LABOR DAY DVD (2014)

SYNOPSIS: From Academy Award nominated director Jason Reitman, Labor Day is a richly rewarding and beautifully told romance starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin as two strangers drawn together under incredible circumstances. What starts as an unforseen encounter over a long holiday weekend soon becomes a second chance love story in the unforgettable film that critics are calling satisfying and deeply touching... 

MOVIE REVIEW:

Despite coming from a Joyce Maynard novel, I wouldn’t blame you for mistaking Labor Day as a Nicholas Sparks’ adaptation. Yes it’s mushy, sweet and smells like peach pie but still remains an engaging piece of work from Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air).    

Set in 1973, a young teenage Henry (Gattlin Griffith) lives with his mom, Adele (Kate Winslet) in a tattered house after his father, Gerald (Clark Gregg) left them to start another family. Adele who suffers from a psychological condition seldom leave the house and one day during their grocery trip, an injured, escaped prisoner Frank (Josh Brolin) took them hostage and plead for a night stay at their place. But the labor day long weekend becomes a turning point for Adele and Henry. Frank and Adele fell in love with each other and the trio planned to escape the country once the holiday ends. 

The romance drama opens with a sinister music cue from composer Rolfe Kent even though there’s nothing thrilling about it. At first glance, Frank might seems liked a dangerous convict but as it turned out, he is actually quite a baker; a fantastic handyman and well excel at sports too. The ladies will definitely find Frank irresistible and this masculine bearded man sure capture the heart of Adele within a day or two.

Mostly, Reitman did deliver a simple touching tale about love and family. The pacing might be deliberate and the fatherly subplot between Henry and Gerald barely touched on. Even Henry’s pubescent love with a fellow problem classmate is more a tack on. But the essence of the drama comes from the incredible performances of Brolin and Winslet who help to convince audiences how two outsiders embrace true love once again (without the need for nudity and hot sex) in the end.

Not forgetting Eric Steelberg’s lush cinematography, the rich production design and thanks to Tobey Maguire who once again play the narrator (after The Great Gatsby) and his brief appearance as the adult Henry. Labor Day is not going to leave an acrid taste in your mouth in reality it’s a wonderful emotional journey which I personally encourages you to take up. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Commentary by Director Jason Reitman, Director of Photography Eric Steelberg and First Assistant Director/Co-Producer Jason Blumenfeld offers an interesting insight to the filmmaking process. Worth a listen.

There are six Deleted Scenes and out of them, two scenes actually stood out. The first being the motive of the J.K. Simmons character and the second, the fate of Henry’s hamster. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Visual quality on the whole is excellent. Detailing and color contrast is natural and striking. Dialogue and music play out nicely in the audio department.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee