Movie Reviews

‘Mass Appeal’ Blu-Ray Review – Jack Lemmon Religious Drama Is An Exceptional, Lesser-Known Gem

By Dillon Gonzales
February 28, 2022
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Should a priest tell his congregation what they want to hear instead of the truth? Mass Appeal stars screen legend Jack Lemmon (Save the Tiger, The China Syndrome, Missing) as Father Tim Farley, a complacent priest in a wealthy suburban parish who drives a Mercedes and cracks jokes from the pulpit. When idealistic Mark Dolson (Željko Ivanek, The Sender, In Bruges), a radical seminarian, accuses him of “song and dance theology,” the result is a head-on clash that teaches each man the true meaning of faith. Outstanding performances from Lemmon, Ivanek and Charles Durning (True Confessions, The Rosary Murders) as an inflexible monsignor make Mass Appeal a humorous and compelling duel of conscience and compromise. Directed by TV and film veteran Glenn Jordan (Only When I Laugh, The Buddy System).

For thoughts on Mass Appeal, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic here.

Video Quality

Mass Appeal comes to Blu-Ray from Kino Classics and Code Red with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that appears to be derived from an older master that is in great shape. The presentation is very pleasing throughout most of the runtime with image stability and delineation being top notch. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation with only minor instances of it seeming a bit clumpy. The picture can run a bit soft in long shots, but colors are well saturated in a visually pleasing way. Instances of print damage occasionally pop up very briefly, but overall clarity and detail is excellent. Skin tones are natural with subtle facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels are pretty solid with very little in the way of crush. This presentation is excellent even without a fresh master. It is great to have this film available in high definition!

Audio Quality

This new Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that captures the aesthetic of the film well. The track avoids most instances of age related wear and tear or distortion. All music maintains a pleasing fidelity as it comes through the room. The dialogue is strong, coming through clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely from the chatter of the congregation to the sounds of nature. This is a track that represents the film in a practically perfect manner. Optional English subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Trailers: The minute-and-a-half trailer for Mass Appeal is provided here. There are also trailers provided for Story Of A Woman, One More Train To Rob, Pufntstuf, and Checkered Flag or Crash.

Final Thoughts

Mass Appeal is a really fantastic discovery for this reviewer as you have a standout performance from the great Jack Lemmon and an equally affecting performance from a young Željko Ivanek. The execution is not too flashy, but it is the type of adult drama that we rarely get these days from major studios, such as Dead Poets Society. The subject matter mostly holds up to scrutiny even with modern sensibilities, making this one that is ripe for rediscovery. Kino Classics and Code Red have released a new Blu-Ray featuring a pretty solid A/V presentation but next to nothing in the way of special features. If you are as desperate for thoughtful, grounded dramas as I am, do yourself a favor and seek this one out. Highly Recommended

Mass Appeal is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics and Code Red have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.