict of interest throughout the movie, Extraordinary Measures isn't exactly the type of film that warrants multiple viewings, even if it does look and sound beyond ordinary on Blu-ray.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
