Sixteen Years Of Alcohol (DVD)
APPROX. 96 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 2003 - MPA RATING: R
" In most cases, the voice-over of "16 Years" gives us information that is repeated minutes later in the actual dialogue of the scene. It's a shame as some of matched the poetic nature of the visuals.
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At a record shop, Frankie meets Helen (Laura Fraser) and of course he falls for her, attempting to change his ways. Things don't quite work out when he nearly blows his top at a snooty couple in an art gallery. Frankie almost regresses until he meets Mary (Susan Lynch) at an intervention. Haunted by his father's infidelities, it is Frankie's inability to let go of his past that will destroy his chances at a new life.
Although the film clocks in at ninety-six minutes, it feels much longer due to the methodical pacing. There are a lot of visually striking scenes with nothing really happening that fill up the time. The plot is a quite simplistic and straightforward. Neither of these qualities bothered so much as the incessant voice-over. Other than the hard-boiled narration of film noir, voice-overs are only truly effective if they are about something other than what is happening on screen. In most cases, the voice-over of "16 Years" gives us information that is repeated minutes later in the actual dialogue of the scene. It's a shame as some of the writing matched the graceful nature of the visuals.
VIDEO:
The video is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The picture is clean and the colors are sharp. No complaints.
AUDIO:
The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, and a 2.0 stereo track. The movie is very dialogue-heavy with an emphasis on its soundtrack. It all comes in crisp and clear.
EXTRAS:
The extras include a Behind-the-Scenes featurette featuring interviews with the filmmakers and actors, along with footage of the making of the movie. You'll also get a commentary track from Richard Jobson, storyboards, and trailers for other Tartan releases.
FILM VALUE:
The themes may be similar, but the packaging is different. "16 Years of Alcohol" doesn't have the visual assault at breakneck speeds of "Trainspotting" or "A Clockwork Orange." It does give you a bit more poignancy even though it sometimes beats you over the head with it.
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