Directed by Denzel Washington and starring Michael B. Jordan with a screenplay by Virgil Williams, A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN is based on the true story of First Sergeant Charles Monroe King (Jordan), a soldier deployed to Iraq who begins to keep a journal of love and advice for his infant son. Back at home, senior New York Times editor Dana Canedy (Chanté Adams) revisits the story of her unlikely, life-altering relationship with King and his enduring devotion to her and their child. A sweeping account of a once-in-a-lifetime love, the film is a powerful reminder of the importance of family.
For thoughts on A Journal For Jordan, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic here.
Video Quality
A Journal For Jordan comes to Blu-Ray in a 1080p presentation that is quite fetching. This is a beautifully shot film with many nuanced shots where you can see an incredible amount of detail. There are numerous interior sequences featuring intricate production design which provide a nice reference to showcase the depth at play in the image. The film plays very well with the bright colors on display from the greens of the foliage to the striking hues from the costumes. This is a film with a natural color palette that is reproduced perfectly here with a pleasing radiance. The white levels are handled beautifully, along with deep blacks that do not appear to suffer from any compression artifacts. There are no obvious signs of any noise or other such digital nuisances. The skin tones look very detailed and natural all around. This presentation is definitely top-tier work.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that has quite a bit of depth and is well balanced, which is appreciated in a film that has a surprisingly complex sound design. Environmental effects play a substantial role in the film, and this track brings these elements to life quite capably. The use of the rear channels to create a fully enveloping world works quite well. The directionality is quite precise so sounds always present as natural when coming from their respective points. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by any of the other sounds. The track is most active when the music is permeating the room in a really wonderful way. Activity in the low end is not the most substantial but what is there adds texture to the proceedings. Sony has delivered a great track for the film.
Special Features
- Heart and Soul – Charles and Dana: A 12-minute featurette in which the cast and crew discuss the core love story of the film, the differences that drew them to one another, the honesty and loyalty so important to the foundation, the performers that brought them to life, their favorite on-screen moments and more.
- Family Portrait – Making The Film: An 11-minute piece which explores the reasons for wanting to tell this real-life story, the process of bringing it to the screen, the universal themes, the production design and shooting locations, and more details from the shoot.
- Words Of Wisdom – The Journal: A seven-minute featurette which delves into the process of sharing the journal with the performers and the larger significance it has for those intimately involved.
- Deleted Scenes: Seven scenes totaling seven minutes of unused material is provided here including Dana conducting an interview, Jordan having a meltdown, Charles having a nightmare and more. There are some moments worth checking out within this.
- Gag Reel: A three-minute collection of flubbed lines, ruined takes, goofing off, and more that makes for a fun time.
Final Thoughts
A Journal For Jordan is a solidly constructed drama from Denzel Washington that is elevated by the two lead performances. Michael B. Jordan has already established himself as a movie star, but Chanté Adams is the performer you will be talking about when you walk away from the film. There are certain pacing and foundational narrative choices that hold this film back from being something truly special, but it keeps you invested in this real-life story. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a strong A/V presentation and a few special features. If you are in the market for a tearjerker with some depth, you should check this one out. Recommended
A Journal For Jordan is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
