The Green Mile: Another perfect Stephen King adaptation from Darabont

The Green Mile (Drama, Fantasy)

Directed by Frank Darabont

Starring Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jeffrey DeMunn and David Morse

Warner Bros. | 1999 | 188 min | Rated R | Released Dec 01, 2009

Video:

Video codec: VC-1

Video resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 1.78:1

Audio:

English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1

English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1

Turkish: Dolby Digital 2.0

Subtitles:

English SDH, Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German SDH, Greek, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish

Disc:

Single 50GB Blu-ray Disc

The Film 5/5

If you read my Top 20 Drama articles, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Frank Darabont’s Stephen King adaptations. The Shawshank Redemption ranks second and The Green Mile is just behind in fourth.

Watching a Darabont movie is like entering another world. He takes his time with the story and the development of the characters. Don’t expect fast cuts and short scenes; each film is a work of art that is meant to be savored.

Before I talk about the film, I have to mention a funny story. Stephen King decided to write the book in a series of six installments. King was inspired by Charles Dickens, who also liked the serial novel format. I found the first installment in a supermarket and kept the receipt. A scan of it is shown opposite. See if you can spot the unusual item (five items from the top). It’s amazing what you can buy in supermarkets these days. I guess I was low on junk food that week? What a terrible diet I had back then.

The Green Mile is set in a Louisiana prison, but, unlike The Shawshank Redemption, the inmates can only interact by talking and never leave their cells to mingle. Each prisoner is condemned to death and is awaiting a meeting with Old Sparky, the electric chair.

The story is narrated by Paul Edgecomb (Dabbs Greer and Tom Hanks), the head warder, and the vast majority of the story is told through the use of flashback and is set in 1935. He explains how he met a huge black prisoner named John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan). Coffey is a simple man and seemingly gentle despite his size, but he was found guilty of murdering two little girls. His behavior doesn’t do anything to suggest that he was capable of such an act.

Coffey has a secret, but I can’t reveal it here without ruining the movie. His nature becomes apparent about an hour into the film and it changes everything.

The story revolves around Edgecomb’s role in running the prison and how he reacts when he finds out Coffey’s true nature. Prison life is fairly quiet, but Edgecomb has to deal with an annoying warder called Percy Wetmore. We are told that Wetmore has connections and so the other warders have to tolerate him or risk losing their jobs. Another thing that upsets Edgecomb’s routine is the addition of a new prisoner, 'Wild Bill' Wharton (Sam Rockwell), who likes to make as much trouble as possible.

One part of the story concerns the appearance of a mouse. The reaction of the individual warders reveals something about their own nature and it’s a brilliant plot device. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything more about the mouse without ruining the story.

The Green Mile isn’t what it seems. It begins like a hard-hitting drama, but things change as we discover more about the characters. In the end, the story is about trust and belief. It’s very powerful and some of the characters do extraordinary things. The warders, with the exception of Percy, are a close-knit group. They demonstrate the kind of trust that can only occur between close friends. The stakes are high and the story is compelling.

I’ll say no more about the plot other than that the conclusion is very satisfying.

Darabont draws strong performances from every member of the cast. Hanks is superb as usual, but the story wouldn’t work without Michael Clarke Duncan’s performance and his Oscar nomination was well deserved. I could mention at least 15 actors who played their role to perfection. Darabont was nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay and the film deserved all of the recognition it received. The mouse should have won an Oscar.

The film has a couple of disturbing scenes, such as one of the executions, but is generally a series of character studies. You’ll be sucked into the story because of what the characters do, rather than for any special effects or shocking scenes. The story has a lot of heart and will stay with you long after the credits roll. At 189-minutes, many will be wary of watching the film. Don’t let that put you off. Good films never feel too long, and this is a very good film.

Video Quality 4/5

The VC-1 transfer looks very good for the most part. Detail in close-ups is exceptional and, apart from a few soft scenes, detail is generally strong throughout. Black levels are problematic on occasion. Darabont uses plenty of dark shots using blacks, grays and browns. Sometimes, shadows obscure some of the detail. I’m very happy with the upgrade, but it could have been slightly better. Owners of the DVD will be relieved that the Blu-ray comfortably contains the entire film, so you won’t have to flip the disc over as you did with the DVD.

Audio Quality 4/5

The English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix is quiet and I found myself increasing the volume by 10 decibels over my normal level. Once that adjustment was made, everything sounded clear. It’s a dialogue-driven film, but the surrounds do play a part when required. Listen to the sound of the mouse running across the floor and you’ll hear the fine detail in the mix. One electrocution is particularly noisy and you’ll feel like it’s happening right in front of you. I couldn’t detect any imperfections in the track at all.

Special Features 5/5

The extras all appear in standard definition:

Commentary by Director Frank Darabont

Walking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mile (25:30)

Miracles and Mystery: Creating The Green Mile (1:42:54) – If the commentary and “Making Of” features weren’t enough, here’s an in-depth look at every aspect of making the film. It’s split into six parts if the running time seems daunting:

Stephen King: Storyteller

The Art of Adaptation

Acting on the Mile

Designing the Mile

The Magic of the Mile

The Tail of Mr. Jingles

Deleted Scenes (3:38) – Two scenes which didn’t make it into the film.

