THE FOUNDER (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD)
Release Date: April 18, 2016
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Video: 2.39:1 1080p Widescreen
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
THE RATINGS
The Movie Itself - ★ ★ ★ ★ ✰
Video Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
Audio Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
Special Features - ★ ★ ½ ✰ ✰
Overall - ★ ★ ★ ★ ✰
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THE FILM ITSELF Our Reviewer's Take
Reviewed by Gavin King
The Founder is all about how one man found another's brilliant idea and took it - using persistence - to new realms via franchising, bigger ideas, etc. That being said, the film's title, The Founder, may be a tad disconcerting. Ray Kroc didn't really "found" McDonald's - he scouted out the ideas of Mac and Dick McDonald and, technically speaking, made it into what it is today. The film does a great job of showcasing that expanding a business like this doesn't come easy. Add in the always reliable performance of Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc, and The Founder is probably the best movie about McDonald's out there - which is actually kind of saying something.
The year is 1954. Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) is trying to sell his milkshake machine to restaurants all across the city. He uses his skilled tactics - persistence being the most prominent - but restaurants continue to scoff his invention. He tries and tries, but still no dough. One day, Kroc comes across a restaurant that goes by the name of McDonald's. A big line forms, and for good reason. Orders come out in seconds in a rapid-fire fashion, and their hamburgers are pretty tasty. And Kroc couldn't agree more. A fascinated Kroc meets Mac (John Carroll Lynch) and Dick McDonald (Nick Offerman), the duo behind the swift fast-food joint. He learns the brothers' story and immeditately wants to expand McDonald's beyond what it already is. He has tons of ideas, from franchising to exterior designs, anything that can make McDonald's even better. But expanding the restaurant doesn't come easy, Kroc learns, as Mac and Dick grunt at the fact that Kroc could be stealing the trademark from them without remorse.
The Founder thrives on a lead performance by Michael Keaton. He's expectedly wonderful in his main role as Ray Kroc, a salesman who discovers a great burger joint he wants to expand. He brings a lot of vigor to the role but also doesn't shy away from Kroc's persistence and more strict tactics. Keaton finds that perfect balance between appreciably stout yet somewhat mildly stern. Supporting roles shine, too. John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman are terrific as Mac and Dick McDonald, the two brothers who started the McDonald's legacy itself as it's known today across the country. Laura Dern shouldn't be overlooked as Kroc's wife, Ethel, either.
As expected, The Founder does a remarkable job of telling the true McDonald's story, beginning-to-end. The film can get very mildly slow in parts where the McDonald's roots of the tale aren't mentioned but there's no mistaking that the film plays extraordinarily well with telling a briskly-paced story of how McDonald's turned from a simple locally-owned burger joint to quite possibly the most iconic fast food chain in America. Director John Lee Hancock (Saving Mr. Banks) impressively narrows all of the true story's points together into film form, accurately and faithfully. He also does a great job in exuding the raw details of the story together and not making anything too safe. The story behind The Founder isn't a particularly pretty or emotionally gutting one, but that's what makes the film so enjoyable; it knows its audience and what it's in for, one of the film's easily best aspects.
There are a number of great little touches found throughout in The Founder that make it a largely pleasant viewing experience. When Ray Kroc first pulls into the parking lot of the McDonald's location, the sign on the top of the building is nicely faithful to how McDonald's used to be; simple, yet lively. 15 cent hamburgers being advertised. The iconic mascot. McDonald's logos pasted onto bags and cups. There are tons of little accents dazzled across the film that make for a beautifully nostalgic experience that literally portends faith to the orignial McDonald's designs. It's another excellent positive for a great movie.
The life of a milkshake salesman.
The year is 1954. Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) is trying to sell his milkshake machine to restaurants all across the city. He uses his skilled tactics - persistence being the most prominent - but restaurants continue to scoff his invention. He tries and tries, but still no dough. One day, Kroc comes across a restaurant that goes by the name of McDonald's. A big line forms, and for good reason. Orders come out in seconds in a rapid-fire fashion, and their hamburgers are pretty tasty. And Kroc couldn't agree more. A fascinated Kroc meets Mac (John Carroll Lynch) and Dick McDonald (Nick Offerman), the duo behind the swift fast-food joint. He learns the brothers' story and immeditately wants to expand McDonald's beyond what it already is. He has tons of ideas, from franchising to exterior designs, anything that can make McDonald's even better. But expanding the restaurant doesn't come easy, Kroc learns, as Mac and Dick grunt at the fact that Kroc could be stealing the trademark from them without remorse.
The Founder thrives on a lead performance by Michael Keaton. He's expectedly wonderful in his main role as Ray Kroc, a salesman who discovers a great burger joint he wants to expand. He brings a lot of vigor to the role but also doesn't shy away from Kroc's persistence and more strict tactics. Keaton finds that perfect balance between appreciably stout yet somewhat mildly stern. Supporting roles shine, too. John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman are terrific as Mac and Dick McDonald, the two brothers who started the McDonald's legacy itself as it's known today across the country. Laura Dern shouldn't be overlooked as Kroc's wife, Ethel, either.
Mac and Dick McDonald.
