The time of being a teenager and self discovery can be a difficult one. We watch the life of Simon mainly through flashbacks as he is dealing with his drug addiction. We see a young man who doesn’t seem to fit in with his rich family friends. He finds friendship and comfort with a group who follows bands like Phish and The Dead around the country, getting high and having fun. Simon’s descends into drug addiction driven by the memory of his father betraying his mother just before she dies. The plot has the potential t… be interesting and instead becomes dry and thin. It just doesn’t hold together in the end.
Video
The 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer of this film is of average quality. The image has good detail, but it does seem slightly washed out. Black levels are good but at the sacrifice of shadow detail. Other then this there is no film grit or debris and the image is sharp and detailed.
Audio
Featuring a diverse soundtrack of jam bands and reggae, the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track is clean and clear. Dialogue is easy to understand, and the voices come through clear and natural. Surrounds channels are well used during the music scenes, but other then that this is a dialogue driven film.
Special Features
We have a decent array of special features starting with deleted scenes and an alternate (really more of an extended) ending. We also get interviews with all of the major players of the cast and a behind-the-scenes featurette. Lastly we get a commentary with the producer and writer. The extras would be great if the film was stronger.
Final Thoughts
A potentially interesting film but one that ultimately can not finish strongly. The DVD quality is not bad… worth giving a spin.
Special Features List
- Audio Commentary
- Deleted Scenes
- Behind the Scenes Featurette
- Interviews