Michael Clarke Duncan's Screen Test (8:26)

Tom Hanks' Makeup Tests (5:30)

Trailers

The Green Mile is a film about hope, trust, friendship and the power of belief. It’s a stunning achievement and the story never feels boring despite the long running time. I give it a spin every three months or so and am always glad to visit that world once again. Anyone who enjoys good acting, master storytelling and emotional drama would probably find a lot to like in this film.

Overall score 5/5

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Trust: An important story and one of the best films of 2011 so far

Trust (Drama, Thriller)

Directed by David Schwimmer

Starring Clive Owen, Catherine Keener, Liana Liberato and Viola Davis

Millennium Media | 2010 | 106 min | Rated R | Released Jul 26, 2011

Video:

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC

Video resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Audio:

English, French: TrueHD 5.1

English, French: Dolby Digital 2.0

Subtitles:

English, French

Disc:

Single 25 GB Blu-ray Disc

The Film 4/5

Director David Schwimmer is best known for his portrayal of Ross on Friends, but Trust shows that he’s also a talented director. The film deals with rape and it’s a subject close to Schwimmer’s heart. He’s on the board of directors of the Rape Foundation for the Rape Treatment Center of Santa Monica. His passion for the subject shows in the sympathetic way he handles some potentially awkward scenes.

The story focuses on a 14-year-old girl named Annie (Liberato). She’s a typical teen on the surface, worrying about how she is perceived at school and hoping to be popular. Like most children in today’s world, she spends a lot of time on the Internet and using her phone. We are frequently shown her text messages on the screen and the replies she gets. Her closest online friend is Charlie, who claims to be two years older than her. He gives her good advice and she trusts him.

As the story progresses, Charlie reveals that he’s 20 years old; then he amends that to 25. When he shows up without warning to meet her in the mall, she can see that he’s closer to 40 than 25. Although she’s initially dismayed, Charlie manages to gain her confidence. She gets in his car and the pair end up in a hotel room. The inevitable sexual encounter follows.

When Annie tells her friend what happened, her friend feels compelled to tell the school principal the story. The police and FBI are called in and investigate the sexual assault. Annie doesn’t see it that way and thinks that she’s in love with Charlie and that he understands her. Annie’s parents, Will (Owen) and Lynn (Keener), are shocked that their daughter has been raped by a sexual predator. Will starts doing some research of his own and finds out that several sexual offenders live close to his family and he’s appalled.

The film deals with the reactions of Annie’s family and her friends at school. The situation is affecting her relationships with everyone and tearing her parents apart. Will is consumed by the knowledge and it affects his marriage, work, and his relationship with Annie. Clive Owen is at his best and shows that he has considerable range. Keener is always good and she’s also convincing.

Annie’s character is the most important role and Liberato pulls it off superbly. She shows her vulnerability and innocence, but also her determination, and she's convinced that she knows better than those trying to protect her. We see her in therapy with Gail (Davis), and the two are utterly convincing. Schwimmer has assembled a cast that is more than up to the task of handling the controversial subject matter.

I have gone into a lot of detail, but I’m leaving a lot of things out as I don’t want to reveal all of the film’s secrets.

This isn’t a typical Hollywood story where everything is wrapped up neatly. The issues are real and some characters and relationships suffer permanent damage. What matters is that this story is told. The Internet is a wonderful resource, but there will always be those who seek to use it to exploit other people. Hopefully, some parents and teens will see the film and increase their awareness of potential dangers.

When I watch Trust, I’m reminded of Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita. The two films were shot fifty years apart and the world is a very different place today, but there are similarities. An Education also deals with similar issues and was set in the same time period as Lolita, but Trust provides a timely update in a world in which technology has advanced dramatically.

Put yourself in Will’s position and think about what you would do. Trust is a gripping emotional drama with an important message. I found myself captivated by the story after a few minutes and I couldn’t look away from the screen. Fans of emotional dramas set in the real world will probably appreciate Schwimmer’s thought-provoking cautionary tale.

Video Quality 3.5/5

Trust looks a little disappointing on Blu-ray. The colors appear accurate and the image is clean and bright, but detail isn’t up to the standard expected of a modern release. Facial details are lacking and the entire image looks soft for most of the running time. It’s not exactly bad, and likely won’t be distracting, but there’s certainly room for improvement.

Audio Quality 4/5

Trust is a story that’s driven by dialogue and it comes across clearly. The English TrueHD 5.1 mix delivers a competent track that is suitable for the mood of the film.

Special Features 2/5

The additional features appear in HD.

The Story of Trust (16:44) – The cast and crew talk about the film.

Interviews with Cast and Crew (13:43) – Repeats much of what was said in the opening feature.

Behind the Scenes (3:19) – Showing a few scenes being filmed.

