Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Miracle at St. Anna Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown May 31, 2014

With Disney's two-volume, four-movie Spike Lee Joint Collection, three additional films from the prolific director make their Blu-ray debut. Both sets are something of a mixed bag, albeit for different reasons. Vol. 1 features masterfully written and performed, low-key character study 25th Hour (2002) and the mismatched but compelling He Got Game (1998), each of which showcase a distinct side of Lee's talents and vision. Easily the most tempting of the collection, Vol. 1 may be an odd pairing, but it's one that represents the filmmaker at an interesting intersect in his career; before the likes of Oldboy (2013) -- an abysmal remake in every conceivable way -- left viewers questioning whether Lee still, erm, got game. Vol. 2 is the trickier collection, with excellent but oft-overlooked period piece Summer of Sam (1999) dragged down by misguided war drama Miracle at St. Anna (2008), a late career misfire first released in high definition in 2009 (the only film previously available on BD). Completests will no doubt want to acquire Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, while other longtime Lee fans will lament the fact that the films haven't been granted individual releases (particularly for those who already own Miracle and are only looking to pick up Summer). Thankfully, notable AV presentations and newly recorded audio commentaries will help ensure almost everyone get's their money's worth.

This untold story of courage and brotherhood in World War II is based on the celebrated novel by James McBride. Stationed in Italy, four members of the U.S. Army's all-black, 92nd Infantry Division, the Buffalo Soldiers, are trapped behind enemy lines after one of them risks his life to save a traumatized young boy. The film stars Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Omar Benson Miller.

In his 2009 review, Martin Liebman writes: "Inside Miracle at St. Anna is a great movie, a classic even, yearning to be loosed and remembered with the greats of the war genre, if not as one of the better films of any genre. Unfortunately, the movie feels incomplete and unpolished, awaiting those final touches that turn it from ordinary to extraordinary. Much like the Primavera statue that serves as the focal point of the film, Miracle at St. Anna is a thing of beauty in its own right, worthy of praise and affection, but it is absent the remainder of the finished product, lost to unforetold tragedy and leaving its viewers with only a glimpse as to what may have been. Director Spike Lee tells a tale worth being told. Unfortunately, the project meanders all over the map, at times playing as a straight war picture, at others as a commentary on the racial makeup of the era, and at still others as a sort of religious experience that discusses ideas such as fate and perseverance in the most difficult of circumstances. Each and every one is a noble effort. Lee simply tries to cram in too much, which bogs down the film and whatever primary theme he was aiming for, and the entire experience suffers as a result."

Miracle at St. Anna Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Miracle at St. Anna was originally released on Blu-ray in 2009 and it holds up well. Of its 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer, reviewer Martin Liebman writes: "The film features two distinct looks -- those that take place in the United States (regardless of time) and those that take place in 1944 Italy. Those stateside shots sparkle in high definition. They feature first-class clarity, detail, and color reproduction; no shot may look quite as vibrant as the most colorful of Blu-ray discs, but it offers a quality lifelike look that sports a natural, perhaps slightly subdued, appearance. Most of the film takes place in 1944 Italy, and such scenes present viewers with a gritty, washed out, dull, and very grainy image. Detail remains impeccable for the look the film presents during these wartime sequences. The finest details on the uniforms stand out, from the rank patches on the sleeves to the ridges and wear on the hand grenades attached to their shirts. Even the netting on the helmets stands out with excellent texture. Again, the transfer doesn't equate to high definition eye candy; instead, and more importantly, it represents, and faithfully recreates, the intended look of the film brilliantly. In both cases, flesh tones appear spot-on and black levels are impeccable. No matter the scene, Miracle at St. Anna looks fantastic."

Miracle at St. Anna Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Martin Liebman continues his AV assessment of Miracle at St. Anna, turning to its DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack: "As expected, the highlight of the soundtrack comes during the action sequences. Bass thumps with each explosion and gunfire crackles from every direction. Artillery shells scream around the soundstage, and listeners will be able to feel both the ground rattle under the power of the high velocity projectiles and rumblings of the subsequent explosions. The score swells nicely around the soundstage, and atmospherics -- the rolling water, the breeze, and gunfire and explosions in the distance that pop sporadically in every direction -- fill the soundstage with these sounds with vigor and accuracy. Nevertheless, much of the film is dialogue-driven, and in that regard the track is also first-class. Dialogue is crisp and intelligible, coming across even better than most discs. Whether the way it was recorded or simply a new high in soundtrack presentation, the recorded spoken word has rarely sounded as natural as it does here. Also, the track enjoys a nice bit of atmosphere during the middle sections of the film. Much of it plays out through the front, but the results are consistently impressive. Like the video quality, this lossless DTS soundtrack impresses no matter the situation."

Miracle at St. Anna Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary: An excitable Spike Lee and passionate author/screenwriter James McBride detail the early stages of the project, McBride's motivation to investigate and write about the 92nd Division, various aspects of the history brought to the screen, casting and the performances, and a dissection of the story, themes and characters. Sadly, for all the information and production tidbits it offers, those who don't already enjoy Miracle at St. Anna will find Lee and McBride's commentary to be quite frustrating, as it rarely addresses any of the problematic aspects of the script or Lee's questionable filmmaking choices. The movie the duo describe is more involving and fascinating than what made it to screen, and the gap between what they envisioned and the end result is either ignored or missed entirely. Still, it's worth a listen, if only to gain further appreciation for what Lee was able to accomplish in spite the film's glaring flaws.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes (HD, 21 minutes): Nine scenes are available, including "Co-Workers," "Joe Louis!," "Extended Bar Scene," "Extended General Almond," "Extended Lodovico's House," "Extended Eichholz," "Stamps Plans," "Fabiola" and "Dead Villager Montage."
• The Buffalo Soldier Experience (HD, 22 minutes): Lee, McBride and numerous veterans and historians discuss the history of the Buffalo soldiers, the origin of the name and its use through WWI and WWII, the 92nd Division, racial divides of the WWII era (particularly public reaction to the 92nd Division), and the history and events surrounding the drama depicted in Miracle at St. Anna.
• Deeds Not Words (HD, 17 minutes): An overview of the development of the film and more on the history of the period and the 92nd Division, as told by Lee, McBride and a captivating roundtable of WWII veterans.

Miracle at St. Anna Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If nothing else, Miracle at St. Anna boasts excellent video, stirring audio and a solid selection of special features, including a newly recorded audio commentary. Alas, the film itself is a difficult-to-digest, hit or miss war drama that's so unfocused at times that Lee seems positively indecisive. The real gem of The Spike Lee Joint Collection: Vol. 2 is the oft-overlooked Summer of Sam, which is worth the price of admission alone. But who knows? You might find an appreciation for Miracle at St. Anna that runs deeper than its flaws. It never hurts to try.