Every so often a movie comes out that takes the viewer into a small world set in one of the largest cities on the planet. Before We Go is a passion flick that basically follows two characters, at first strangers, through NYC dealing with deeply personal issues and in spite of some issues with the script, I couldn’t help but just enjoy following them and invested in their lives.
Before We Go
(2015)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance
Anchor Bay | PG13 – 95 min. – $26.99 | November 3, 2015
 |
MOVIE INFO: Directed by: Chris Evans Writer(s): Ron Bass & Jen Smolka (story), Ron Bass & Jen Smolka and Chris Shafer & Paul Vicknair (screenplay) Cast: Chris Evans, Alice Eve DISC INFO: Audio: English (DTS-HD MA 5.1) |
** Click Here to Purchase Before We Go on Blu-ray from Amazon.com **
THE MOVIE – 3.5/5
Chris Evans’ directorial debut, Before We Go, is a flawed yet amiable and admirable little drama-comedy-romance that features two nice performances from its two leads, Evans and Alice Eve.
The story takes place over the course of a night. Nick (CHRIS EVANS) is a musician playing in Grand Central Station when Brooke (ALICE EVE) runs through his life… literally. Her purse had been stolen and she’s just missed the last, and important, train to Boston. Nick offers to first help her find her purse in the hopes the snatchers trashed it and when that scavenger hunt fails, the pair travel around New York City where they trade their sad life stories:
Brooke’s marriage is perhaps falling apart after she left a break-up note at home, hence why she’s frantic to get back after changing her mind, while Nick’s life has been aimless since a sad break-up with his girlfriend who is attending a reception which is why he was in town in the hopes to rekindle their relationship.
It’s a rather basic premise and if you buy it, in spite of some stilted dialogue and an unpolished film as a whole, the charm helps overcome this film’s flaws. The performances and magnetism between Chris Evans and Alice Eve is palpable and really propels the film to something that is fun and melancholy, perhaps akin to something like Lost in Translation, Before Sunrise or, to a lesser extent, Last Night which itself was imperfect but enjoyable due to its leads.
Before We Go is a very good film for the I guess niche subgenre of movies taking place over the course of a condensed time, in this case over night and although it could’ve perhaps used some more work on the screenplay, this easily could’ve been a Woody Allen picture back in the day, but as it is, it’s just an all around nice, enjoyable and passionate flick that by the end you can’t help but smile.
SPECIAL FEATURES – 1.25/5
The only feature is A Conversation with Chris Evans (3:30; HD).
VIDEO – 3.25/5
Anchor Bay Entertainment releases Before We Go onto Blu-ray presented with a 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio and a 1080p high-definition transfer. The picture is mixed with decent enough colors, in spite of taking place at night, but detail is at best murky in some shots especially close-ups. Not sure if this was a case of the type of camera but it was a bit surprising to see for a new release. Even so, blacks are stark enough and the transfer at least is somewhat clean, free of major artifacts or aliasing.
AUDIO – 2.75/5
Even more disappointing is with the sound. The movie includes a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track but it might as well have been stereo. The bulk of the sounds come through the front channel however even then dialogue sounded a tad muffled and soft, even quiet at times. There are the occasional choice songs but even there it’s not quite dynamic. I suppose considering this is a drama/comedy it’s fine.
OVERALL – 2.5/5
Overall, every so often a movie comes out that takes the viewer into a small world set in one of the largest cities on the planet. Before We Go is a passion flick that basically follows two characters, at first strangers, through NYC dealing with deeply personal issues and in spite of some issues with the script, I couldn’t help but just enjoy following them and invested in their lives, much in same vein as Before Sunrise. Chris Evans and Alice Eve share wonderful chemistry making this such a worthwhile viewing.
Brian Oliver a.k.a. The Movieman
Published: 10/30/2015
Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.