Trust does a lot of things well. Schwimmer makes some good choices and draws good performances from the excellent cast. The pacing feels right and the importance of the story gives the film additional weight. Liberato’s performance is well worth seeing and seems incredibly real. Fans of Clive Owen’s action roles might not enjoy this as it’s a totally different type of film. If you like emotional drama, Trust is worth your time. The Blu-ray presentation is a little disappointing, but doesn’t detract from the story.

At the time of writing, Amazon.com’s price is just $13.99.

Overall score 4/5 

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Lost Highway: Journey into the mind of a killer

Lost Highway (drama, mystery, thriller)

Directed by David Lynch

Starring Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, Balthazar Getty and Robert Loggia

Concorde Video | 1997 | 135 min | Rated FSK-16 | Released May 05, 2011

Video:

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC

Video resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Audio:

English, German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Subtitles:

German (optional)

Disc:

Single 50GB Blu-ray Disc

The Film 4.5/5

The DVD release from Universal Studios claims a 2 hour 25 minute running time, but that's actually a printing error. Both that and this Blu-ray version clock in at 2 hours 15 minutes. All of the original DVD scenes are intact.

David Lynch is my favorite director, although Quentin Tarantino isn’t far behind. Lynch appeals so much because his films create worlds with a distinct feel. He’s very precise and chooses the exact sound or image needed to complete his vision. When I watch Mulholland Dr. or Blue Velvet, my normal world ceases to exist; it’s pure escapism. For that reason, I chose to import Lost Highway from Germany. Who knows when we’ll see a North American release?

All of Lynch’s films are challenging. He rarely uses a linear plot structure and the line between what is real and what is imagined is usually blurred. Lost Highway is one of the most difficult films to interpret, but it can still be enjoyed even if you don’t fully understand everything on the screen.

The film opens with the image of a road. We’re traveling down it at night to the sound of David Bowie’s I’m Deranged. This was not a frivolous choice and is a major hint at what you can expect to follow. This is a film about madness. In fact, I believe it is a look inside the mind of a killer. Think about how difficult that is to achieve.

There are thousands of films about killers, but how many of them show the true motivation for murder? Lost Highway hints at motivation and gives an idea of how such a person might think. That’s one reason why the plot is such a mess. Insane thoughts wouldn’t always follow a logical pattern.

We see a glimpse of how Fred (Pullman) and Renee (Arquette) Madison live. He’s a musician and fears that his wife is being unfaithful. He wants to go out, but she prefers to stay home. When he calls, she doesn’t answer and his suspicion grows. The next morning, she discovers a yellow envelope outside the front door. There’s no address or note, but it contains a video showing the outside of the house. Another envelope shows up the following day and this time it shows Fred and Renee asleep in bed. The police are called in, but don’t discover anything out of the ordinary.

Fred tells the police that they don’t own a video camera. In fact, he hates them because he likes to remember things his own way rather than how they happened. That’s another clue that we can’t rely on anything shown from Fred’s viewpoint.

One of my favorite scenes happens early in the story. Fred and Renee go to a party and Fred talks to a weird looking man. The man informs him that they previously met at Fred’s house and that he’s there right now. That sounds crazy, but the man gives Fred a phone and tells him to call him at the house. The man appears to answer. He says that Fred invited him and he never goes where he’s not wanted. As it’s impossible to be in two places at once, this clearly represents something else. I think the man represents Fred’s emotions. He’s suspicious, jealous and angry.

A third tape shows Fred standing over Renee’s corpse. Remember that he hates video cameras because they show what happened? I think Lynch is saying that what happens on video is Fred’s reality and everything else is unreliable. There’s further proof of this when Fred is arrested for the murder of his wife.

All of these events occur in the first 40 minutes of the film. From that point on, things start to get really weird. If I were to analyze every scene it would ruin the film if you haven’t seen it, so I’ll stop there. All I can say is that events take a dramatic turn and initially seem impossible. But the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. 

Mulholland Dr. also deals with identity and blurred reality. The two films are similar in feel in many ways. We see actors playing dual roles and we are not always sure whether any events are real. The film works as a collection of interesting scenes, but it’s even more effective when you realize what is being portrayed. I won’t pretend to understand everything and I am not sure I am supposed to.

The choice of music perfectly matches the mood. We hear from Rammstein, Trent Reznor, Marilyn Manson, Lou Reed, This Mortal Coil, and many others. The whole thing is held together by Angelo Badalamenti’s haunting score.

The acting is very good. Pullman pulls off Fred’s nervous demeanor perfectly and Arquette is suitably mysterious. I particularly liked Robert Loggia’s performance and he oozed menace every time he was on the screen. Robert Blake as the Mystery Man sent shivers down my spine and he didn’t always seem human. As well as a cameo from Marilyn Manson, watch out for a glimpse of Henry Rollins as a prison guard.

I enjoy all of Lynch’s films. While Lost Highway doesn’t quite hit the heights of Mulholland Dr. and Blue Velvet, it’s still among my Top 25 from any genre. It won’t appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy experiencing unsettling worlds, this might work for you too.

