This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Join Academy Award-winners Meryl Streep and William Hurt, along with Renee Zellweger, for an unforgettable look at the pleasure, pain and ultimate joy of being a family. When crisis confronts Katherine and George Gulden, they turn to their grown daughter, Ellen, for support.An ambitious New York journalist, Ellen at first rejects the idea of returning home. But once there, Ellen embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will change her forever. Uplifting and humorous, One True Thing is filled with the power of genuine passion.
For thoughts on One True Thing, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
One True Thing was released on Blu-Ray in 2018 with a 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 that is decent enough from Universal Pictures. There is no indication that this transfer is derived from a new master, but even this older master provides a fine viewing experience. Colors are well saturated with acceptable vibrancy given that much of the film takes place during the winter. Black levels are passable in their depth, even if a few moments struggle with delineation and crush.
The transfer looks clear and somewhat detailed for the majority of the runtime with only intermittent moments exhibiting density fluctuations in the grain field. Image quality is stable with some favorable detail in the landscapes, production design and clothing. This transfer holds up with limited signs of damage or digital tinkering. The source appears to be in good shape with only slight speckling of debris that does not prove to be overly intrusive. Compression artifacts and other digital anomalies are kept to a minimum. The presentation is one that holds up fairly well given the age of the master.
Audio Quality
Universal brings us this Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that holds up well for this one. The Cliff Eidelman score ground the melancholy mood of the narrative which exhibits no signs of weakness when it comes to fidelity. Dialogue holds up well, coming through clearly without being drowned out by the music or sound effects. The environmental elements are not deployed in a showy manner, but they are delineated nicely within the speakers. There are a handful of scenes that get a bit more lively when it comes to sound design, but this is not a standout in that regard. The sounds of certain moments bring some texture to the low end. Universal has done a good job with the audio side of things. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Spotlight On Location: A nearly 11-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the resonance of the source material, translating it to the big screen, the performances and more.
Final Thoughts
One True Thing is a heart wrenching picture which does not quite make it to the level of catharsis we long to experience. Meryl Streep is expectedly great as Katherine, but (somewhat appropriately) her character gets overshadowed by her dirtbag husband who lacks a complexity to make his character compelling. Streep gets at least one spotlight scene which brings the movie to its greatest heights, but this achievement is short lived as it sinks back into its somewhat rote groove until the emotional ending. The performances are good all around, but the script does not provide the substance they need to really shine. Universal Picture Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray that sports a good enough A/V presentation and one brief supplemental feature. Recommended
One True Thing can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.