| Life just isn't fair, especially
for Jennifer Love Hewitt. The naysayers have it out for her, and
that is just the way it is. At first nothing but that "cute
little girl" from TV's Party Of Five, no one seemed
to notice her much and the critics left her alone. But soon the
typhoon of talent that is Jennifer would actually have the nerve
(as if!) to try and break out of the TV ensemble ghetto she had
been imprisoned in, and that is when the trouble started. Just like
Carrie White, they all began to laugh at her."Who does this
no-talent little TV tart think she is, trying to have a movie career?
She'll fall flat on her face and that will be that!" But all
I have to say to that is he who laughs first, laughs last!
Because
- take that critics! - Jennifer sure has shown you over the last
few years! After her astonishing motion picture debut in House
Arrest, she would then go on to star in the modest, low-budget
slasher sleeper I Know What You Did Last Summer. Jennifer's ample
talents helped scare up over $70 million in box office receipts,
and meanwhile "Party Of Five" continued to move up in
the ratings. Then came her sensitive, insightful performance (cast
against type, no less) as the teen beauty queen in Can't Hardly
wait. It seemed after just a few short years, Jennifer was set
to own Hollywood. Hewitt + box office = POWER!
But just when her star was threatening to burn too bright, she
fooled the critics with a carefully orchestrated move of monumental
brilliance. Before she could get too popular and therefore force
a backlash, she starred in the little-seen indie The Suburbans
and the failed sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Perfect
- she played it smart and hibernated for a brief period, then
formed her own production company and began to plot her greatest
triumph yet: The Audrey Hepburn Story.
You see, I'm here to tell you that you must not underestimate
the power of Jennifer Love Hewitt. Who other starlet would dare
to not only cast herself as one of the most beloved actresses
of our time, but at the tender age of 23 produce it all on her
own? Would Mary Kate & Ashley be able to pull off The Helen
Keller Story? Could Tina Yothers stage a triumphant comeback
in Katherine Hepburn: My Life As A Monument? I think NOT!
Who else but Jennifer could portray a Hollywood icon and earn
rave reviews from TV Guide? "Poised, graceful, elegant!"
they gushed. If TV Guide loved her, how can she be denied? Is
TV Guide ever wrong!?!?
But,
I'm sure there are still naysayers out there that just don't get
it. For that, I feel sorry for you. There's a reason Jennifer
is the only Party Of Five alum to get her own series, and
it is because she is a SCREEN GODDESS! Mark my words, Time
Of Your Life is not the last we have heard of Ms. Hewitt.
Perhaps you're wondering why I haven't bothered to talk about
The Audrey Hepburn Story, its plot, acting or direction, and that's
because I'm here to tell you that it doesn't matter. Jennifer
Love Hewitt is in it, what else do you need to know!?
Video: How Does The Disc Look?
Although The Audrey Hepburn Story was a made-for-TV movie, TV
is changing and as such this was filmed with a high-definition
aspect ratio in mind. The DVD contains the film in a 1.78:1 anamorphic
widescreen presentation. The only flaw I could find in the image
is its occasional softer than normal appearance, which can at
times haze out fine detail. This does, every so now and then,
benefit the film as it is itself a period film with high gloss,
soft filtered aspirations. Aside from that, everything is beautiful.
Colors are vibrant with excellent stability that never succumbs
to any obvious compression artifacting. Blacks are also deep and
pure with low lighting detail that steps up to the challenge more
than capably. Jennifer has never looked so beautiful!
Audio: How Does the Disc Sound?
I actually really enjoyed the English 2.0 surround track. While
it is definitely limited in its scope, I found the soundtrack
to sound rich and full when creatively engaged. Stereo effects
were surprisingly more frequent than I was expecting with decent
directionality and capable fidelity. Surrounds are also put to
subtle, but effective use with the music score and other occasional
effects. Dialog is stable in the center channel with excellent
intelligibility and without a hint of distortion. This isn't a
flashy soundtrack by any means, but it more than accomplishes
its task. Sometimes it's nice to get back to basics with a good
old-fashioned matrix surround soundtrack.
There are no alternate language tracks provided, but subtitling
is available in English, French and Spanish. There are also English
Closed Captions.
Supplements:
What Goodies Are There?
A trailer section houses a TV promo for The Audrey Hepburn Story
along with theatrical trailers for the additional "Love"ly titles
Can't Hardly Wait and The Suburbans. A talent files selection
is also included which wouldn't seem so ridiculous if it had more
than just Jennifer Love Hewitt in it. Why not simply include a
selection on the main special features page that says "Jennifer
Love Hewitt" instead of this extra step that has to be taken?
Parting Thoughts
While this disc features a good anamorphic widescreen transfer
and decent enough soundtrack, since it stars Jennifer Love Hewitt
it doesn't matter what you think about the movie anyway. YOU MUST
GIVE IN TO THE POWER OF JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT AND BUY THIS DISC
NOW!
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