Video Quality 4.5/5

The DVD looks soft and I wasn’t expecting Lost Highway to look very good on Blu-ray, but I was in for a surprise. Concorde Video has produced a wonderful transfer. Detail is exceptional for most of the film and I didn’t detect any print damage or dirt. There were a few very infrequent white speckles, but I’m thrilled with the look of the Blu-ray. I can’t imagine any future releases looking any better. The film is region free, but the special features are PAL. So you can watch the film in all its glory, but you won’t have an image during the special features unless you use a region B or region free player. For the record, the Blu-ray includes chapters.

Audio Quality 4.5

The Blu-ray defaults to German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 so you’ll need to use the pop up menu to change to English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. It’s a great track and displays the atmospheric scenes very well. This is a lively soundtrack, but the quieter scenes also benefit. The overall presentation is excellent. German subtitles are optional rather than forced.

Special Features 1/5

The PAL special features appear in standard definition. German subtitles are optional.

Making Of (9:28) – This isn’t a typical making of feature. We’re shown snapshots of Lynch directing a few scenes, but he doesn’t talk to the camera. You’ll see how he works, but don’t expect him to explain his decisions.

Interview with David Lynch (4:53) – Lynch talks about Pullman and Arquette and how their acting ability helped the film.

Trailer (1:46)

The region free Blu-ray version of Lost Highway from Concorde Video is well worth your money and it’s unlikely that future releases will produce anything better. It’s available from Amazon Germany, but I acquired mine from Grooves Inc. for around $17 delivered. Give them a try if you’re interested in importing the film. It won’t appeal to everyone, but hopefully my review will help you decide whether it’s for you. It’s one of the best titles I have added in 2011.

Overall 4.5/5

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My Blueberry Nights: A delicious morsel from Wong Kar-Wai

My Blueberry Nights (drama, romance)

Directed by Wong Kar-Wai

Starring Jude Law, Norah Jones, David Strathairn, Natalie Portman and Rachel Weisz

Optimum Home Entertainment | 2008 | 95 min | Rated BBFC: 12 | Released Jun 23, 2008

Video:

Video codec: VC-1

Video resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Audio:

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Subtitles:

English

Disc:

Single 50GB Blu-ray Disc

The Film 4/5

The first thing to mention is that My Blueberry Nights is not yet available on Blu-ray in North America. This review refers to the Region B UK disc.

In the opening scene, we are introduced to Jeremy (Law), who runs a diner in New York. He’s originally from Manchester, England, but seems at home in his surroundings. He knows people by what they eat. Elizabeth (Jones) is a customer who is asking whether her boyfriend has been in the diner. Jeremy confirms that he was there and had dinner with another woman. 

The two begin to talk on a regular basis. Elizabeth leaves her keys at the diner so that Jeremy can give them to her boyfriend. He listens to everything she says and is part friend, part psychiatrist and part restaurant owner. The two share a bond of sorts and he also reveals details of his own previous relationships. He keeps her keys in a jar with countless others and Elizabeth learns that he knows the story behind each set.

Jeremy also talks to her about food, explaining what sells well and what doesn’t. He offers her blueberry pie and ice cream and mentions that the blueberry pie is often untouched at the end of the day. There’s nothing wrong with it, but people just make other choices. I think Wong Kar-Wai is comparing people to food with that observation. There’s nothing wrong with Elizabeth or Jeremy, but both are alone.

The camera on the diner wall serves as Jeremy’s diary. He likes to watch the recordings at the end of the day to see what he’s missed. Wong Kar-Wai’s camera doesn’t miss anything. When Jeremy and Elizabeth are talking, we see them from afar. There’s often a counter or something in the way of the camera so that we feel like voyeurs, spying on an intimate conversation. Other notable techniques include the use of vivid colors and the blurring of motion, as well as slow motion and images which are sped up. Wong Kar-Wai uses the same techniques in other films such as Chungking Express and Fallen Angels.

Without declaring anything, it becomes obvious that Jeremy and Elizabeth care about each other. But Elizabeth seems wary of relationships after her recent experiences and decides to take some time to think about what she really wants. She works in various bars and diners and eventually winds up in Memphis. It’s there that she meets Arnie (Strathairn), who drinks in her bar. She listens to Arnie, talks about her dreams and gives him advice. I like Strathairn’s performance and consider him one of the most interesting characters in the film. Is it a coincidence that Elizabeth becomes someone who will listen to people’s problems, just as Jeremy did with her?

Elizabeth writes to Jeremy regularly, but never reveals her address or phone number. He misses her and tries randomly calling bars and diners to find her. Later, he decides to send postcards, and ends up sending hundreds.

Elizabeth rarely stays in one place for long and has a series of adventures. The most prominent one happens when she encounters Leslie (Portman), who plays poker for high stakes. Elizabeth learns more about herself as the film progresses, especially from Leslie.

Will Elizabeth and Jeremy ever meet again? I won’t reveal that here.

Norah Jones did a great job on her acting debut. The story is stylish, intimate and a little unconventional. If you like other Wong Kar-Wai films, you’ll almost certainly like this. Ry Cooder’s score is incredible and perfectly matches the mood. There are some other well-placed songs, especially the two haunting numbers from Cat Power. If you’re a fan of Cat Power, look out for a cameo appearance by Chan Marshall.

