Keeping Track

Rating:
Summary: Keeping Track DVD - Fun story, budget DVD
Review: The movie itself is an enjoyable thriller genre piece, with an intricate but not excessively complex plot and only a few deux ex machina coincidences. What really stands out is the interplay between the two main characters, portrayed by Michael Sarrazin and Margot Kidder. For my money, the best work done by either of them, though Sarrazin is also good in Groundstar Conspiracy (another obscure thriller).

Visuals: Shot in a naturalistic style with good handling of natural lighting, better than average composition and good shot rhythm.

Dialog: Mostly natural and witty, slipping easily between intimate, antagonistic, expository and presentation (Sarrazin plays a newsman). A few stilted instances, usually around technical or business material.

Soundtrack: A good combination of angular avant-garde for the tense sections, some atmospheric synth work for quieter sections, and whimsical melodies for some of the humor. Clear and consistent theme.

DVD Video Quality: Looks like a direct print from the videotape, with no enhancement. A few static-like specks (perhaps original video source defects) on some frames. Smooth tones handled well without banding. Video is full-frame, not letterbox. It is unknown whether this was done originally as a videotape for TV performance or whether this is a result of recording from a video master.

DVD Audio Quality: Good for normal stereo; does not react well to simulated surround (at least on the TV - I used a Sony Vega 27")

Overall: Worth the money. Suitable for family audiences.