For One More Day (2007/Lionsgate DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Feature: B-
At first,
I did not know what to think when I saw Mitch Albom’s For One More Day (2007) when the DVD became a reality, because I
had missed that it was even made. But
when you have Michael Imperioli as a man with alcoholism troubles and Ellen
Burstyn as his mother, you figure it might be interesting at the least. When it turns out his mother is dead and he
keeps seeing her, talking to her, interacting with her and living through the
reasons he is sick, this could still go wrong if the makers were not careful.
Instead,
it is a pleasant surprise as Imperioli proves to be more formidable an actor
than many have suspected, Burstyn comes through with another winner and the
script brings its story across in constantly intelligent, thoughtful ways that
work time and time again. Albom’s
teleplay is on the money and credit should also go to Director Lloyd Kramer for
succeeding where so many theatrical films of late have failed miserably. Forget dumb fantasy garbage and condescending
melodrama, this delivers on a rich, mature level that will remind one of the
glory days of quality U.S. television. I
can’t wait to see it again when it gets issued on Blu-ray.
The anamorphically
enhanced 1.78 X 1 image looks good for a TV production and is better than the
1.33 X 1 alternative. I was surprised
how well this was really shot, adding to the narrative impact. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has a few expansive
moments and this is well recorded, but moist if it is dialogue-based and quite
in nature. The only extra is trailers
for other Lionsgate releases for this kind of audience.
- Nicholas Sheffo
