6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
After her husband, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman, Urbania), is kidnapped by terrorists, Mariane (Jolie) heads a desperate search for clues in a frantic race against time to locate her missing husband. Directed by maverick filmmaker Michael Winterbottom (The Road To Guantanamo), A Mighty Heart is a gripping story of faith, hope and courage in the face of tragedy.
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Irrfan Khan, Denis O'Hare, Archie PanjabiBiography | 100% |
History | 69% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
When the body of The Wall Street Journal’s South Asia Bureau Chief, Daniel Pearl, was discovered nine days after his kidnapping in 2002, much of the western world had recently been forced into recognizing the realities of Islamic terrorism, in the wake of the events of September 11th, 2001. Mr. Pearl’s brutal murder sparked nearly universal outrage, as well as an outpouring of support for his Widow, Mariane Pearl, and the couple’s unborn child. Mrs. Pearl soon dropped out of the spotlight, only to return in 2003 with her written account of the shocking events that transpired between Mr. Pearl’s kidnapping and eventual murder. A Mighty Heart, the film version of her story, recreates these startling events through Mariane’s eyes; demonstrating for the world the horrors that she endured during those fateful nine days in 2002.
Mariane traverses Karachi
Shot on digital video with an intended look that can only be described as "gritty," A
Mighty Heart arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of an accurate 1080p, AVC Mpeg-4 transfer,
that
maintains the movie's original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. A Mighty Heart will
probably end up being somewhat of a controversial release on Blu-ray; the photography is
noisy and an extensive amount of artificial grain has been utilized. In addition, the picture is
practically monochromatic throughout the film, resulting in a nearly sepia-tone look.
Given the heavy amount of grain/noise, A Mighty Heart lacks a great deal of fine
detail. Some shots do clear up a bit, but the majority of the movie takes place in darkened
settings that amplify the already ample noise. Given the aforementioned monochromatic
quality of the picture, any judgment of color accuracy would be pointless. In spite of these
potential issues, I believe that A Mighty Heart accurately represents the intent of
the filmmakers, much like the oft maligned Blu-ray of Miami Vice, a film with a
similar visual style. A Mighty Heart just wasn't ever intended to be conventionally
pretty, a factor
that elevates this presentation considerably, earning the title an easy recommendation.
There's a lot to like about the soundtrack to A Mighty Heart; it's an effective exercise
in efficient sound design that manages to move the story along while keeping viewers'
attention firmly in the action. Presented in 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, the source material is
presented as accurately as possible, never missing a beat.
Dialogue is of primary importance in A Mighty Heart; it's delivered intelligibly from the
center channel and never dissipates into static or hard to decipher passages. Rear
surround activity appears sporadically throughout the film, adding a nice sense of ambience
to the proceedings. While A Mighty Heart isn't groundbreaking or particularly
exciting, this Blu-ray does its job admirably. Recommended.
Here's what's included:
- "A Journey of Passion: The Making of A Mighty Heart"
- "Committee to Protect Journalists"
- Public Service Announcement for the Pearl Foundation Featuring Christine
Amanpour
- Theatrical Trailer
A Mighty Heart misses the mark where supplements are concerned. Instead of
taking the opportunity to present featurettes and documentaries dealing with the life of
Daniel Pearl, his kidnapping and the impact it had on foreign correspondents, the war on
terror and the public, Paramount has, instead, chosen to include a couple of rudimentary
EPK-style
featurettes, a short public service announcement and the film's theatrical trailer. I can
appreciate the need to spread the word about the Pearl Foundation and I certainly
appreciate the trailer being presented in high definition, but there's so much more material
that could have made this a truly involving collection of extras. Unfortunately, that's not to
be. This is a seriously disappointing selection of special features.
A Mighty Heart is a painful and relentless film that chronicles Mariane Pearl's heartbreak and tenacity in the face of the kidnapping of her husband, Daniel Pearl. The film attempts to dramatize actual events, succeeding at presenting the confusion and paranoia that plagued efforts to locate the missing journalist. Paramount presents an admirable video transfer of challenging material and audio that does its job well. The film's supplementary features, however, are an almost total waste of time. Not for the squeamish, A Mighty Heart is a compelling film featuring outstanding performances and impossibly distressing circumstances. Recommended.
2007
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