7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In the 17th century two Jesuit priests face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and to spread the gospel of Christianity.
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano, Ciarán HindsDrama | 100% |
History | 22% |
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
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
When a director is as accomplished as Martin Scorsese, it's hard to call a single film in his body of work his "masterpiece." Silence comes close to taking that label, even in light of the director's incredible filmography. A picture decades in the making and waiting for not just a lull in Marty's schedule but for his soul to be prepared for the work of making it, Silence explores Christian persecution in 17th century Japan. The film is a monumental achievement of not simple storytelling or messaging but rather thoughtful exploration of religion, its place in a man's heart and soul and its place in a land where its message is not welcome, at least not by those who reject its teachings for more than a simple disagreement of spiritual philosophy. The film is extraordinarily well done, captivating not for any cinematic decadence or flair but rather for its deliberate, thoughtful, finely structured depiction of the battle for a single soul amidst a raging spiritual war.
Silence was predominantly shot on film. Paramount's 1080p presentation produces a pleasing filmic veneer, revealing a light and consistent grain structure throughout. Details tend to tighten as the film movies along and becomes predominantly brighter and sharper with time. The open is rather dark, dreary, misty, gray and blue and black. A few softer focus shots and some smeary edges are evident, while even dense fabric and frayed clothing aren't super-sharp. But as the film progresses and light sources are more balanced and revealing, details become ever more firm and stout. Facial textures are abundant, woods and terrain effortlessly sharp, clothing intricate and natural, and natural environments very clear. Colors, as noted, lack much richness or vitality in the opening act, but as the film moves along bright blue ocean water, leafy greens, and other splashes of color on clothing and even blood prove nicely vivid and accurate. Black levels are attractively dark and deep. Flesh tones appear accurate. No serious source or encode flaws are readily evident. The movie looks amazing on Blu-ray.
Silence arrives on Blu-ray with a strong DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Much of the activity beyond dialogue comes in the form of atmospherics. The film opens with bountiful ambience that increases in volume, width, and intensity and suddenly gives way to a void and the movie's title. Quality environmental effects are heard in various places throughout the film; a Chinese restaurant early in the movie, for example, springs to life with lively background discussion and din. Cold, gusty winds are heard howling and blowing at a distance from inside a cave. One key scene features ocean waves intensely punishing the stage, rolling in and out with some force but with predominant front-end presence. Dialogue drives most of the film, however, and it's presented with the expected clarity, front-center positioning, and prioritization one would expect from a new release film.
Silence contains one extra. Martin Scorsese's Journey Into 'Silence' (1080p, 24:30) looks at the source book, Scorsese's direction and passion for the project, the film's history, themes, Japan at the time the story takes place, character journeys and details, performances and actor preparations for the roles, the rigors of the shoot, crew makeup and the challenges on set, shooting locations, the picture's style, and more. A UV/iTunes digital copy voucher is also included with purchase.
Silence is a monumental film, destined to stand as a stalwart in cinema history as one of the most purposeful and precisely crafted in not only Scorsese's career but in contemporary moviemaking. It's radically different from much of today's mainstream moviemaking and it defines the medium as one capable of offering the sort of intimate, soulful, meaningful experiences the greatest stories demand. The film is beautifully acted, strikingly constructed, and one of the most thoughtfully and spiritually engaging films of its time. Paramount's Blu-ray contains only one feature, but it does offer a positive overview of not just the making of the movie but its purpose and the power of the journey that was its construction. Video and audio are spectacular. Very highly recommended.
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