Objectified (2009/Plexifilm Blu-ray)
Picture:
B- Sound: C+ Extras: B- Documentary: B
Gary
Hustwit is a very observant documentarian, looking at the subtly present items
that pervade our society without us necessarily knowing it. So far in his work, the way unnatural
discourse weaves its way through society has been his specialty as it was with
text and writing in Helvetica. Now he’s back looking at machines and
gadgetry then and now with Objectified
(2009), an excellent follow-up to his surprise hit. You can read more about Helvetica at this link of our Blu-ray coverage:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7141/Helvetica+(2007/Documentary/Graphic
Fortunately,
Objectified is a totally separate
piece and you do not have to see the previous work to appreciate it. Established intricately and at length in its
always-compelling 75 minutes, it is a transition in many ways from the world of
analog items we use to digital, from usually single-purpose form-fits-design to
(yes, you can say post-modern as it fits to enough of an extent) multi-use
gadget items. It is also the tangible
and valuable (books, scissors, forks, etc.) versus machines that give you more
(or what seems more) but in intangible ways like computers, information and the
like.
The
problem with the latter is that those kinds of devices become dated, aged and
depreciate in value in ways the original items did not and yet we swim in a
world shared by both and everything like either we come in contact with had to
have been designed (ergonomics, buttons, functions, shape, size, etc.) by
someone. Once again, Hustwit does this
without wasting a thing and I only wish this were longer, but we have extras
that expand on all issues in many interviews and other footage. That makes Objectified one of the most interesting documentaries of the past
year and one worth gong out of your way for.
The 1080p
1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image is not bad, well-edited and shot, but it
is also a little softer throughout than I would have liked. Still, color is good and you get some nice
shots throughout. The Dolby Digital 5.1
mix is better than the Dolby 2.0 Stereo also included, but not by too much and it
is a shame there is not lossless codec here.
The only extra is a set of additional interviews cut from the final
work, all worth seeing after you see the main feature.
- Nicholas Sheffo
