Obsessed Blu-ray delivers great video and audio in this fan-pleasing Blu-ray release
Derek Charles, a successful asset manager who has just received a huge promotion, is blissfully
happy in his career and in his marriage to the beautiful Beth. But when Lisa, a temp worker,
starts stalking Derek, everything he's worked so hard for, are placed in jeopardy.
At least Fatal Attraction had
the sense to come up with a catchy title that's memorable because it sounds different and
dangerous. 2009's Obsessed just sounds like a movie that's not exactly going to set the
world on fire, and in that regard it never lets its audience down. Like its
title, Obsessed just screams "bland" in every facet of its existence. Serving up a script
that
fizzles from the get-go, a generic soundtrack, uninspired acting, boring sets, but fair production
values and decent direction, Obsessed still managed to make the studio millions during
its theatrical run,
raking in well over three times its budget. Still, even the spit-and-polish of its attractive
veneer and considerable clout as a proven moneymaker
cannot hide the many shortcomings that make Obsessed the sort of movie that will
quickly (and none
too soon)
fade into oblivion.
'Obsession' by Calvin Klein as worn by Derek Charles.
The Charles' -- Derek (Idris Elba) and Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles) -- seem to live the perfect life.
They've just settled into a new luxury home, have an infant son, and Derek's a big shot at his
L.A.-based
financial firm. It seems like nothing could spoil the magic until a new temp shows up in the
office. Lisa (Ali Larter) finds herself instantly attracted to Derek and in but a few short days, she's
managed to wiggle herself into a position where the two must work closely together. Though
clearly bothered by her subtle and, occasionally, not-so-subtle advances, Derek shrugs her off
until she pushes the issue at a "no spouses allowed" office Christmas party. Derek angrily rejects
her seduction but Lisa can't clue into the fact that he's not interested. Derek must fend off an
admirer who becomes more obsessed as time goes on, a girl who seems to believe with all her
heart that she and Derek are meant to be together, a conviction she's prepared to prove correct
-- at any cost.
Obsessed is an Erotic Thriller without anything even remotely "erotic" about it. A
play-it-safe PG-13 paint-by-numbers picture, Obsessed plays out with a predictability that
would make even the ongoing Coyote/RoadRunner feud jealous. There's not a shred of an
element of surprise here; every action and reaction are telegraphed reels away. Sure, the
primary plot's no surprise. That's OK; audience need to have an idea as to what they're getting
themselves into. There's a big difference, however, in understanding the overreaching plot and
the nuances that make it both whole and unique. Fatal Attraction had the market
cornered in that regard, but Obsessed seems to have glossed over the fact that there
need be something more to a movie than its basic structure to win over audiences. Even some
of the plot devices that move the story along will have the audience groaning. A "no spouses"
office party? The "oops I forgot to set the alarm after all we've been through?" routine? None of
it makes a lick of sense, and it all starts with perhaps the most important element in a movie like
this: character motivation.
Obsessed offers no rhyme or reason for Lisa's "obsession" with Derek. Is she infatuated
with his looks (and why wasn't the movie instead called Infatuated)? Is she enthralled
by
his wealth (and why wasn't the movie instead called Enthralled)? Is she transfixed by
his stature as a powerful businessman (and why wasn't the movie called Transfixed)?
It's clear that
Lisa is crazy, but what made her snap, why did she choose to stalk Derek, and what keeps her
going through to the end? It doesn't really matter. Obsessed seems to exist
only to revel in its finale, a conclusion that doesn't live up to even the measly expectations that
accompany its inevitable arrival. Perhaps the film's most impressive feat stems from the fact that
the
filmmakers were
actually able to drag this one out to a nearly two hour (!) runtime; this sort of copycat, lame-o
picture generally runs a good 85 minutes, ensuring that it doesn't overstay an already perilous
welcome. No, Obsessed just drags on, even the aforementioned climax playing out for
far too long and, adding insult to injury, without a spark of real emotion to lend it the weight
needed to keep it from ending up in the "laughably bad" territory where it unceremoniously
resides.
