Project-Blu Obsessed, by M. Enois Duarte

Obsessed

By: M. Enois Duarte, 8.10.2009

The Movie Itself:
Over the last few years, I've wondered when the day would come that movies would simply ignore such phrases as "remake" and "reimagining". Almost as if there were a sudden cease of imagination and creativity within Hollywood, it seemed that every other feature invading our local theater was a reworking of a movie from many years past. Even television programs were not safe from this merciless massacre to fond memories (Scooby-Doo, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Transformers 2). What happened to the one phrase which matters most: "entertainment value"?

Well, the day has finally come when Hollywood churns out dribble of the things we once thought were great and entertaining, and not even be aware of it. But try as they may and no matter how much they pretty it up or modernize it (whatever the heck that even means), your movie is still a "remake". Obsessed is the latest in a very tired trend which so blatantly borrows from other films that it gives way to more chuckles and head-shaking than it does to its serious demeanor. Bottom line: your movie is just another retelling of Fatal Attraction, mixed with the suspense of Play Misty for Me and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.

Oh, and lest we forget, add the catfight from Single White Female for the finale and we've got ourselves a movie.

There's one scene in this romance thriller that I find to be very . . . ah. How should I put it? Suggestive, indicative, maybe even meta-, of the entire movie and its production. At one point, the crazed, psychoneurotic woman Lisa (Ali Larter) gains unbelievable access to the house of the couple she terrorizes and seemingly kidnaps their infant. What's that, you say? Why yes, it is the same plot device used in Fatal Attraction, but lacking much of its plausibility. But wait, things get a whole lot better as we force ourselves to continue to watch.

Well, in that same scene, while Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles) runs mad through the house, Derek (Idris Elba) is just as hysterical and runs outside to look for their baby. Of course, they eventually find the cute little tyke, but I almost laughed as the image made me think of something else entirely. Much like their panic-attack, the movie is not only in a desperate search for a genuine plot, but everyone involved is also in a frantic pursuit for their fleeting careers. In this case, imitation is NOT the sincerest form of flattery. In fact, it just about ruins any desire to see you act in another movie, ever again.

Ultimately, producers are trying to capitalize on whatever little popularity the two female stars possess. To be perfectly honest, Beyoncé should stay away from the silver screen, unless she's a patron. Larter is quickly becoming a familiar face due to her role in the very popular TV show Heroes. But here, it's easy to imagine all that hard work go to shame once she rips open that trenchcoat for a moment of not-so-subtle indiscretion. The only reason we've invested this much time so far is in anticipation for that oh-so obvious catfight in the end.

Too bad we have to suffer through such a frustrating and irritating script that lacks any thrills or sex. Though interestingly, it comes from the same mind that recently gave us Lakeview Terrace. Everything is just a bit too convenient, as our villain seems to know much about the couple's whereabouts before they do and logic is treated like a much-avoided obstacle. In a marriage where the husband is utterly and undeniably faithful, where does the wife get off feeling betrayed or victimized by her spouse!?! And she doesn't allow her husband to hire a female receptionist. Can someone explain that oddity, because that's not character development, not by any stretch of the imagination? An emotional insecurity is what it is!

Obsessed tries to be an erotic-thriller for a new, likely younger, audience, but ends up working as a tedious, feeble-minded fake of Fatal Attraction without the bunnies. There are so few positives in this tacky imitation that even the squirming around in your chair is more of a struggle than the long-awaited predictable catfight at the climax. Watch at your risk.

I could probably draw more conclusions to other poorly-made thrillers, like Swimfan and The Temp, maybe even Bad Influence, but I don't want to insult those titles any further. Oh, and in case you didn't know, the new Cadillac that Sharon drives around in is a hybrid. You'll catch my drift if, and when, you watch this plodding melodrama.
Rating: 3/10

The Presentation:
For its home video debut, 'Obsessed' makes for a better looking movie than it does as entertainment. Arriving with a very clean AVC MPEG-4 encode and displaying a nice cinematic appearance, the 2.40:1-window exhibits plenty of visual detail, with sharply defined lines in various objects. Articles of clothing and facial complexions possess wonderful texture, while the faces of actors render natural and agreeable skin tones. The palette consists of various secondary hues that are precise and accurate, while primaries are strong and vivid. The intentional use of color filters is also apparent, as Derek's workplace is awash in a steely blue atmosphere and his home is photographed in warm sepia tones. Brightness and contrast levels are mostly spot-on, with clean whites and rich blacks, but there were a few instances of mild blooming. Shadow delineation is also equally strong, but not excellent for a fresh-minted release. This is another solid hi-def presentation from Sony.
Rating: 8.6/10

The Dolby TrueHD soundtrack offered here is a bit of puzzle, because it feels extensive but doesn't do much to show it. Although dialogue is well-prioritized and clear, a few intimate conversations are slightly difficult to make out. Fortunately, this only happens in a couple of scenes. Rear activity is generally silent, which is the biggest disappointment, seeing as how various sequences take place around busy areas. Dynamic range is cleanly delivered and sharp, with music filling the soundstage evenly and bleeding modestly into the surrounds. Things don't actually impress until the third act, where the soundfield is finally extended into the background for a minor moment of decent imaging. In the final showdown, discrete effects are clearly heard and precise, with a healthy response from the low end. Unfortunately, it's too little, too late by this point, as interest has dwindled to almost nothing. For a thriller, the mix simply doesn't impress, but I suppose it gets the job done.
Rating: 7.8/10

Overall Presentation: 8/10

** 9 - 10 = Reference / 8 = Excellent / 7 = Good /
6 = Satisfactory / 5 = Average / 4 & under = Below Average **

The Extras:
If you have the stomach to venture further, the supplemental package offers some mild entertainment. Although nothing of substantive value, the bonus features are at least presented in high definition, and the Blu-ray edition of Obsessed is BD-Live Enabled and comes with a Digital Copy of the movie.

Playing Nicely Together (16 min)
A making-of featurette that covers all the typical bases and is honestly rather boring.
Girl Fight! (11 min)
Takes a closer look at the movie's finale.
Obsessed: Dressed to Kill (10 min)
Discusses the production design and costumes, featuring interviews with cast and crew.
Trailers
Collections of previews for movie already released on Blu-ray.

Rating: 3/10

Final Thoughts:
Unless you're in the mood for a plot that's been copied several times in the last twenty years, Obsessed is not a very easy flick to sit through. From the acting to the script, everything about the movie is simply terrible and surprising it did modestly well in the box office. For its home video release, the Blu-ray debuts with an attractive picture presentation and a good audio quality, but the package of supplements is mediocre at best. As difficult as it may be to recommend this trek, I know it has its fans and they'll be happy with the disc.
Rating: 5/10