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A view on Blu-ray by Gary W. Tooze

In the Name of the Father [Blu-ray]

 

(Jim Sheridan , 1993)

 

 

Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Universal Studios

Video: Universal Video

 

Disc:

Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 2:12:57.970

Disc Size: 38,688,521,258 bytes

Feature Size: 37,784,782,848 bytes

Video Bitrate: 30.94 Mbps

Chapters: 16

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: May 7th, 2013

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: VC-1 Video

 

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 4149 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4149 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DUB: DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit

 

Subtitles:

English (SDH), Spanish, none

 

Extras:

My Scenes

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, In the Name of the Father tells the riveting true story of one man's 15-year struggle and ultimate triumph over a terrible injustice. Academy Awards winner Daniel Day-Lewis gives an impassioned performance as Gerry Conlon, a petty thief in 1970s London, who is forced to confess to a savage terrorist bombing that he did not commit. When he and his father (Pete Postlethwaite) are both sentenced to life imprisonment as one of the 'Guildford Four', he finds a fiercely dedicated lawyer (Emma Thompson), to help prove his innocence, clear his father's name and expose the truth behind one of the most shameful legal events in recent history.

***

Academy Award-winner Daniel Day-Lewis gives an impassioned performance in this riveting drama that mirrors one man's 15 year struggle and ultimate triumph over a terrible injustice. In the Name of the Father tells the true saga of Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis), a petty thief in strife-torn '70s Belfast. After angering the IRA he is sent to England by his father (Pete Postlethwaite), where his antics land him in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

 

The Film:

The My Left Foot team of star Daniel Day-Lewis and director Jim Sheridan were reunited to make this political docudrama about Irish citizen Gerry Conlon (Day-Lewis), who was wrongly convicted of taking part in an IRA bombing that killed five in Guildford, England in 1974. After a brutal interrogation forces him to sign a false confession, Gerry is sentenced to prison, his family is raked over the coals, and later his father Giuseppe (Pete Postelthwaite) is charged with being an accomplice and is also sent to prison where he lives out the last days of his life. Day-Lewis gives an outstanding performance as a man tormented by the injustice served him. Watch for Emma Thompson as the persevering lawyer who works for years, gathering evidence to clear Gerry's name.

Excerpt from MRQE located HERE

 

In the Name of the Father is a visual treat. There are no grand vistas for the cameras to pan over, but two scenes among many illustrate the level of photographic quality. The first is the stark and chaotic presentation of the Belfast riot. The camera puts the viewer into the streets in the midst of all the confusion and strife, creating a sense of immediacy that many action pictures fall short of. The second occurs much later in the movie, and is more serene and poignant image, as the windows of Gerry's prison cry "fire tears" to match his own manifestations of grief.

Trevor Jones creates a score perfectly wedded to the atmosphere of In the Name of the Father. At times brooding and thoughtful, at others violent and dissonant, Jones' orchestrations here are as distinctive as they are unlike his grandiose Last of the Mohicans work.

For a movie that is so politically-charged, In the Name of the Father manages to sharpen its focus on the individuals rather than the bigger historical tapestry into which their lives are woven. It's impossible to lose sight of the police cover-up, or the IRA's casual views on killing, but the brilliance of Jim Sheridan's motion picture is that we come to view every event from the perspective of how it impacts on the relationship between Gerry and his father, in whose name the final struggle is fought.

Excerpt from ReelViews located HERE

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

In the Name of the Father is brought to Blu-ray from Universal using the, lesser-seen, VC-1 encode.  I can't hazard a guess as to why - I don't believe this title was released to the defunct HD disc format previously. The image quality shows some grit and minor grain. Colors (magistrates red sash) seem bright and true. Contrast is well rendered supporting detail in the rare close-ups. This is dual-layered with an upstanding bitrate and all the ducks appear to be in-line. Certain scenes are shade smoky (intentional) and there is only a hint of noise in two sequences.  This Blu-ray is in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio.  There isn't much depth but the 1080P supports the kinetic camera - notable in the opening - and overall this supplies a reasonable, but not quite stellar, presentation.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

The audio is rendered in a mighty DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround at 4149 kbps. Separations are crisp and there are some thunderous effects from bomb blasts to the prison riot. Depth is intense and we have a great original score by Trevor Jones (varied compositions include the films Dominick and Eugene, Angel Heart and Arachnophobia). It also benefits from the uncompressed rendering. This is quite a strong transfer. There are optional subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

 

Extras :

No extras excepting the disc has the 'My Scenes' bookmark capability.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Gripping film with great performances. The dual story-line involves not only Gerry's conviction, incarceration and eventual release but the relationship with his father - that was so strained by their activities decades ago when bonding should have held centre-stage. It's a brilliant script and this was the most I have ever enjoyed the film - to have on Blu-ray is fabulous and despite its bare-bones status - we fully recommend! 

Gary Tooze

April 29th, 2013

 

About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.

Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction.

Gary's Home Theatre:

60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD

Oppo Digital BDP-83 Universal Region FREE Blu-ray/SACD Player
Momitsu - BDP-899 Region FREE Blu-ray player
Marantz SA8001 Super Audio CD Player
Marantz SR7002 THX Select2 Surround Receiver
Tannoy DC6-T (fronts) + Energy (centre, rear, subwoofer) speakers (5.1)

APC AV 1.5 kVA H Type Power Conditioner 120V

Gary W. Tooze

 

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