Jimmy's
Hall (2014/Sony Blu-ray)
Picture:
A+ Sound: A Extras: B Film: A-
After
10 years of self exile to the United States, Jimmy (Barry Ward)
returns home to Ireland, only to face the same problems/reasons that
forced him to leave in the first place. For building a hall where
people could dance, sing, draw, talk or laugh freely. Unfortunately,
that just sends the Church and landowners up in flames, because they
will do anything to rid of modernism, hope & happiness for the
people in Ken Loach's new drama Jimmy's Hall (2014).
It's
the 1920's and Jimmy Gralton is into music, art and freedom of
expression. He and the community has built a hall, free to the
people regardless of age, gender or money, but that is the last thing
the church or the landowners wanted ...change. Change for the common
people to be free thinkers, have civil rights, much less control over
their own lives. As the community stands behind Jimmy, the Catholic
Church and landowners control the corrupt government and police
...and destroys the hall they love.
This film was an eye
opener, it shows the difference between peer pressure and social
pressure. It proves that governments and leaders care more about
power and control than the people they govern. And when you think
about it, regardless of day and age, one thing has not changed is
those in power will use rules, regulation and policies to
brainwash/control the masses instead of helping them. How easy it is
to control people when you take away their rights and threaten them
with homelessness. In the end people have to decide what is it worth
fighting for, even if it means going against the rules or losing
everything.
The
1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image is one of the best of
the year, shot on Kodak Vision 3 35mm T-grain negative film stocks
with plenty of demo shots and a visual style that forwards the
narrative well. The lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 mix may be
laid back, but it is very well-recorded and mixed. Extras include
deleted scenes, Making of Jimmy's Hall featurette, commentary
and trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang
