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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga
USA 2015

 

The nightmare of war is seen through the eyes of one of its most tragic casualties—a child soldier—in this harrowing vision of innocence lost from Cary Joji Fukunaga. Based on the acclaimed novel by Uzodinma Iweala, Beasts of No Nation unfolds in an unnamed, civil-war-torn West African country, where the young Agu (Abraham Attah, in a haunting debut performance) witnesses carnage in his village before falling captive to a band of rebel soldiers led by a ruthless commander (an explosive Idris Elba), who molds the boy into a hardened killer. Fukunaga’s relentlessly roving camera work and stunning visuals—realism so intensely visceral it borders on the surreal—immerse the viewer in a world of unimaginable horror without ever losing sight of the powerful human story at its center.

***

A drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child fighting in the civil war of an unnamed, fictional West African country. Follows the journey of Agu as he's forced to join a group of soldiers. While Agu fears his commander and many of the men around him, his fledgling childhood has been brutally shattered by the war raging through his country, and he is at first torn between conflicting revulsion and fascination. Depicts the mechanics of war and does not shy away from explicit, visceral detail, painting a complex, difficult picture of Agu as a child soldier.

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 3rd, 2015 (Venice Film Festival)

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Review: Criterion - Region 'A'/'B' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Criterion Spine #1091 - Region 'A'/'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:17:06.301         
Video

2.39:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,864,477,065 bytes

Feature: 38,972,454,912 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3800 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3800 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Criterion

 

2.39:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,864,477,065 bytes

Feature: 38,972,454,912 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

New audio commentary featuring Fukunaga
New documentary on the making of the film (1:01:41)
New conversation between Fukunaga and Franklin Leonard (21:27)
New interview with costume designer Jenny Eagan (20:09)
Trailer (2:09)


Blu-ray Release Date:
August 31st, 2021
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (August 2021): Criterion have transferred Cary Joji Fukunaga's Beasts of No Nation to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "2K digital master, approved by director Cary Joji Fukunaga". It is another NetFlix produced feature to reach Criterion (The Irishman.) It was shot on digital and has the predictably crisp image with some haziness in-motion. Overall it looks fabulous - almost exclusively outdoor lighting and beautiful colors. Detail in close-ups is very impressive and the 1080P presentation is not as vibrant as 4K levels but looked very pleasing on my system. 

NOTE: We have added 38 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English language (with some Akan.) Beasts of No Nation has aggressive sequences that come through with discrete separation and bass-responsive depth. The score is credited to Dan Romer, plus a dozen African pieces like Mwana, Owusuwaa, Analengo etc. It sounds as clean and crisp as the video transfer. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A'/'B' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray offers a new commentary, recorded in 2021, featuring Cary Joji Fukunaga and first assistant director Jon Mallard. They cover a lot of production details and how they achieved their goals (locations etc.), in expressing the story, the novel on whihc it was based by Uzodinma Iweala, It's quite informative. Included is an hour-long documentary made for Criterion in 2021 featuring director Fukunaga; author Uzodinma Iweala; producers Amy Kaufman, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, and Riva Marker; and actors Abraham Attah and Idris Elba. We also get a new 21-minute conversation with director Fukunaga discussing Beasts of No Nation, his career, his artistry, and the challenges of representation in filmmaking with film and television producer with cultural critic Franklin Leonard, founder of the influential annual screenwriting survey the Black List. Lastly, we spend 20-minutes with costume designer Jenny Eagan won a 'Costume Designers Guild Award' for her work on Beasts of No Nation. In this interview she discusses her research and designs for the film. There is a liner notes booklet in the Blu-ray package with an essay by film critic Robert Daniels.

Cary Joji Fukunaga's Beasts of No Nation is so impacting - a powerful film of tragedy, lost youth, corruption, manipulation and much more. The performances are exceptionally realistic and it can feel like a documentary as the vérité is so adeptly expressed. I was blown away. The Criterion Blu-ray is up to their exacting standards - director-approved transfer, director commentary, interviews and the hour-long documentary. This unforgettable film should be seen. Our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 


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Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Criterion Spine #1091 - Region 'A'/'B' - Blu-ray


 


 

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