Video Quality 4.5/5

Optimum’s Blu-ray presentation looks great. The stylized color scheme is striking and the detail strong. There are no obvious problems such as dirt or print damage. The film looks clean and almost perfect. Any blurring is purely intentional and a regular occurrence in Wong Kar-Wai's films.

Audio Quality 4.5/5

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivered everything I hoped for. Although the film is primarily a dialogue-heavy story, the use of music enhances the atmosphere. Cooder’s guitar is wonderful and the other songs all come across well. You won’t have to strain to hear any of the dialogue and I couldn’t detect any faults in the mix.

Special Features 3/5

10,279 Miles Since Hong Kong: My Blueberry Nights – A good “making of” feature with cast and crew.

Cannes Press Conference – Director Wong Kar-Wai and actress Norah Jones face the Cannes media.

Character Study – A short piece featuring comments from cast and crew.

Theatrical Trailer

My Blueberry Nights will appeal to lovers of film for its interesting use of color and unusual camera angles. It’s a romance of a sort, but less conventional than most. Some of the discussions will stay with you if you’re the sort of person who analyzes what you have just seen. The Blu-ray presentation is fantastic, but you’ll need a Region B or Region Free player to view it. The Amazon UK price at the time of writing is £4.61, or £1.79 from third party sellers. Fans of Wong Kar-Wai shouldn’t hesitate. If this is your first Wong Kar-Wai film and you liked it, Chungking Express is well worth checking out. I consider it his masterpiece.

Overall score 4/5

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Children of Men: A disturbing look at a possible future

Children of Men (sci-fi, drama)

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón

Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Chiwetel Ejiofor

Universal Studios | 2006 | 110 min | Rated R | Released May 26, 2009

Video:

Video codec: VC-1

Video resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Audio:

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

French, German, Italian, Spanish: DTS 5.1

Subtitles:

English SDH, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Portuguese, Spanish

Disc:

Single 50GB Blu-ray Disc

The Film 4/5

If you have ever seen The Road, or 28 Days Later, you’ll recognize the look of Children of Men. It’s set in the future in a world that looks familiar, but it’s dirtier, grittier and less safe than the world you’re used to seeing.

The movie is set in Britain in 2027 and Theo Faron (Owen) learns through a newscast that the world’s youngest person has died at the age of 18. Doesn’t that sound odd? Have you ever heard a report that sounds anything like that? It immediately alerts us to the fact that something is wrong. We find out that all humans are infertile and no child has been produced for more than 18 years.

If people are no longer born, how long would it take for the world’s existing population to die? What would happen to those already here, knowing that they will be among the last of their species?

Theo visits his friend, Jasper (Michael Caine), who hides away in a house in the woods. Illegal immigrants are everywhere and government messages urge people to report them. Theo is abducted early in the story by Julian (Moore) who is his former lover. Movement within the country is restricted and she wants Theo to obtain transfer papers so that her group can take a young woman, Kee, to the coast and safety.

It’s a brutal existence and Theo eventually finds himself as Kee’s only hope. She’s one of the most important people on the planet, but only a small group of people know why. Theo guards her to the best of his ability and attempts to get her to safety using a contact of Jasper’s to help them. He accepts help whenever it’s offered.

Some of the street scenes would be more at home in a war movie. It seems that the military regularly clashes with civilians and every group has an agenda. It’s a crazy existence where law and order is virtually non-existent, and it would be frightening to experience. Do the people have any goals at all that don’t involve killing and stealing what they can from others? The military prefers to shoot first and ask questions later. 

It impresses me that even though the world is a chaotic place and full of danger, the plot remains coherent. The audience is never in doubt about Theo’s intentions; just his ability to succeed. The resolution won’t make everyone happy. It’s not clear what will happen in the future. This is a snapshot showing one key event in a seemingly hopeless situation. When it’s all over, we are left with hope, and that’s enough.

Video Quality 4.5/5

Although the setting is grimy, the presentation is clean and detailed. The desolate world is often presented in shades of gray, but that’s no fault of the transfer. Blacks are clearly defined and colors are accurate. Scenes shot in the forest look vivid and full of detail. I didn’t detect any noise or print damage and the overall look is very pleasing.

Audio Quality 4/5

There aren’t many scenes in which the action dominates, but the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix rises to the occasion when it has to. An early explosion is startling, while the sound of bullets zipping past in the final act is effective. The mix is a little front-heavy, but everything works and it sounds effective. There are quite a few songs included in the mix and that’s where the presentation really shines.

Special Features 3/5

The additional features all appear in standard definition:

Deleted Scenes (2:22) – Three additional scenes that add very little to the story.

The Possibility of Hope (27:16) – Philosophers talking about the future and what will happen if we pursue our present course.

Children of Men Comments by Slavoj Zizek (5:44) – Explaining the background scenes and themes in greater depth.

Under Attack (7:36) – Director Alfonso Cuarón and some of the cast and crew talk about how one of the best action scenes was shot using a single take.

Theo & Julian (4:40) – Owen and Moore talk about their characters. Julian was the reason Theo got involved and we learn how he’s considered an ordinary guy in extraordinary circumstances.