Obsessed seduces viewers with a strong 1080p Blu-ray transfer framed in its original
2.39:1 aspect ratio. The image sports solid depth and top-notch detail across the entire
field-of-view. Several overhead cityscape shots, for instance, showcase extraordinary detail in
faraway objects, particularly in buildings and roadways. Detail also impresses in more standard
shots, too. The transfer allows the beautiful interior of the Charles' home -- the hardwood floors
and other wooden accents in particular -- to stand out nicely. The image does take on a rather
warm appearance in such scenes, and flesh tones often follow suit by exhibiting a slightly red push.
By contrast, the office scenes take on a cold, steely gray and blue appearance, the contrast between
the two primary locations clear in thematic intent. The one downside is that, on occasion, the
image
goes a bit soft, several scenes bordering on distracting. Blacks also look deep and dark but
occasionally drown out fine details. Nevertheless, the transfer serves up a blemish-free print and a
subtle layer of grain that offers a nicely-done cinematic appearance. Thought not a particularly
great
movie, Obsessed does look rather good on Blu-ray.
Obsessed makes its intentions known via a standard but nevertheless effective Dolby
TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Obsessed is a straightforward, dialogue-driven picture with
minimal opportunity to truly test a home theater set-up. However, it does deliver what's required
of it admirably. The track features several popular songs, each offering up a crystal-clear
reproduction in both the instrumental accompaniments and the lyrics. They also feature a nice low
end that rounds out several fine listens throughout. There are a few instances where the track
delivers a rather impressive, albeit very minor, environmental atmosphere; an establishing
nighttime shot of the Charles' home is accompanied by the sound of crickets in the background, and
a few small audible details in the office scenes create a mostly realistic aural environment. The rear
speakers serve up the occasional discrete effect, perhaps most notably during the climax.
Otherwise, this one's rather straightforward; dialogue reproduction makes for the track's strong suit
and primary ingredient. Though not a track meant to sell sound systems, Obsessed's
lossless soundtrack accomplishes all that is is required of it.
Even the special features for Obsessed are highlighted by a piece on the film's climactic
scene
rather
than anything more substantive because, well, there's really nothing of substance to focus on.
Playing Nicely Together (1080p, 15:37) is a bland "making-of" piece that explores the
film's origins, the script, the themes, the performances, the lack of character motivation, and
more. Girl Fight! (1080p, 11:13) looks at the process of bring the film's climax to the big
screen. Obsessed: Dressed to Kill (1080p, 9:30) examines the elegant sets and
costumes that populate the film.
Also
included on this disc is BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) functionality and 1080p
trailers for Not Easily Broken,
Cadillac Records, The Da Vinci Code,
Lakeview Terrace,
The Pursuit of
Happyness, Stomp the Yard, First Sunday, and Seven Pounds. Disc
two of this set contains a digital copy of Obsessed that was unavailable for download and
perusal at time of writing.
Obsessed does enough to differ from Fatal Attraction to keep from being a straight
rip-off, but there's no denying the similarities. While the story here isn't a bad one,
Obsessed misses all the smaller details that would have made it a passable genre picture
and a decent companion piece to the Oscar-nominated Fatal Attraction. Also hindered by
lackadaisical acting, Obsessed seems doomed to be an ignorable picture even by those who
are consumed by cinema. Sony's Blu-ray release delivers a high quality technical presentation.
Sporting
a handsome 1080p transfer and a fine lossless soundtrack, the disc is hindered only by the lack of
extras and, well, the movie. Worth a rental for Beyoncé fans.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that it will bring the thriller 'Obsessed', starring Beyoncé Knowles ('Cadillac Records') to Blu-ray on August 4, day-and-date with the DVD. Video will be presented in 2.40:1 1080p AVC, accompanied by a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD ...
