Diane Lane is very sensible as Willie's mother, while Kevin Bacon shows great strength as a man who doesn't want to set his son up for heartbreak. The film is set in 1942, and World War II is just taking its toll on the small town. Wilson plays these scenes with honesty, showing us a fragile human being. Director Jay Russell does an admirable job of making all of this matter. There's a playfulness in the lighter scenes, while the dramatic scenes hit with such an emotional intensity you feel like putty in the director's hands.
Every detail comes through with clarity, while the colors are sharp without any bleeding or fading.
Nicely defined pallette includes flattering flesh tones and natural earth tones. Blacks are strong, while the transfer from a pristine master allows for pure whites and clean grays. Depth of field is impressive, as is attention to detail. The appeal of the film is its smaller moments, which doesn't translate into an audio workout for your system. There are some well defined surround effects, but the emphasis is on the dialogue, which is sharp and clear.