Becket Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Becket Blu-ray Movie Review

Another classic shines on Blu-ray courtesy of MPI.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 19, 2008

One can always come to a sensible little arrangement with God.

High drama. Friendships in peril. A schism between church and state. A country divided. A world watching. These are but some of the themes to be found in the critically-acclaimed Becket, the 1964 cinema classic starring Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia) and Richard Burton (The Longest Day). Winner of one Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, the film was also the recipient of eleven Academy Award Nominations, including two Best Actor nods for O'Toole and Burton, Best Cinematography, Color (Geoffrey Unsworth), Best Director (Peter Glenville), and Best Picture. To put the film's twelve total nominations in perspective, only ten films have garnered more: All About Eve and Titanic with 14, and Gone With the Wind, From Here to Eternity, Mary Poppins, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Forrest Gump, Shakespeare in Love, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and Chicago all boast of a baker's dozen. The film is certainly one held in high regard, and is one that proudly resides alongside some of the best the world has ever seen.

Ensuring that the new Archbishop is lice-free.

In the year 1066, William the Conquerer and the Norman army conquered the Saxons. William's great grandson, Henry II (O'Toole) continued to rule over the oppressed Saxons, supported by the might of the barons and the Norman Clergy. As the film opens, Henry's most trusted ally, the Saxon-by-birth Becket (Burton) is appointed to the position of Chancellor of England during a heated debate with the Church of England and the Archbishop over Church funding for a pending war against France. When the Archbishop perishes, Henry immediately appoints his confidant Becket to the heralded position, the deacon to immediately be ordained into the priesthood so as to legally hold the position of Archbishop. Nevertheless, Becket stands with the Church, upholding papal doctrine and religious law above that of the king. When a priest is accused of defiling a young woman and is taken into custody and executed outside of the jurisdiction of the Church, Archbishop Becket wishes to charge the man responsible, Lord Gilbert, himself a trusted ally of the King, with murder. So begins a great schism between Church and state, and more importantly, amongst friends.

Becket often takes on the look and feel of a quality stage production, no doubt thanks to the resplendent sets that always seem to blend into each scene, the classical nature of the performances, and director Peter Glenville's steady, never intrusive direction that allows the actors to play to the camera, not vice versa. In fact, Becket features plenty of long, developing shots whereby the scene is allowed to evolve and linger without sporadic cuts and edits. This allows the actors to become more in-tune with their performances, the scenes to take on a more natural flair, the story to slowly, surely, and steadily unfold before dazzled audiences.

Despite its plethora of Oscar nominations, it is the performances from Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton that make Becket a truly incredible film. Everything, from the set design to the score, seem to simply play in support of these performers. Few films may boast of two incredibly powerful and authentic performances as those on display here. The actors lend to the film a poetic feel; dialogue flows off the tongues with enormous grace, both O'Toole and Burton highly talented, classic actors at the top of their games in Becket. O'Toole captures his character most excellently, not only in speech but in mannerisms, attitude, and swagger. He is at first confident and clearly in command, never rattled nor concerned with anything but his own self-interest. As the conflict with Becket mounts, his friend turning against him and he against his friend, Henry at one point proclaims "total war" against the only "intelligent" man in his kingdom. O'Toole as Henry II sinks into a chaotic personal struggle as he attempts to reconcile a poor choice and a loss of a friend while conniving to remove Becket from power through any means at his disposal. His self-confidence abandons him, replaced by doubt and remorse. Likewise, Burton's performance as the King's most trusted ally and eventual enemy is splendid. His gradual embracing and understanding of his newfound position as Archbishop and his ever-loyal stance towards Henry makes for a fascinating character study of intrapersonal conflict, Becket becoming one of cinema's most complex and fascinating characters.

Becket Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Becket arrives on Blu-ray with an exceptionally good 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer. Once again Blu-ray does what it arguably does best, presenting classic films with incredible lifelike vitality. Colors jump off the screen, detail is rendered very well, and while the image sports the occasional speckle, it is surprisingly robust, with nice dark blacks and a quality film-like image. A scene in chapter seven depicting Henry riding victoriously into the French town is one of the finest in the film. The depth of the image is stunning and the detail on the stone facades is impeccable with every inch of the image sharp and painstakingly rendered. It's a beautiful moment in the film from a visual standpoint, and is one that best represents the quality of the transfer. While there are a few minor issues that keep the transfer from receiving a perfect score, like sudden jumps in contrast in several scenes, Becket nevertheless looks marvelous, a film that will undoubtedly play better -- and hold up visually thanks to 1080p resolution -- on even the largest of displays.

Becket Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

MPI brings Becket to Blu-ray with several audio options, notably a PCM 2.0 lossless mix and a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The lossless 2.0 mix plays better against the lossy 5.1 offering. Neither offer much in the way of aggressive directionality, both reproducing Becket's front-heavy mix well, though the lossless track earns the advantage thanks to increased clarity. The PCM lossless track is surprisingly robust and satisfying, coming off as far more engaging than even some older tracks remixed to a lossless 5.1 encode. It offers a nice sense of fulfillment, almost sounding at times as if it were utilizing more channels than it is. The film's theme that plays over the title credits is particularly engaging, easily filling the room with a most pleasing sonic experience. Several times throughout the movie a bell tolls with powerful presence, focused in the center channel but providing a deep, powerful experience. A scene in chapter eight featuring Becket's ascension to the position of Archbishop presents listeners with a nice effect as the ceremonial chants reverberate to fine effect through the soundstage, the result of the voices carrying through the cavernous chamber. Dialogue is undeniably strong throughout, both O'Toole and Burton particularly sounding fine. While Becket pales next to the latest multi-channel tracks, the PCM 2.0 mix nevertheless offers a satisfying sonic experience, the perfect compliment to an impeccably-crafted film.

Becket Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Becket offers audiences a solid supplemental package, headlined by a commentary track with actor Peter O'Toole and moderator and film critic Mark Kermode. The track begins with a discussion on the film's source material, the play, and the historical accuracy of the material depicted therein. Also discussed is the nature of the relationship between Henry and Becket, the film's sets, the performances, and more. Film buffs will appreciate this track a great deal. Epic Editor: Interview With Anne Coates (480p, 7:13) features the film's Oscar-winning editor discussing her recollections as she looks back on the Becket experience. Throughout the piece, she compares this film to Lawrence of Arabia, analyzes the performances of the actors, shares her philosophy as an editor, and recalls her favorite scenes. Tapestry of Music: Interview With Composer Laurence Rosenthal (480p, 12:33) features the film's famed composer recalling his score for Becket and the experience of penning the music for this style of film. Concluding this supplemental package is a photo gallery, a TV spot (480p, 0:28), and the film's theatrical trailer (480p, 4:48).

Becket Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Needless to say, Becket is the epitome of classic filmmaking, the entire production a work of art, the film a grand spectacle and an experience not soon forgotten. The power of the performances, the grandeur of the sets, and the thrill of the story are but several aspects that make Becket a standout film. With a plethora of Oscar Nominations, each good enough to have walked away with the trophy (particularly those for Best Actor for its pair of leading men), Becket remains one of the most storied, admired, and expertly-crafted films in Hollywood history. MPI has brought this undeniable classic to Blu-ray with excellent results. Featuring a finely-tuned picture quality, a respectable soundtrack, and a few solid extras, Becket makes a fine, perhaps mandatory, addition to any serious film library. Highly recommended.