Synopsis
Michael Sheen (so good as the sweet, big-hearted protagonist of Heartlands) is on the verge of losing his job as an architect, and he and his wife have just separated. His obsessive compulsive disorders, which led to these problems in the first place, are enormously exacerbated by the resultant stress, and Tourette’s Syndrome becomes a problem now too. He is desperate to win his wife back, an in an attempt to get his life together, he joins an OCD self-help group led by Shirley Hender…on, the woman he should really open his eyes and hear to see.
The last romance to feature a major character with OCD was, of course, As Good As It Gets. That effort has the stuffing kicked out of it by this one. Here, one believes in Sheen’s performance, and I defy any viewer not to feel deeply uncomfortable about his/her own little ticks by the end. The romance and the characters are very sensitively handled, but the the comedy is also extremely funny. A delight.
Audio
The dialogue on the 2.0 track is clear and completely free of distortion (and this is what drives the film – this is not a film that is going to give your sub-woofer a workout). That said, there are some solid, if low key environmental effects (the scene at the zoo has a nice immersive quality) and the poignant music is enveloping.
Video
The 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen picture has good, naturalistic colours, fine blacks, and no real grain or edge enhancement issues. Again, the point is not to dazzle us with visual beauty, but simply to tell the story well, and the job is very properly done here.
Special Features
Not much here, unfortunately. The movie’s trailer plus seven others are about it. Production notes with interviews and biographies are present for those with a DVD-ROM. The menu’s main screen is scored.
Closing Thoughts
Not to be missed, this is a very touching, funny and moving film. Highly recommended.
Special Features List
- Trailers
- DVD-ROM Production Notes
