HDTV Solutions.com

M.R. Dinkins
April 1, 2008
HDTV Solutions

Welcome back, Halle, to the challenging world of intelligent independent cinema.

Halle Berry segues regularly between blockbuster and dramatic roles. In Things We Lost in the Fire, she returns to her serious side as Audrey Burke, a mom struggling to reestablish her emotional footing after a random act of violence.

Jerry Sunborne (Benicio Del Toro), with his own personal quicksand, tries to provide her with terra firma. While the story can easily be encapsulated in a few breezy words, your film watching experience would be the lesser for it. Suffice to say there's death, dope and hope in the plot. Sounds trite? Not so. Incised with inventive acting and writing, the sinuous script by Allan Loeb is a sharp cut above a hackneyed Hollywood drama.

As for Del Toro, he could have performed his role mute; you can see all his lines inscribed in his expressive face. His visage is a canvas where he can etch the gamut of sensory sensibilities.

Danish Director Susanne Bier (an Oscar nominee) tells the intimate story by shooting extra extreme close-ups of the actors. The style is perfectly compatible with the in-your-face raw story she tells.

In addition to relishing Berry and Del Toro's outstanding performances - both former Academy Award winners - be the first film aficionado to discover young talent. Check out Alexis Llewellyn and Micah Berry, the two kids who play Halle Berry and David Duchovny's (Brian Burke) offspring. They are great. So too Duchovny, Omar Benson Miller, John Carroll Lynch and Allison Lohman

Special Features and Featurettes

For fans of Benicio, the bonus features are particularly satisfying. With every scene in the film, he tightens his charismatic tethers. As the movie winds down, your voracity revs up.

That craving for more Del Toro is truly assuaged by revisiting the cast and seeing the seven deleted scenes. Another chance to watch the combustible Benicio ignited by every emotional spark radiating from Berry. Duchovny or the kids.

So allot the extra minutes to savor the after taste.

Studio: Dreamworks

Director: Susanne Bier

Cast: Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny, Alexis Llewellyn, Micah Berry, John Carroll Lynch, Alison Lohman, Robin Weigert, Omar Benson Miller

Length: 117 minutes

Rated: R

Video:
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2:35:1

Audio:
English:
  Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
French:
  Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
Spanish:
  Dolby Digital Plus 5.1

Subtitles:
English SDH, French, Spanish