Futuristic Design (8:38) – Describing the differences between the decay of existing infrastructure and new technology such as car styles.

Visual Effects: Creating the Baby (3:06) – Deconstructing a scene to show how special effects are used.

U Control

BD-Live

Alfonso Cuarón directed arguably the best of the Harry Potter movies, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and he’s created a thought-provoking movie. One of the things that struck me is the level of detail involved in predicting the future world without children. His world is believable and I found myself nodding at some of the details. It’s a brutal place to visit, but a rewarding experience. The Blu-ray presentation is very good and fans of the movie or Clive Owen shouldn’t hesitate to pick it up.

Overall score 4/5

Click here to see where Children of Men ranks among my Top 20 science fiction movies.

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Mother and Child: Great drama - boring title.

Mother and Child (drama)

Directed by Rodrigo Garcia

Starring Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson

Sony Pictures | 2009 | 127 min | Rated R | Released Dec 14, 2010

Video:

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC

Video resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Audio:

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Subtitles:

English, English SDH

Disc:

Single 50GB Blu-ray Disc

The Film 4.5/5

In the special features, director Rodrigo Garcia describes Mother and Child as “a drama for grown-ups” and he’s exactly right. The film is aimed at people who enjoy emotional drama, and examining the connections between people. While I was watching, I found myself comparing the structure of the story to 21 Grams and Babel, only to find that the director of those films, Alejandro González Iñárritu, was listed as an executive producer.

The film follows three story arcs and ultimately brings them together.

The most interesting character is Karen (Bening) who had a baby girl when she was 14 and gave her up for adoption. We see how she cares for her own mother and puts her life on hold because of her. But on some level, she wonders what happened to her own child. She mentions in the opening minutes of the film that her daughter’s 37th birthday is coming up.

We then see Elizabeth (Watts) applying for a job as a lawyer. She mentions that she was adopted and that her mother had her when she was 14. Her potential employer, Paul (Jackson), is impressed by her honesty and credentials and she gets the job.

A third woman, Lucy (Washington), is unable to have children of her own and is desperate to adopt. We see her and her husband interviewed by a nun to see whether they are a suitable couple.

The story shows how Karen and Elizabeth have been affected by never knowing each other:

Karen devotes her life to looking after her mother and working as a geriatric nurse. She has never been married. Her maid has a little girl and Karen resents having her show up at her house. It seems that she has distanced herself from children and resents people who have children in their lives. Her own loss was an event that she has never recovered from. She’s abrupt and sometimes rude to people and ensures that she never gets close enough to men to develop any romantic feelings. Everything she does is designed to protect herself from any potential pain in the future.

Elizabeth is fiercely independent. She seduces Paul and is the dominant partner when they have sex. She’s also happy to pursue married men and makes a move on one of her neighbors. As we learn more about her, it becomes clear how she’s been affected by never knowing her mother. I won’t reveal those details because it would ruin the story. She regularly moves around from one place to another and seems unwilling to be tied down. Although she has a lot of ambitious goals, they have to be achieved on her terms. She’s not a very nice person, but maybe it’s not completely her fault.

Lucy is willing to do almost anything to become a parent. She meets a young girl who wants to audition her to decide whether she’s a suitable foster parent for the child she plans to give up for adoption. Some of the questions disturb her, but she answers them honestly. Her husband doesn’t appear to be as enthusiastic about the process, but Lucy persists.

That’s the setup. I can’t give away anything else without ruining some of the surprises. All three women experience events which change them. Karen undergoes the biggest change and grows as a person throughout the story. 

I made a point of seeing the 10 Best Picture nominations last year and enjoyed them all, but I would rank Mother and Child above five of them. The acting is strong across the board and I’m a little surprised that Bening wasn’t nominated for this role rather than for her role in The Kids Are All Right. Mother and Child wouldn’t work without her performance. We see her accepting her situation, reacting when an event changes it, and ultimately transforming herself into a different person. She shows a vast range of emotions and, although I greatly admire American Beauty, this might be her strongest performance to date.

Watts, Washington, Jackson and Jimmy Smits also turn in good performances and I believed in everything they did. Those that I haven’t mentioned were great too.

I didn’t hear a word about the film during its limited theatrical run. The marketing just didn’t exist as far as I saw. I understand the reasoning and know that the audience for an emotional drama is small and growing smaller every year, but it pains me to see films like Mother and Child ignored. Will they eventually cease to be made so that we can have more sequels? Probably so. But I’ll try to do my part and highlight those worthy of attention.

Video Quality 4.5/5

Mother and Child was shot digitally, but it doesn’t detract from the overall look. Detail is strong and I didn’t detect any flaws. There are a few releases with better picture quality, but this is right up there and you won’t have any complaints.

Audio Quality 4/5

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track does exactly what it is supposed to do. It’s a quiet story, driven by dialogue, but everything sounds clear. The ambient sounds add to the experience, but don’t expect your speakers to receive much of a workout. It’s just not that kind of movie.

Special Features 2.5/5

All of the additional content is presented in full HD.

Deleted Scenes (3:43) – Three short scenes that didn’t make it into the film.

