BLU-RAY REVIEW: A Mighty Heart

Blu-ray Review: A Mighty Heart

Blu-ray Review: A Mighty Heart

I just finished watching the depressing Things We Lost In The Fire, how do I follow that up? With the equally depressing, overwrought drama A Mighty Heart, which Angelina Jolie was nominated for her work as the wife of Daniel Pearl an American Journalist working for The Wall Street Journal who went missing for 10 days and was eventually discovered he was killed Pakistan by Terrorist.  The film is a harrowing tale of one wife’s quest to find out the truth of what happened to her kidnapped husband. Jolie is amazing in this movie.

When I saw this, it was on the Paramount lot in one of their older screening rooms. Instead of being able to see all the subtitles in the movie I was staring at the back of someone’s head, so I came real close to walking out. Here in the comfort of my own home I can appreciate how good this movie is.  Director Michael Winterbottom crafts a story that is more than a grieving wife story, it’s a well-crafted mystery. Even though we all know how it ends, the journey to that revelation is really good. The amazing thing about Jolie is that when she does take on a part she gives herself totally to it, you never see the “star,” just the character she’s playing. When you are at her level, it’s no longer about her having that “It” factor.

Blu-ray

This is a terrible HD transfer it doesn’t even look as good as an upscale DVD. The picture is grainy and a bit fuzzy and the colors are drab and overcast.  Having crystal clear 5.1 Dolby TrueHD seems a little wasted on this. There are three language tracks English, French and Spanish (both in Dolby Digital 5.1) and Five Subtitle Tracks – 2 English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.  The menu navigation simple and straightforward nothing fancy. I do like the video background with the scenes on the home screen, very beautiful.

Features

  • A Journey of Passion: The Making of A Mighty Heart – A 30 Minute doc about the making of the film. (Standard Def)
  • Public Service Announcement for the Pearl Foundation with Christiane Amanpour (2 Min, SD)
  • Committee to Protect Journalist (8 Min, SD)
  • Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Conclusion

A Mighty Heart is an important film that should be seen, for no other reason than to watch Jolie once again show why she is “Angelina Jolie.”  But this Blu-ray version is not the format to see it in. The regular DVD would be better. This will be released March 24, 2009 for a retail price of $29.99.

Movie – A
Video – C-
Audio – B
Features – D
Menu/Navigation – A

Final Overall Grade – D

EM Review by
Michelle Alexandria
Originally posted 3.14.09