Fish Tank: Criterion Collection – Blu-ray Review

The Film:

Not to take anything away from the events in Nikkie Reed’s life as seen in the semi-biopic Thirteen, but Fish Tank is the anti-Thirteen in almost every aspect, a truer look at loneliness at the teenage years. Thirteen had this feeling of safety, no matter the mistakes, drugs, or sex the lead character did. Despite that film’s roots in low budget film making, it still felt Hollywood. Don’t worry, the kids will be alright. Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank is harrowing. It’s minimalistic in its style and storytelling, and this combination creates a sad look at teenage angst and misguided sexual exploration.

Arnold never lets it sway into pity or sentimentality. The listlessness of the film’s events ring true because of that. Fish Tank follows a young 15-year old girl named Mia (Katie Jarvis) through her crappy home life, as her mom is too concerned with not caring about her, the lack of friends, and her rage based on these. It’s nothing new, yet it’s incredibly earnest in the approach, making us feel like it’s fresh. We get no real exposition. We see life through Mia’s eyes only, and most of the time, we are left to decide on why someone acts like they do. In that regard, maybe viewers have to be patient.

The heart of the film is Mia’s relationship with her mom’s sort of boyfriend (Michael Fassbender). Mia is clearly a rebellious kid, only looking for a connection, as her mom lacks the basic maternal levels she should have. So when one day, when this boyfriend breaks everyone from the norm, and they go to a lake to mess around, Mia is warm to the connection she has always lacked. It’s alien to her at first, but throughout scenes of her visiting him at work, something she never does her mom, or when he actually cares about something she is interested in, these scenes show her vulnerability and innocence. Katie Jarvis who plays Mia, is startling. She’s a non-actor, just plucked right off of the street, yet gives such real and uncompromising performance, everything in Thirteen feels like a Lifetime Channel Movie-of-the-Week.

Because most of the film’s viewers have survived passed adolescence, we can feel for Mia. The film is real, raw, and uncompromising, especially with certain developments in the third act. At times, due to the lack of a streamlined narrative, the film does feel a tad too long and the meandering attitude of Mia, doesn’t help, but it’s a minor quibble for such a look at a girl screaming to be heard. The title says it all, as does the film’s aspect ratio of 1.33:1. To adults, we can say it’s not that bad growing up, because, well, we survived it. Fish Tank shows how naive we are to say that.

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Video: Criterion is up to their usual high standards. The fullframe video is crystal clear, with high levels of clarity, details, and color. Frankly, it looks better here in HD than it did theatrically. The DTS track isn’t one of great action, naturally. But it gives the mix a nice balance, especially musically.

Interviews with Kierston Wareing for 15 minutes; an audio recording from a QnA with Michael Fassbender for about 20 minutes, both of which cover motivations, on-set working, and other useful and informative tidbits.

Three short films in Milk, Dog, and Wasp from director Andrea Arnold which follows the themes explored more thoroughly in Fish Tank. Good stuff, worth seeing. Trailers, Audition footage, and a slew of Stills round out the extras.

Plus, don’t forget about Criterion’s great Essay Booklet that features some companion pieces to the film.

The Film: Rating:

The Blu-ray: Rating:

Jon Peters

I love film. That is all.

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