7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
From high society to life on the streets, director Tim Robbins brings Depression-era New York City to vivid life. A time when da Vincis are given to millionaires who help fund the Mussolini war effort. And Nelson Rockefeller commissions Mexican artist Diego Rivers to paint the lobby of Rockefeller Center. A time when a young Orson Welles and a troupe of passionate actors risk everything to perform the infamous musical "The Cradle Will Rock."
Starring: Hank Azaria, Rubén Blades, Joan Cusack, Philip Baker Hall, John TurturroMusical | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
History | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Tim Robbins starred in Robert Altman’s “The Player,” with the 1992 movie managing to boost his career critically and creatively. In 1999, Robbins attempted to repay the favor by making “Cradle Will Rock,” an ambitious picture about politics, passion, and the arts that’s clearly influenced by Altman’s oeuvre, with Robbins trying to pull off a sophisticated cinematic braid that ties performance, music, and storytelling reach together. It’s a messy film, taking a very long time to go nowhere specific, but the ride is what matters most to the helmer, who delivers an intelligent, intermittently charged journey into America during the 1930s, investigating the churn of class and political divide while creating an evocative look at the shining light of the theater scene in New York City as it’s attacked by government forces trying to stifle radical thought.
The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation appears to be sourced from an older Disney scan, with brightness a bit excessive at times, finding hot light sources and certain room environments slightly blasting out some frame details. Colors are also cranked to a certain degree, finding a few stretches of blazing reds, while skintones run very hot at times. Primaries are mostly appealing, enjoying period fashion and the world of art, keeping paintings pronounced. Textures struggle with clothing and facial surfaces (some baked-in filtering is present), as do theater and commercial spaces and their decorative highlights. Delineation solidifies at times. Source is in fine shape, without elements of damage.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA track attacks a complicated sound mix, which goes the Altman route with overlapping dialogue and loose performances. Everything remains open for inspection, handling thespian quirk and volume levels, which capture a range of romantic whispering to the thunderous projection of stage acting. No distorted extremes are detected. Scoring needs are met with sharp instrumentation and position, supporting the period mood with band performances. Atmospherics are provided without concern, capturing the feel of street and theater movement, and office activity is also noted.
"Cradle Will Rock" has something to say about the power and necessity of art, matching the development of the musical to the human spirit itself. It's obviously politically minded too, playing to Robbins's interest in the balance of power in work and life. However, it's a long road to get anywhere in the picture, with many scenes carrying on for far too long, and the general crowding of the film feels suffocating at times, making the viewing experience feel intermittently like work instead of enlightenment. Robbins goes very big for "Cradle Will Rock," trying to achieve a universal sense of unrest and duty during a turbulent time in American history, and period details are secure, creating a lived-in effort. Dramatically, he bites off a little more than he can chew, unable to trim the feature down to a more manageable size. For better or worse, he follows Altman's lead right into the editing room as well.
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