Creating the Family Tree (13:39) – Director Rodrigo Garcia talks with some of the cast and crew and explains how the film came to be made.

Universally Connected (15:37) – An extension of the previous feature, but going into greater depth.

Trailer (2:10)

Previews

BD-Live

Mother and Child was one of the best dramas released in 2010. Anchored by a stellar performance from Bening, none of the acting disappoints. The title sounds boring and hardly anyone bothered seeing it, but fans of emotional drama shouldn’t miss this one. There are quite a few surprises and deeper connections between some of the characters that I didn't mention for fear of spoiling the film. If action is your thing, give this a miss.

Overall score 4.5/5 

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Rabbit Hole: An uplifting film about death?

Rabbit Hole (drama)

Directed by John Cameron Mitchell

Starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart and Dianne Wiest

Lionsgate Films | 2010 | 91 min | Rated PG-13 | Released Apr 19, 2011

Video:

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC

Video resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 1.78:1

Audio:

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1

Subtitles:

English, Spanish

Disc:

Single 50GB Blu-ray Disc

The Film 4.5/5

Here’s a film which made just $2.2 million at the box office, but Nicole Kidman received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Are you one of the few who bothered to go and see it? If not, is it worth checking out on Blu-ray?

The subject matter is the likely reason for the film being largely ignored. The title doesn’t give away much either. This is not another live action version of Alice in Wonderland. Rabbit Hole is about one of the worst things that could happen to parents; it deals with the loss of a child. That doesn’t sound like a fun watch, does it?

The film completely surprised me and I thought it was superbly done.

We aren’t told at the outset that Becca (Kidman) and Howie (Eckhart) have suffered a loss. The writing respects the audience and lets us observe their actions. Becca turns down a dinner invitation from a neighbor and doesn’t seem too happy when she discovers her sister is pregnant. Howie views a video of a child on his phone and we soon find out that their 4-year-old boy died eight months previously.

Becca is reminded of her loss everywhere she looks. Some of Danny’s pictures are still on the fridge; his room looks like it hasn’t been touched and she can see his fingerprints around the house. His clothes are still in the wardrobe so she decides to give them away. After removing the pictures, she informs Howie that she thinks they should sell the house as it’s another constant reminder.

We learn that Danny was run over by a car when chasing his dog into the street. The unfortunate dog is sent to live with Becca’s mother (Wiest).

Becca rejects all of Howie’s romantic advances because she presumably fears that it could result in another child that she might also lose. When she sits in the park or goes to the store, there are happy children everywhere. Imagine having to deal with that. She virtually shuts down her life so that she doesn’t have to face any situations in which she’ll be reminded of her dead son. 

The couple regularly visits a support group made up of other parents who are dealing with a similar loss. Becca can’t stand facing that and soon decides to quit. She follows a school bus one day and almost crashes while trying to keep up with it. She watches a boy get off the bus and go into his house. Who is he and why was she so intent on seeing him, but not talking to him? He has an important part to play in the story and is responsible for the film’s title, but I won’t reveal why here.

Despite the sad subject matter, there are plenty of moments of light relief. One involves Howie visiting the support group while he’s high and one of the group starts to talk about rage. I guess some things can seem hilarious when you’re in that state.

The story is about whether Becca and Howie will find a way to deal with their grief and move on with their lives. It seems as if they are always arguing about seemingly insignificant things as they take out their anger on one another. Each has ways of temporarily escaping the situation and it’s not clear whether their relationship will survive. That question is eventually answered and the whole story tackles the subject of losing one’s child in a delicate and authentic way.

I haven’t seen all of Kidman’s roles, but it’s hard to imagine her better than she is here. Eckhart also does a good job and Wiest is outstanding as Becca’s mother. We get to see the characters and their relationships develop and change by the end of the film and the resolution is somehow uplifting. It’s a shame that so few people saw it in the theater.

Video Quality 4.5/5

Due to the low budget, director John Cameron Mitchell shot Rabbit Hole digitally, but the end result looks fantastic. Detail is strong throughout and the digital image looks bright and clear. There are a few soft scenes, but there’s very little to complain about. I felt very involved with the events on the screen at all times.

Audio Quality 5/5

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track isn’t something you would choose to show off your home theater system, but it’s flawless. This is a quiet film driven by dialogue. The characters reflect on their lives and there are no loud explosions or gunshots. Ambient sounds are evident during scenes in the city and in the park and there are no problems of any kind. Dialogue was crisp and clear throughout.

Special Features 2.5/5

Anyone wanting to know more about the film will have to listen to the commentary track. There’s really not much more to indulge in if you’re a fan.

Commentary with director John Cameron Mitchell, screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire, and director of photography Frank G. DeMarco.

Deleted Scenes (3:07)

Trailer

Rabbit Hole was a complete surprise to me. I expected it to be almost too sad to watch, but it’s actually a well-balanced film. The story seems very truthful, the performances are strong and the Blu-ray presentation is excellent. If you like character-driven drama that’s heavy on dialogue, it’s definitely worth checking out. Although I haven’t revealed how things turn out, I had a sense of optimism when the credits started to roll. Don’t be put off by the strong subject matter.

