7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Tells the account of Jan and Antonina Zabinski, keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, who helped save hundreds of Jews during the Nazi invasion.
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Daniel Brühl, Iddo Goldberg, Michael McElhatton, Anna RustBiography | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
History | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The steady parade of books-to-films continues with The Zookeepers Wife, Director Niki Caro's (Whale Rider) film adaptation of the historical novel of the same name written by Diane Ackerman. The film is one of technical excellence and a moving plot line, but not a plot line audiences haven't seen before and felt moved by prior. It's very good in a bubble, a little less impressive out in the field against the many like-minded films in its genre. The film satisfactorily explores one of the darkest points in human history not necessarily with a breath of fresh air but certainly with a unique perspective and against an interesting backdrop that serves as less a focal point and more a point of counterbalance to the greater narrative that's been explored with more depth, but certainly not much more raw feeling, in films like The Diary of Anne Frank, Schindler's List, and in the bit-less-serious but no less touching Life Is Beautiful.
The Zookeeper's Wife was digitally photographed. Universal's 1080p transfer is fairly representative of the format's baseline these days. The image sees many highs and a few lows, the latter largely related to the source. On the plus side, colors are impressively saturated, a hair drained by intent to reflect the period but there's plenty of punch and dazzle to be found throughout the film. Transitional qualities and nuance are excellent, too, even in lower light. Details are very strong. Faces are nicely revealing, clothes likewise, but the transfer's finest visual attributes come bay way of various iron and stone textures, both intact and in rubble after the German blitz. Skin tones are fine within the movie's mild period and warm tone, and black levels hold up nicely. On the down side, source noise is somewhat prevalent throughout. Even in brighter daytime scenes there's an occasional spike. A few soft edges are noticeable, too, but to a much lesser extent than the noise.
The Zookeeper's Wife features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that satisfies along all fronts. Music enjoys effortless front-end spacing, a gentle surround wrap, and enough low end support to give it a nice sense of weight. Casual ambience, whether animals at the zoo or falling rain, find a nice balance of natural implementation and obvious surround usage. The film's wartime segments carry the most sonic weight. Planes zoom overhead. Ordinance explodes with impressive depth and punch. Debris scatters all over the stage. Gunfire rips with impressive potency and more lifelike depth than many films are capable of delivering. Both the initial bombing run and the larger scale battle in the third act approach reference level excellence. General dialogue is clear and detailed, naturally positioned in the front-center and always well prioritized, even during the most chaotic wartime sequences.
The Zookeeper's Wife contains deleted scenes and two featurettes. A DVD copy of the film and a UV/iTunes digital copy code are included with
purchase.
The Zookeeper's Wife may not be bastion of narrative novelty, but it does maintain narrative purpose, even in a crowded film, literary, and historical field. It's well done, touching, and told from a somewhat unique point of view, even as its central purpose rings very familiar. Strong lead performances and impeccable technical credentials carry the movie far. Universal's Blu-ray release of The Zookeeper's Wife boasts solid video, excellent lossless audio, and a few supplements. Recommended.
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