8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.8 |
In Northern Ireland's Maze prison in 1981, twenty-seven-year-old Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands went on a hunger strike to protest the British government's refusal to recognize him and his fellow IRA inmates as political prisoners.
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham, Brian Milligan, Liam McMahonDrama | 100% |
Biography | 11% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Winner of the prestigious Camera d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival and the Carl Foreman Award for Most Promising Newcomer at the BAFTA Awards, Steve McQueen's "Hunger" (2008) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. Amongst the supplemental features on the disc are: an interview with Steve McQueen, which was conducted by Criterion in 2009; an interview with Michael Fassbender, which was conducted by film critic Jason Solomons in 2008; "The Provos' Last Card?" - a news program produced by the BBC series Panorama four months after the death of Bobby Sands; trailer and more. The Blu-ray disc also arrives with a 16-page illustrated booklet containing film critic Chris Darke's essay "On The Threshold". With optional English subtitles. Region-A "locked". Please be advised that the film contains disturbing footage that may not be appropriate for minors!
At Maze
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded with MPEG- AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Steve McQueen's Hunger arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
According to the booklet provided with this release, the high-definition transfer was created from the original 2-perforation 35mm negative, which was scanned on an ARRISCAN pin-registered scanner at 2K resolution, and approved by director McQueen. Unsurprisingly, Hunger looks spectacular on Blu-ray. Detail is terrific, contrast levels consistent throughout the entire film, and clarity excellent. A number of scenes from the H-Blocks look like giant impressionist paintings - they are disturbing yet incredibly beautiful (at the end of the film, right before Bobby Sands dies, the colors are simply overwhelming). Edge-enhancement and macroblocking are never a serious issue of concern. There are no stability fluctuations that I noticed either. Finally, the high-definition transfer is free of debris, scratches, flecks, etc. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
There is an interview with Steve McQueen on this Blu-ray disc in which he talks about how incredibly important the sound is in Hunger, and I wholeheartedly agree. There are sighs, terrifying cries, and casual noises in the film that are of utmost importance (the mass beating of the Irishmen was simply unbearable).
The dialog is crisp, clean and easy to follow (though I personally had the English subtitles turned on as some of the Irish accents were incredibly thick, and, frankly, I had a difficult time understanding everything that was being said). Leo Abrahams and David Holmes' outstanding music score also sounds fantastic. All in all, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is incredibly nuanced and serving the film exceptionally well.
Steve McQueen - an interview with Steve McQueen, which was conducted by Criterion in 2009. Here the director of Hunger talks about the message of his film, how it was received by the critics in the UK and Northern Ireland, the events surrounding the death of Bobby Sands, etc. Not subtitled. (18 min, 1080p).
The Making of Hunger - this program includes interviews with director Steve McQueen, actors Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham, and Brian Milligan, writer Enda Walsh, and producer Robin Gutch. Not subtitled. (14 min, 1080i).
Michael Fassbender - an interview with the actor, which was conducted by film critic Jason Solomons in 2008. Here Michael Fassbender talks about the challenging task of playing Bobby Sands, the incredible physcial transformation he underwent, the film's reception, etc. Not subtitled. (14 min, 1080i).
"The Provos' Last Card?" - this 1981 news program was produced by the BBC series Panorama four months after the death of Bobby Sands. Reporter Peter Taylor goes to Norther Ireland and the Maze prison to better understand the causes and effects of the controversial and ongoing hunger strike. Interviews are conducted with Provisional Sinn Fenn leaders Gerry Adams and Ruairi O'Bradaigh, Democratic Unionist Party leader Rev. Ian Paisley, and Social Democratic and Labour Party leader John Hume, as well as the youth and families of Northern Ireland. Not subtitled. (46 min, 1080i).
Trailer - (2 min, 1080p).
Booklet - a 16-page illustrated booklet containing Chris Darke's essay "On The Threshold" (Chris Darke is a writer and film critic based in London. His work has appeared in Film Comment,Sight & Sound, Traffic, and the Independent).
Hunger is a powerful, disturbing, beautiful, bold and impeccably acted film. It is perfect! Criterion's treatment is just as impressive - the film looks and sounds fantastic on Blu-ray. The supplemental features included on the disc are also very informative. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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