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| Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona
Ryder, Geraldine Chaplin, Stuart Wilson, Mary Beth Hurt, Miriam Margolyes |
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Anamorphic
widescreen |
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Dolby Digital
5.1 |
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DTS |
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Trailer(s) |
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Featurette(s) |
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Documentary |
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Audio commentary
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Deleted scenes
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Concept art
/ storyboards |
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Multi-angle
feature |
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Newland
(Daniel Day-Lewis): You gave me my first glimpse of a real life.
Then you asked me to go on with the false one. No one can endure that.
Ellen (Michelle Pfeiffer): I'm enduring it.
An
upper-class socialite in late-nineteenth-century New York sees the rules
of his life and society upset when he unexpectedly falls in love with
an unconventional woman.
 Martin
Scorsese may never have seemed the obvious choice for directing this
fairly stuffy Edith Wharton novel, all suppressed emotion and ornate
ceremonial routine. But he is to admired not only for his willingness
to stretch his range, but also for the visual flair he brings this film
and the performances he elicits from his excellent cast. To him, this
was clearly an opportunity to pay homage to his filmmaking idols Powell
and Pressburger, whose influence can be seen throughout in the many
remarkable stylistic touches he employs to focus on minute details that
otherwise may have gone unnoticed. Techniques such as the irising in
on parts of the screen, or having characters proclaim the contents of
the letters they write straight to the camera may be seen as bold attempts
to unshackle the cuffs of realism that have given the period films the
unappealing reputation they currently hold.
But in spite of these flourishes and the finely judged, consistent use
of primary colors to convey emotion, The Age of Innocence is
not quite an unqualified success. Whether it was due to a lack of confidence
on Scorsese's part, or a fundamental problem in the screenplay, the
thrust of the narrative is for some reason carried by distracting voice-over
narration that continuously over-emphasizes points already obvious from
on-screen events. It's the intrusion of this verbose, sometimes informative
and even witty but mostly plain annoying voice that mars this film from
accomplishing the classic status it nearly reaches. |
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Recently
released for Region 2, with an identical release announced for Region
1 with a November 6, 2001 street date.
The
anamorphic widescreen image is framed at an aspect ratio of approx.
2.35:1. The richly textured cinematography with its precise use of bright
colors and subtle shadings, has been gorgeously rendered in a formidable
transfer. Minor damage in the form of occasional black and white specks
is sometimes evident on the source print, but overall this is a very
solid presentation.
The soundtrack is impressively rendered in a full-blooded Dolby Digital
5.1 sound mix that makes full use of split surround effects and rear
channel activity to bring to life the movie's impressive soundscape.
This
release is sadly without any extras apart from the ubiquitous theatrical
trailer (along with a few other 'cross-promotional' trailers for
Columbia Tristar DVD releases) and some fairly minimal cast and crew
filmographies. The
main menu screen is preceded by an animated montage that presents the
stars, whose portraits ultimately are combined in the main menu, which
also incorporates animated scenes from the film.
Dan
Hassler-Forest
Reviewed: 2001
Click
here for IMDB info on The
Age of Innocence.
Click here
to return to the front page.
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