Shallow Grave Blu-ray Ewan McGregor Kerry Fox

directed by Danny Boyle
UK 1994

What's a little murder between friends ?

In my opinion this is director Danny Boyle (and writer John Hodges) at their very best. The themes run right in line with The Treasure of the Sierra Madre - but in a modern setting. Dynamic cinematography and an avante garde score mismatching the tension - proves to be a brilliant juxtaposition to the thrilling plot and chilling finale.

Three unattached roommates share a flat and are in search of a 4th. They find a seemingly good fit, but without giving away too many spoilers - his positional (and past) function create huge conflicts. The once great friends now nervously border on interactions of paranoia, suspicion and greed. It certainly could be considered a modern film noir - with basically good people transformed to behave illegally... all for money. (Fox is a great Femme Fatale in the offing).

The appeal is the divergence of the characters - brilliantly played by - Kerry Fox (the simple yet still sexy girl-next-door type), Christopher Eccleston (the straight-laced proper geeky collar and tie), and Ewan McGregor (the carefree joker). When their expected archetypal family ideal (recall McGregor calling for 'Mommy' after Fox departs) turns ugly, we sit dumbfounded and reflect later on its intense significance. One of my favorite endings, forgotten in my article HERE, this is a fabulous film that I enjoyed much more than Boyle's overrated Trainspotting or Slumdog Millionaire.

Gary W. Tooze

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Theatrical Release: February 1994 (Fantasporto Film Festival)

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DVD Comparison:

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM Home Ent (UK) - Region 2, 4 - PAL vs. 4DVD - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) MGM Home Ent (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) 4DVD - Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray - RIGHT

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	MGM Region 1 - NTSC	MGM Home Ent (UK) Region 2,4 - PAL	4DVD - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:32:21	1:28:33 (4 % PAL spedup)	1:32:19.659
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.12 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.0 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 18,630,113,648 bytes Feature: 16,433,940,480 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Video Bitrate: 20.06 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate : MGM
Bitrate: MGM Home Ent (UK)
Bitrate: MGM Home Ent (UK)
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0)	LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	French, Spanish, None	English, French, Dutch, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (2:24) • Open Matte edition on opposite side DVD Release Date: March 28th, 2000 Keep case Chapters 32	Release Information: Studio: MGM Home Ent (UK) Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (2:12) DVD Release Date: Sep 17th, 2001 Transparent Keep Case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: 4DVD (UK) f 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 18,630,113,648 bytes Feature: 16,433,940,480 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Video Bitrate: 20.06 Mbps Edition Details: • Danny Boyle commentary • Digging Your Own Grave BBC documentary directed by Kevin MacDonald (30:01) • Danny Boyle on Shallow Grave (2:01) • Ewan McGregor on Shallow Grave (7:29) Blu-ray Release Date: June 1st, 2009 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 16

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: 4DVD - Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray - June 09': Finally, a worthy edition of this film. Fleshtones are dramatically improved from pasty-orange/yellow tinge moving to the warmer end of the spectrum. Detail greatly benefits from the move to 1080P - the image is brighter and exhibits more depth. Even only being single-layered, this is a significant upgrade from the SD-DVDs and I'm thankful this is progressive - NOT an interlaced European BD/50.

Audio also jumps up a full notch and a half with a 2.0 channel linear PCM track at 2300 kpbs. As mentioned in the extras - music is a big part of this film experience and it sounds definitely tighter and crisper in HD. There are optional English subtitle but my Momitsu identifies this as being region 'B'-locked. For some, another of the building reasons to get a region free Blu-ray player.

Exclusive extras (as advertised on the box) are something to rave about with a relaxed Danny Boyle commentary explaining specifics about the production, a half hour BBC documentary directed by Kevin MacDonald entitled Digging Your Own Grave shot during the production of the film. We also get some snippets by Danny Boyle on Shallow Grave (2:01) and Ewan McGregor on Shallow Grave (7:29).

This is a great release of a wonderful film - although it took me 4 attempts to get a satisfying digital edition. The themes run 'deep' in Shallow Grave and 4DVD have done a fabulous job with the Blu-ray - a great transfer, new extras including a commentary - I certainly recommend - don't miss this film!

***

ON THE DVDs (written in 2003): My stars and garters! - I haven't had a lot of luck with this title - a film I really treasure (great to show when you have friends over!). The first copy I bought was a Canadian DVD that was only Open Matte (see one sample capture below - the roommate interview). Next I bought the US version - non-anamorphic widescreen on one side and open matte on the other. Finally I bought the anamorphic UK release - it's the best, has optional English subtitles (occasionally required for the heavy accents) but I am on-the-fence about the colors. In the NTSC edition skin tones looks altered, but in the PAL everything has a kind of yellow tinge. The 16X9 enhanced PAL edition is far superior on a decent system - much sharper. As far as framing goes the UK shows a lot more on the bottom of the frame but a little less on the top.

Unfortunately, there are no extras on either - save the same theatrical trailer. Both offer a French DUB.

I see there is a German DVD, but even I don't know if I can justify a quad-dip as it probably is the same transfer as the region coded 2,4 UK which will also sell in Australia. If you know different I'd be keen to know, but to see this film (which I STRONGLY recommend) the UK seems to be top choice.

- Gary Tooze

DVD Menus

(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. MGM Home Ent (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL RIGHT)

Extras - 4DVD - Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

Screen Captures