DVD Review: Gorgeous ‘Bright Star’ Only Available in Standard Form

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CHICAGO – One of the most beautiful films of 2009 is only available in standard definition DVD with barely a special feature and a mediocre technical transfer. There are few recent releases that aggravate me as much as that of the great “Bright Star,” a spectacular film given unbelievably shoddy treatment by its studio.

DVD Rating: 4.0/5.0

Not only has Apparition totally fumbled the Oscar campaign for a film that should be nominated in several categories (Actress, Director, Screenplay, Cosutume, Art Direction, and Picture) and will likely end up with none, but now they’ve taken a beautiful movie that ended up on dozens of top ten lists and denied it a Blu-ray release.

Bright Star was released on DVD on January 26th, 2010.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video

Why? Some have pointed to the cost of Blu-ray, but you can never convince me that “The Damned United” and “Black Dynamite” - just two upcoming “small” Sony films getting HD releases - have even as wide an audience as “Bright Star”. Definitely not wider. No, this seems persona; perhaps related to the fact that it’s not a Sony film but an Apparition one being released by Sony’s DVD branch. Whatever the reason, it’s shameful that Sony is releasing junk like “Universal Soldier: Regeneration” on Blu-ray next week but “Bright Star” is stuck in “old-ray”.

Bright Star was released on DVD on January 26th, 2010. Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video

Now that I got that off my chest, you still need to see “Bright Star”. My choice for the sixth best film of 2009 is a wonderful ode to the power of love to inspire the creative process. Working from her own spectacular screenplay, Jane Campion directs one of the most emotionally powerful and simply beautiful films of the last several years. Abbie Cornish delivers one of the best performances of 2009 as Fanny Brawne, the inspiration for the legendary poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw).

Brawne and Keats were an unlikely couple as the former needed to find a man who could support her and Keats was a dead-broke poet, living his life on the couch of a wealthy friend (Paul Schneider) and trying to write. Fanny was discouraged from seeing John but their love fueled some of the best poetry in the history of the written word.

The world of “Bright Star” is so completely lived-in, with sets and costumes that don’t feel like modern actors playing dress-up. They feel genuine as Whishaw and Cornish find the beauty in the little moments of their lives. It’s the small choices made by Campion and her team that add up; the seemingly minute details that add up to create a world that feels genuine and complete. Romantic dramas don’t get much better.

Valentine’s Day always brings a cavalcade of cheesy romantic comedies. Take a different approach to the holiday and pick up this story of doomed love, as believable a tale of romance as any produced in the last few years. It’s a must-see. If it was on Blu-ray, I’d call it a must-own. Maybe someday.

“Bright Star” is presented in anamorphic widescreen with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by an English 5.1 Dolby Digital track. Special features include a deleted scene, “Becoming Kate and Fanny,” “Setting the Scene,” and “An Inspiring Romance”.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]