DVD Corner

Trust Blu-ray Review

Hal Hartley’s “Trust” is an indie film through and through.

The plot: Maria, a selfish high school dropout, has plans to marry her jock boyfriend and have a child with him. Her plans fall apart, however, when her father drops dead, her boyfriend dumps her (when he learns she is pregnant), and her mother kicks her out of the house. To say her life is falling apart is an understatement. Enter Matthew, a temperamental, smart, electronic repairmen. He lives with his abusive father and is generally frustrated with his life. As if it was fate, the two character’s lives happen to intersect at an abandoned house one night and from there on out the two begin to develop a friendship (and perhaps something more). Will these two lost souls find meaning in their lives?

If you’ve ever seen a Hal Hartley film, you know that he’s a true independent filmmaker. He’s about as far from Hollywood as you can get and his work is certainly not entirely accessible either. If there was someone to compare Hartley to, it would probably be David Mamet Hartley’s writing style is very Mamet esque at times in that his films have a stage like quality to them. The line deliveries, the repeated dialogue and the back and forth banter are also very reminiscent of the acclaimed writer’s works as well. With all of that said, Hartley still has a unique voice with his (mostly) human interest stories. “Trust,” which is arguably one of his best works alongside “Henry Fool,” may have its eccentricities (see the hand grenade, missing baby, and Matthew’s angry behavior for reference), but the film tackles everything from relationships and dysfunctional families to friendship and, of course, trust. They are very real world issues even if they are displayed in sometimes quirky manners.

Hartley has a tendency to use a lot of the same cast members in his films and the late Adrienne Shelly and Martin Donovan were two of the best actors to appear in his filmography thus far. Shelly, who went on to direct the highly underrated “Waitress” before her tragic passing, was just a young actress when she starred in ‘Trust,” but she brings a lot of depth to the character of Maria. Donovan (who has become one of the go-to indie actor) takes a rather odd and complicated role and makes him seem down-to-earth (at least in some points).

Video/Audio:

“Trust,” which is presented in 1.78:1 1080p, greatly benefits from the the hi-def treatment. Having previously seen the film on VHS, it’s quite evident that the colors are noticeably sharper. Also, the moody lighting that Hartley was going for is much more noticeable in 1080p as well.

The DTS-HD Mono audio track is a bit flat for my taste, but it does the job regardless. It’s not like this is the type of film that utilizes sound ala “Star Wars” or something to that effect.

The lone extra is a featurette titled “Making of Trust” which contains interviews with cast and crew. Discussions range from Shelly being ill on set, Hal Hartley, characters, etc.

Summary: Hal Hartley’s films are not for everyone, but if you’re a fan of independent cinema, check out “Trust.”

May 11, 2013 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Adrienne Shelly, Hal Hartley, Indie Films, Martin Donovan, Olive Films, Trust Blu-ray Review