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  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.78:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
  • None
  Extras
  • Teaser trailer
Chasing Holden (Rental)
Universal/Universal . R4 . COLOR . 97 mins . M15+ . PAL

  Feature
Contract

Remember the skinny dude from Road Trip? Well, he's back in this straight to DVD (and presumably VHS) release of a somewhat disappointing movie that offered a lot, but forgot to deliver.

DJ Qualls plays Neil Lawrence, the teenage son of a sole-parent who just happens to be the Governor of New York. He is typical of those teen-with-a-wealthy-father type kids. You know the ones, where Daddy has no time for junior, so junior decides to seek a little attention because no one cares anyway, right? To complicate matters further, Neil is not long out of psychiatric care, though we are not really sure why until late in the movie. As is typical, the father finds that things such as a career are ultimately more important than his own children, and this only steels junior’s resolve.

Neil is admitted to a rather swanky school once attended by his older brother, but we are at least spared the "not as good as your older brother" scenario that has also been done to death. Neil fails to really fit in, though he does find time to fall in love with a rather odd young lady nicknamed T.J., who also appears to be a bit of a loner (ain't it always the way?).

Already obsessed by the main character of JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, Neil's first English assignment at his new school is to discuss and propose what happened to Holden after the novel. Finding the task akin to writing the next chapter of the Bible, he sets off in pursuit of Salinger himself, a recluse who has for 20 years shunned the outside world.

Dragging his girlfriend along with him (ain’t love grand?), and becoming ever more freaky, he manages to evade New York's finest law enforcement officers that have been sent by Daddy Governor to find him/them. Shortly after leaving New York, Neil and T.J. become separated, and the chain of events that follow are a little surprising, a little daft, but ultimately predictable.

The main problem with Chasing Holden is the cliched characters and the cliched dialogue. Teen angst has been done better than this, with a little more believability. The acting is fine, the cinematography and direction are good, and while there are a few slow passages, the film has just enough in it to keep an audience's attention - but only just.

It's hard to define who the intended audience might be as it is a little dark for teens, but a little too soapy and mushy for adults. It's not a bad film, but neither is it good. I guess angst-ridden, alienated teens will most likely enjoy this more than most. Oh well at least the transfer is good.

  Video
  Audio
  Extras
Contract

This is a very fine transfer with almost nothing lacking. It is presented in an anamorphically enhanced aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and will impress most viewers with its sharpness and fine definition. Colours are very natural and even, with no associated problems. Black levels are even, deep and are free of low-level noise. Skin tones are particularly impressive.

Shadow detail is very good, and as there are a number of night and indoor scenes, this is welcomed. There are but the smallest and quickest of white marks that flash up on a few occasions, but they are not distracting. Aside from that, this is a very fine and clean transfer with no evidence of grain.

There is one instance of minor shimmer, but you will need to pay close attention to notice. There are no subtitles included, and no layer change to disrupt proceedings.

There are two audio options, being the standard Dolby Digital 2.0 and a warm and enveloping Dolby Digital 5.1. The choice of 5.1 should be exercised for the accompanying orchestrated musical score is evenly played out to all 5.1 speakers. The low-level sounds are generally good and fill out the score nicely.

Virtually all dialogue is placed in the centre speaker, and is mostly clear and audible bar a few instances where background noise and American accents threaten to swamp the dialogue. There is quite a lot of background and ambient noise in the 5.1 track, and while it is mostly great, once or twice it seems a little excessive and unnecessary.

The sound range is great, with rich low-levels being complimented by clear trebles.

The 2.0 track is adequate, but not as warm or as encompassing as the 5.1. It has good separation and panning, and displays a full sound range, but it does not quite measure up to the warmth of the 5.1 track.

The only extra on offer is a pan and scam Trailer which at 1:44 minutes does what it has to do to promote the film, but is hardly impressive.

It's a tough call to recommend this film. It's not that it is bad, it just doesn't live up to its potential. It is basically a teenage mini road-film that will possibly appeal to angst-ridden teenagers, but who can predict what they like, right? The subtle mixed messages are possibly a little too subtle to have any real impact which is a shame as Chasing Holden could have been quite an enjoyable experience with some tighter direction, a few less cliches and a tad more suspense. In case you're undecided at this point, it was written by, and stars, the guy that plays Deacon in The Bold and the Beautiful. Don't ask me how I know that, I just do, alright?


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=2006
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  •   And I quote...
    "A neglected, angst-ridden teenage son and a powerful and wealthy father; a recipe for trouble? You betcha, but you probably worked that out already, huh?"
    - Terry Kemp
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Akai
    • TV:
          TEAC CT-F803 80cm Super Flat Screen
    • Receiver:
          Pioneer VSX-D409
    • Speakers:
          Wellings
    • Centre Speaker:
          Wellings
    • Surrounds:
          Wellings
    • Subwoofer:
          Sherwood SP 210W
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          standard s-video
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