Lullaby
(2007/Peace Arch DVD)
Picture: C-
Sound: C Extras: C- Feature: C
One of the most played out stories out there is that of
drug addicts and kidnappings, but the real life equivalent is under told and
there is that great contradiction of how drug use is implicitly glorified,
while anyone who becomes an addict from it is bashed as if it is 100% their
fault and they can go die. Is it to not
shatter the illusions of the former?
Darrell Roodt (Sarafina, Yesterday) attempts to tell the tale
with some realism and depth in Lullaby,
but gets trapped in another clichéd cycle of the “I won’t leave my child behind
in another country” film.
Melissa Leo is the mother who finds out that her son has
crossed his deadly drug dealing friends (he did not have enough money to pay
them) and they decide to kidnap him and let him suffer drug withdraw. They want their money but there is no
guarantee that they’ll give him back alive and in some salvageable form, but
she goers for it and yes, she has to do this in another country. Too bad we have seen all this before. Acting is good, but the twists to conclude
ruin any credibility that was here and this is a disappointment.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is also
disappointing with more softness than usual to begin with, then there is motion
blur, edge enhancement and other issues you have to see to believe. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is very flat and
far too much in the center channel. Be
careful of how loud you play it. The
only extra is a trailer.
- Nicholas Sheffo