Overall score 4.5/5

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Unknown: Don't expect Taken 2, but see it anyway

Unknown (drama, mystery, thriller)

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra

Starring Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger and January Jones

Warner Bros. | 2011 | 113 min | Rated PG-13 | Released Jun 21, 2011

Video:

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC

Video resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 2.40:1

Audio:

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

French, Portuguese, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles:

English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Discs:

50GB Blu-ray Disc

DVD copy (with digital copy)

The Film 4/5

Unknown’s plot is extremely simple once you know a key piece of information, but that’s not revealed until late in the movie. As a result, you’ll find yourself confused and having to guess what’s really going on. On first viewing, Unknown is full of mystery and puts the viewer in the position of the main protagonist, Martin Harris (Neeson). Like Memento, the story keeps letting us see events in a new context and their meaning changes as a result.

Harris flies into Berlin with wife Liz (Jones) for a biotechnology conference. He’s one of the speakers. While getting into a taxi at the airport, he leaves behind a briefcase containing his passport and vital documents. Does that seem like the act of a man with the supposed intelligence of Harris? He notices that it's missing when they arrive at the hotel and jumps into another taxi while his wife checks in. There’s no signal for his phone (really) so he can’t explain his actions.

The taxi is involved in an accident and plunges into a river. The driver, Gina (Kruger), pulls him out and then runs off leaving him in the hands of the medics. He wakes up in hospital and all he can remember is his name and that he’s married to Liz, who doesn’t know where he is. The doctor tells him that he’s been in a coma for four days.

Luckily, he sees a story about the conference on TV in his room and remembers that he’s supposed to be attending. It shows the hotel where he was supposed to check in. How convenient. After checking out and going to the hotel, he sees his wife at a reception. The problem is she says that she doesn’t know him. She even introduces another man as her husband, Martin Harris. The hotel security men throw him out. Are you confused yet? Is he really Martin Harris? Is everything we are seeing just some coma-induced dream? Is he crazy?

The story continues with Harris trying to prove his identity. He finds Gina and she agrees to help him. He also phones a friend in the US who he knows can confirm his identity. His memories slowly start to return and he notes everything he can remember. One piece of information tells him that he has a meeting arranged with Professor Bressler, who he communicated with by phone and email for a while. Maybe Bressler can confirm his identity? It wouldn’t explain his wife’s actions, but it would be a start.

I won’t reveal any more of the story because it would ruin the mystery, but it contains a few glaring plot holes. The exposition is also laughable at times and assumes that the audience is pretty dumb. My favorite example is: “So that’s got all your secrets in it, right?”

You might be wondering why I gave the movie such a high score if it’s full of so many plot holes and stupid dialogue. The reason is it somehow works. Neeson is such a good actor that he pulls it off. I found myself actually caring about his predicament and wanting to see him resolve it. Most of the supporting cast does a great job too and I was especially impressed with Bruno Ganz and Frank Langella.

Did you see the movie posters advertising the theatrical run? It showed Neeson holding a gun and looking ready to take on the world. In short, it was marketed as Taken 2. If you buy the movie on the strength of that image, you may be disappointed. Neeson doesn’t touch a gun at any point in the movie. There are a couple of car chases and scenes full of action, but this is nothing like Taken. Neeson does get into a couple of fights, but this is more a mystery than an action movie. Fans of Taken might like Neeson enough to enjoy this too, but be aware that the two movies are very different.

I found myself invested in the story, even though I could see that parts of it were contrived or even ludicrous. Neeson plays it dead straight and is believable in his role. Kruger did a good job as his sidekick. I’ve watched the movie twice now and will be happy to watch it again despite its flaws.

Video Quality 4.5/5

I have no complaints about the picture quality. Fine grain is present throughout and detail is always strong. I detected one slightly noisy image in a dark scene, but that’s a minor quibble. Colors look accurate and the presentation is clean and bright. You’ll be very happy when you see it.

Audio Quality 5/5

The movie starts quietly, but gradually increases in volume as the action rises. Dialogue is always clear, but the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track really starts to shine when we see the car crash. The action scenes in the final act all benefit from heavy use of the surrounds and you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the action. The audio presentation is flawless.

Special Features 1/5

There are two HD features which run for a total of nine minutes and the content of each overlaps with the other. I hoped for much more.

Liam Neeson: Known Action Hero (4:33) – Brief interviews with the cast and crew about the making of the film.

Unknown: What is Unknown (4:24) – Similar in content to the opening feature, but it’s more of an extended advertisement and appears to have been shot before the movie was released.

I’m not sure what Unknown is supposed to be. There are too many holes for it to be a serious drama or compelling mystery, but there’s not really enough action for it to fall into that genre. If you go into it with the right attitude, you’ll probably enjoy it. I had fun watching it the first time and enjoyed seeing it on Blu-ray. For fans of Neeson, it’s worth adding to your collection. For action fans, it could fail to meet expectations. The Blu-ray presentation certainly won't disappoint, but there's very little in the way of special features.

Overall score 4/5

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