The Invention of Lying Blu-ray

The Invention of Lying

 (2009)

Comedy



In an alternate reality, lying -- even the concept of a lie -- does not even exist. Everyone -- from politicians to advertisers to the man and woman on the street -- speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards. In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune. But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realize that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel. With the entire world now hanging on his every word, there is only one thing Mark has not been able to lie his way into: the heart of the woman he loves.

For more details about The Invention of Lying on Blu-ray, see The Invention of Lying Blu-ray Review

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey
Directors: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson

The Invention of Lying Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


The Invention of Lying descends with an unremarkable, unexpectedly unattractive 1080p/VC-1 transfer that, despite its low-key visuals and limited depth, nevertheless appears to be fairly faithful to its exceedingly flat source. Color vibrancy is adequate and skintones remain natural throughout, but inconsistent detailing and dull contrast conceive some rather two-dimensional offspring. Likewise, blacks are well-resolved and closeups exhibit many of the qualities of a decent high definition presentation, but soupy textures and mushy grain left me wondering if DNR was rearing its ugly head. Thankfully, Warner's technical transfer is quite proficient -- artifacting, banding, aliasing, crush, unintentional noise, and other unsightly unmentionables are nowhere to be found -- and clarity is satisfying enough to warrant the above average score I'm preparing to award it. Edge enhancement is apparent throughout and several faint halos haunt a number of wide shots, but it never becomes a significant distraction. With an aesthetic reminiscent of Disney's Extract, it's difficult to tell whether Warner's presentation or Gervais and Robinson's bland photography is to blame for the film's underwhelming appearance. While I suspect the latter, I would suggest viewers prepare themselves accordingly.

The Invention of Lying Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Although The Invention of Lying's dreary Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track suffers the same fate, its original mix has little to offer listeners aside from conventional conversations, Tim Atack's nimble musical score, and a variety of unassuming sound effects. Dialogue, though subdued at times, is crisp and intelligible from beginning to end. LFE support, while restrained, manages to lend weight and presence to voices and a handful of songs that play during the film's montages. Rear speaker activity takes the biggest hit -- a packed conference room, a congested front lawn, several bustling restaurants, and a crowded church provide the soundfield with a few minor standout sequences -- but interior acoustics and ambience are fairly consistent (albeit entirely forgettable). Ah well, to the track's credit, pans are transparent, dynamics are decent, and directionality is relatively accurate. Some more power would have been nice, but the studio has done a fine job reproducing the limited source it's been handed. Fans of the film will be pleased, even if the experience isn't a distinguished one.

The Invention of Lying Blu-ray, News and Updates

• The Invention of Lying Blu-ray Gets Dated (Update) - December 3, 2009

The Invention of Lying Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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