6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
An ex-ballplayer returns to his hometown, during the Depression, in the hope of finding peace.
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Carroll Baker, Michael O'Keefe, Fred GwynneDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
48kHz, 16-bit
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Meryl Streep is an “inside out” actress, perhaps our greatest living proponent of the oft-derided Method, a performer who finds the essential emotional truth of a character and builds her depiction from that fundamental foundation. This is one reason why Streep so often seems to virtually disappear into her characters. Jack Nicholson, for all of his undeniable brilliance, is an actor with such an oversize persona that even his most striking performances seem suffused with some ineffable “Jack”-ness that never totally goes away. Streep’s influence may well have ameliorated that tendency on Nicholson’s part with regard to Ironweed, a pretty dour and depressing outing that nonetheless finds Meryl in typically brilliant “disappearance” mode and Nicholson not far behind in one of his most visceral and moving performances. Based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel by William Kennedy (who adapted his work for the screen), Ironweed is, despite a large and colorful supporting cast, by and large a so-called “two hander” that posits Streep and Nicholson as two of the walking wounded in the depths of the Depression in Albany, New York. We’re given a bit more of the back story of Francis Phelan (Nicholson) than that of Helen Archer (Streep), though courtesy of Streep’s ever meticulous approach one feels Archer’s history even if it isn’t as overtly detailed. The film is often quite difficult to sit through if only because the two main characters are so obviously damaged, but for those with the fortitude to persevere, there may not exactly be the redemption promised by one of the supporting characters in the film, but there is some very deep emotional content that is at the very least occasionally cathartic.
Ironweed is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. Babenco and cinematographer Lauro Escorel toe a fine line between grittiness and a kind of old school glamour throughout much of this film, with richly detailed sets and location work contrasting with the squalor and destitution of Depression era Albany. The elements used for this high definition transfer are in excellent shape overall, with very little damage to report. The overall image is on the soft side, but is accurately representative of the original theatrical exhibition. There are some minor passing issues with mosquito noise from time to time in some of the darker nighttime sequences (you'll notice it in the final climactic scene at the rail yard), but colors are nicely saturated and contrast is consistent, giving Ironweed a nicely natural and filmic appearance.
Ironweed features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track that ably supports the film's penchant for dialogue as well as some of its unusual music (Streep sings and the film also co-stars Tom Waits, who contributes a song to the soundtrack). Fidelity is very good, though stereo separation is virtually negligible. Dynamic range is also relatively limited until the final violence erupts in the film's climax.
No supplements are offered on this Blu-ray disc.
It's hard to get really enthused about a film as relentlessly dour as Ironweed. At nearly two and a half hours in length, there's simply so much trauma and tragedy to wade through in this outing that it gets to be a bit overwhelming which may in turn lead to some audience members ultimately feeling numbed by it all. For those who aren't overly concerned about story arcs and three act screenplays, Ironweed does provide showcases for Streep and Nicholson, as well as a stellar supporting cast that includes Carroll Baker, Tom Waits, Fred Gwynne (one Herman Munster for you less culturally astute folks), and a young Michael O'Keefe and Diane Venora. But this is one pretty depressing picture which leaves very little other than a feeling of hopelessness in its wake. This Blu-ray looks and sounds quite good and fans of the film should be well pleased.
Paramount Presents #47
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