As expected, The Founder does a remarkable job of telling the true McDonald's story, beginning-to-end. The film can get very mildly slow in parts where the McDonald's roots of the tale aren't mentioned but there's no mistaking that the film plays extraordinarily well with telling a briskly-paced story of how McDonald's turned from a simple locally-owned burger joint to quite possibly the most iconic fast food chain in America. Director John Lee Hancock (Saving Mr. Banks) impressively narrows all of the true story's points together into film form, accurately and faithfully. He also does a great job in exuding the raw details of the story together and not making anything too safe. The story behind The Founder isn't a particularly pretty or emotionally gutting one, but that's what makes the film so enjoyable; it knows its audience and what it's in for, one of the film's easily best aspects.
There are a number of great little touches found throughout in The Founder that make it a largely pleasant viewing experience. When Ray Kroc first pulls into the parking lot of the McDonald's location, the sign on the top of the building is nicely faithful to how McDonald's used to be; simple, yet lively. 15 cent hamburgers being advertised. The iconic mascot. McDonald's logos pasted onto bags and cups. There are tons of little accents dazzled across the film that make for a beautifully nostalgic experience that literally portends faith to the orignial McDonald's designs. It's another excellent positive for a great movie.
THE FOUNDER Blu-ray - Video Quality
The Founder sizzles onto Blu-ray with a top-shelf and generally proficient 1080p transfer from Anchor Bay. The film was shot digitally, so expect great details here all around, from the typical facial features, clothing definitions, sizzling beef patties, and concrete roads, which all present with high-definition ease through the Blu-ray. Colors are likewise well-defined, too, never gaudy though never too pale as well, with a natural, lifelike pallette all across the board. Kroc's sea green car, green trees, and, of course, the ever-so-dominant yellow courtesy of McDonald's are a few of the pleasantly performed colors on display here. The most vibrant effect color-wise is when Ray Kroc stands in front of a neon-lit McDonald's location near the 29-minute mark. The yellow that shines from the lighting is fantastic and extremely well-saturated. Black levels are beautifully deep in nighttime scenes, although a handful of shots end up slightly murky, with faces being particularly affected. Luckily, it's a very infrequent issue, and banding and other digitally-associated anomalies are absent on display. This is a terrific video presentation from demanding material.
THE FOUNDER Blu-ray - Audio Quality
The Founder's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is rich and satisfying. Music plays very well here, with a surprising amount of surround accompaniment that makes notes sounding appreciably airy and sometimes even weighty. Whether Carter Burwell's light and fun score or oldie-but-goodie pieces like Norman Greenbaum's Spirit in the Sky, there's effortless spacial attention the tunes in a consistent manner. Ambience is nicely developed, too, bringing life to restaurant exteriors, busy McDonald's kitchens (you can legitamitely hear sizzling burgers and deep fryers from left to right if you remove the center dialog channel), and nighttime crickets. Dynamics are smooth like butter, supporting passing cars, people walking from side to side, and others. Dialogue is the film's chief factor, though, and it's presented with sharp clarity and slick prioritization when the environment demands. This is a great lossless track from Anchor Bay.
THE FOUNDER Blu-ray - Special Features
- Behind The Scenes Gallery is composed of several featurettes behind the making of The Founder. The featurettes include the following:
The Story Behind the Story includes interviews with cast and crew as they chat up the true story behind McDonald's.
Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc is, as the title suggests, a piece on the actor and his performance as the titular character.
The McDonald Brothers is a piece that looks further on the story behind the real brothers of McDonald's, as well as the cast who plays them.
The Production Design, my favorite piece of the five, takes a look at the design of the film's locations, and its faithfulness to the original intended McDonald's designs.
Building McDonald's: Time Lapse Video is a cool, quick little clip that shows the building of McDonald's for the movie itself in a rapid-fire time lapse.
- Press Conference with Filmmakers and Cast Taking place in Los Angeles, the film's cast and crew talk up the film.
- Behind The Scenes Gallery is composed of several featurettes behind the making of The Founder. The featurettes include the following:
The Story Behind the Story includes interviews with cast and crew as they chat up the true story behind McDonald's.
Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc is, as the title suggests, a piece on the actor and his performance as the titular character.
The McDonald Brothers is a piece that looks further on the story behind the real brothers of McDonald's, as well as the cast who plays them.
The Production Design, my favorite piece of the five, takes a look at the design of the film's locations, and its faithfulness to the original intended McDonald's designs.
Building McDonald's: Time Lapse Video is a cool, quick little clip that shows the building of McDonald's for the movie itself in a rapid-fire time lapse.
- Press Conference with Filmmakers and Cast Taking place in Los Angeles, the film's cast and crew talk up the film.
THE FOUNDER Blu-ray - Overall Recommendation
The Founder is an all-around great movie. It may not be an instant classic, but the film is hugely enjoyable thanks to its excellent cast led by the always-dependable Michael Keaton and sharp, witty direction by strong director John Lee Hancock. The film is neatly-written, briskly-paced, well-shot, and baseline sastisfying - those coming for a documentary-like take on characters like Ronald McDonald and Grimace and looks on the Happy Meal are probably going to be disappointed, but that's not what the film is about. Rather, it takes an endlessly intriguing drama behind the history of McDonald's and its crew, its missteps, its joys - and it all makes for a nicely entertaining film at the end of the day. Anchor Bay delivers an all-around good Blu-ray release, with sharp video, refined audio, and an interesting handful of supplements. Highly recommended.
Extra screenshots will be added later. Thank you!
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