7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The true story of the artist, writer and cerebral palsy sufferer Christy Brown, based on his own book. It recounts the many problems he faced growing up in his native Ireland, and charts the ways in which he developed the use of his left foot - the only limb over which he had any control - to achieve success as an artist. Oscars were won by Daniel Day-Lewis (playing the adult Brown) and Brenda Fricker (playing Brown's mother).
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Ray McAnally, Brenda Fricker, Fiona Shaw, Hugh O'ConorBiography | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In our modern technological age, it's become pat for expectant mothers to undergo genetic testing to determine if their developing babies have any abnormalities that need to be addressed. It's a double edged sword of course, for if there are issues to be addressed, that can put parents in the unenviable position of having to decide how to handle things going forward. Maybe it’s a good thing in an odd kind of way, then, that the Brown family had no inkling even for a brief moment of peace after their son Christy was born in 1932 in Ireland that the little boy was afflicted with an almost completely debilitating case of cerebral palsy. For Christy, despite his disabilities, became a soaring example of the human spirit overcoming “mere” physical obstacles. Able to only really control the extremities of his left leg and foot, Christy managed to become a best selling author and acclaimed artist. His book My Left Foot became a sensation in the early fifties and provided Brown with a cushion of financial comfort that he and his family had never known in his early years. While the film takes certain liberties with Christy’s story, it’s an amazingly visceral piece that packs an incredible emotional wallop, providing Daniel Day-Lewis with one of his most iconic roles (not to mention the first of his ever expanding shelf of Academy Awards). While occasionally a bit too pat for its own good, My Left Foot is nonetheless a thrilling tribute to a man who refused to let physical infirmity stand (no pun intended) in his way.
My Left Foot is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films and Miramax with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. Lionsgate did not detail whether this was sourced from the master utilized for the British release from a couple of years ago that my colleague Dr. Svet Atanasov reviewed, though a cursory comparison of the screenshots suggests these two releases are very similar if not identical. That said, I'm a little less pleased with the appearance of this release than Svet evidently was. While there is some fine grain apparent (very fine at times), it also appears that there has been some high frequency filtering applied to the release, something that mitigates detail, occasionally giving a waxy sheen to surfaces and making the film look gauzily soft. On the plus side, there is detail quite apparent, to the point that even the individual hairs protruding from Christy's foot can be clearly delineated, and colors, while a bit pale, are generally accurate, especially with regard to greens and blues. Flesh tones are a bit on the pink side, as can be seen in the screenshots. There are no issues with image instability. Contrast is a bit anemic at times, but never overly problematic. There are some isolated issues with a very light dusting of compression artifacts, though again they're not hugely problematic.
My Left Foot's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is surprisingly robust, offering excellent support for the sometimes raucous sounds of the Brown household and neighborhood as well as Elmer Bernstein's score. (For you musically minded, listen to one of Bernstein's chief motives, one that plays under the main menu of the Blu-ray disc. It's hilariously similar to John Williams' Indiana Jones theme, though Bernstein "dresses" the melody completely differently, making it a totally unique experience.) Fidelity is excellent and there are no problems of any kind to report.
Anyone wanting a textbook example of superb film acting need look no further than My Left Foot. Daniel Day Lewis and Brenda Fricker are both absolutely mercurial in demanding roles, and few will make it through this film without feeling like they've weathered an emotional gauntlet right along with the fortitudinous Brown family. The video here is watchable if not optimal, and the audio is fine. The supplementary material from the old DVD has been ported over and with caveats noted My Left Foot comes Highly recommended.
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