Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Shadowlands Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Randy Miller III February 19, 2019

Though his acting career began in 1942 and included appearances in films such as The Great Escape, Leslie Norman's original Dunkirk, Richard Fleischer's original Doctor Doolittle, and Les Mayfield's not-so-original Miracle on 34th Street, the late Richard Attenborough is best known by modern audiences for his portrayal of Dr. John Hammond in Jurassic Park. He was also an accomplished director by that point: his ninth feature film Shadowlands, based on William Nicholson's made-for-TV production and stage play from the previous decade, was released six months ater Steven Spielberg's blockbuster. Though by no means Attenborough's most popular or acclaimed work -- that honor goes to 1982's Gandhi, obviously -- Shadowlands remains a compelling piece of adult drama that, without question, is long overdue for a second life more than 25 years after its original theatrical release.

Acting and cinematography are the real stars here, with a supportive story that lets our guard down before bringing on loads of pain and tragedy. Anthony Hopkins stars as C.S. "Jack" Lewis -- the well-known British theologian and author who penned, among other works, the Chronicles of Narnia series -- who has just received correspondence and a personal visit from established American poet Joy Gresham (Debra Winger). Well into his fifties, Jack has, perhaps unknowingly, surrounded himself with "yes men" and eager young students, so the arrival of sharp-tongued Joy takes him by surprise. He's charmed by her direct nature and challenging intellect, and even more so when her bright-eyed son Douglas (Joseph Mazzello) comes along for her second visit. Joy's not-so-secret revelation of a broken relationship with her alcoholic husband muddies the water: it offers an easy explanation for her trips, but doesn't sit well with most of his colleagues which, not surprisingly for the time and place, are all male. Nonetheless, Jack's obvious affection for Joy and her timid but thoughtful son force him to reexamine his career and faith which, up until now, have remained largely steadfast. Theirs isn't an immediate love connection, but things change soon enough...

...just not in the way you'd expect. During their somewhat unusual transition from mutual admirers to everything after that, Jack and Joy are blindsided by a tragic medical emergency that changes their lives dramatically. Until this point, Shadowlands is a cautious and leisurely-paced affair. From here on out, we're still drifting alongside our main characters but, on occasion, time lurches forward with a handful of well-paced shock transitions that will surely punch first-time viewers -- at least those unfamiliar with C.S. Lewis' personal life, since Shadowlands is based on true events -- right in the grief bone. Long before the credits roll, we're put through the wringer right alongside Jack, Joy, and poor Douglas...but this harrowing experience doesn't seem the least bit manipulative, thanks in no small part to those three central performances. Anthony Hopkins seems to be in familiar dramatic territory and knocks this one out of the park, while Debra Winger also turns in one of her better career showings. Edward Hardwicke also shines in a supporting role as Jack's brother Warnie, who provides a warm sense of hospitality to their mutual house guests.

But the kid gets his own paragraph, and he sure as hell deserves it. I've no doubt that Richard Attenborough must have been impressed with young Joseph Mazzello on the set of Jurassic Park, where he famously portrayed Hammond's grandson Tim. He easily carries his own weight alongside the adults; a third-act scene with Hopkins, in which they fully connect over a mutual loss, is especially moving. Those like me, who know him primarily as "that annoying kid who got fried by the electric fence", will be pleasantly surprised at his outstanding range and emotional maturity in what could have been the weak link in an otherwise strong chain. Luckily, Mazzello has also managed to avoid the perilous fate of most child actors since 1993, having appeared in recent films like The Social Network and Bohemian Rhapsody as well as a handful of acclaimed TV series such as The Pacific, Justified, and Person of Interest.

The cinematography by acclaimed director of photography Roger Pratt, discussed in more detail below, is another obvious highlight and imbues the film with a timeless, stately atmosphere. Though early sequences filmed in relatively drab, naturally lit interiors aren't exactly eye-catching by default, the pastoral English landscapes and more expansive indoor locales (churches, auditoriums, etc.) are a sight to behold; some of these more crowded scenes absolutely shine in high definition, allowing viewers to pick out small details and faces within the expansive and nicely framed compositions. Speaking of which, Universal's belated Blu-ray offers a fine A/V upgrade over the previous release, a 1999 non-anamorphic DVD from HBO, although it does not carry over any of the short but helpful bonus features from that long out-of-print disc. Instead, it's a rather bare-bones effort that, like other catalog titles in Universal's recent release output, don't even have a menu interface. Luckily, the film's the main attraction and, considering the strength of Shadowlands, it just might be enough to attract newcomers while obviously appealing to established fans.

Shadowlands Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio, this new 1080p transfer of Shadowlands is a fine representation of the source material. It's a wonderfully natural-looking film with fine cinematography by Roger Pratt, who's worked on an extremely varied collection of films including Brazil, Batman (1989), 12 Monkeys, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Chocolat. Filmed on location in and around Oxfordshire, London, and the surrounding areas, the large majority of Shadowlands looks to have been shot in natural light, both indoors and out. This is a carefully composed production with no shortage of terrific framing techniques, stylish in its own right without feeling showy or distracting in the process. Although I noticed one or two minor defects along the way including a few speckles of dirt and slight telecine wobble during a few short sequences, the majority of Shadowlands looks absolutely terrific with a healthy overall appearance and plenty of room to breathe on this dual-layered disc. Without question, this is easily the film's best appearance on home video to date and, in all likelihood, it will never look better.

Shadowlands Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the default DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (Stereo) mix makes the most of Shadowlands' simple but effective soundtrack. Dialogue is given the lion's share of attention and sounds perfectly crisp whether we're at a crowded social gathering, spacious church sanctuary, cramped interior, or more expansive outdoor setting. Weather-related events, such as the occasional rainstorm, also add to the drama without overpowering. Channel separation is minimal but most obvious during layered conversations and one of many music cues by George Fenton, whether arranged or original. While the original format of this audio mix all but limits everything to the front channels -- and let's face it, even the quietest drama often sounds more natural with a full-fledged 5.1 track -- it's probably good that a faux surround remix wasn't attempted here.

Optional subtitles, accessible via the subtitle button or pop-up menu button on your remote, are available in English SDH and placed within the image frame.

Shadowlands Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

No extras are included here, not even a trailer. As mentioned earlier, HBO's 1999 DVD included a brief behind-the-scenes documentary as well as a few cast and crew interviews, but they have not been carried over.

Shadowlands Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Featuring excellent performances, compelling drama, a deliberate pace, and great location footage, Richard Attenborough's Shadowlands is a forgotten gem that's long overdue for a second life on home video. Now past the 25-year mark, the film has aged perfectly well and, unless you're overly familiar with the life and times of C.S. Lewis, it still has the capacity to surprise a new generation of viewers. The four key performances by Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger, Edward Hardwicke, and young Joseph Mazzello absolutely carry their own weight, while the story alternates between natural drama, great little moments, and lurching twists that often feel entirely earned due to the strength of each lead and supporting actor. Universal's Blu-ray isn't exactly well-rounded with its complete lack of bonus features, although the excellent A/V presentation makes this a strong movie-only disc that fans and first-times alike should enjoy. Despite the room for improvement, Shadowlands still comes with a strong recommendation.