Lloyd
Newson: DV8 Physical Theatre
(1989 - 1997/ArtHaus/Naxos Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: D Main Program: C+
If
you're into dance, music, and film with a dash of the experimental
(in other words arthouse-type pieces), then DV8
Physical Theatre
may be something that you want to check out. Incredibly well shot,
performed and written, this Blu-ray takes you through three large
performance pieces: Dead
Dreams of Monochrome Men,
Strange
Fish,
and Enter
Achilles.
Using dance and movement to communicate emotion over words, watching
this is definitely an experience and not necessarily for everyone.
Director
Lloyd Newson obviously has a lot to say and is an artist in his own
right, with a lot of sexual undertones throughout all of the pieces
that touch upon homosexuality and bizarre sexuality (one piece has a
character who has a loving relationship with a blow-up doll) that
will entertain some and offend others. Do a little research and know
what you're in for before you pop this in. I had no idea what I was
in for and walked away from watching entertained.
Dead
Dreams of Monochrome Men
is divided into segments including Blind,
The Pedestal, I Just Really Want To Be With You - Alone, Drum and
Dance, Falling Down, Knock Over, Resuscitation, Bell Chimes, Hanging
in a Bathroom,
and Stay
Awhile.
These segments feature a male cast and are in high contrast black
and white.
Strange
Fish
includes On
the Cross, Secret Society I and II, Blonde Terrorists, Knote Dance,
Nigel's Party, On the Outside, Fight for the Settee, Stone Song, Zoo
Noises, Moving Ground, Lullaby, Hell Fire and Damnation,
and End.
These segments are in color.
Enter
Achilles
includes Dream/
Doll in Bed/ It's Only Make Believe, Kiss/ Hands off, She's Mine/
Roxette, Bad Day/ Beer Glass Contest, Another Girl, Another Planet,
Madra Deus, Superman, Swimming, Ball Dance, Shaving Incident, Press
Ups/ Rope Music/ Shiny, Ain't Gonna Bump No More/ Bohemian Rhapsody,
Summer Nights/ Staying Alive, Tango, The Fight for the Doll,
and Impossible/
Dream/ Credits.
Presented
in 1080p high definition and are presented in 1.33:1 full frame and
1.77:1 widescreen, there is some grain but overall the transfers
aren't too bad. Enter
Achilles
is probably the weakest presentation in that it has some noise in
some of the detail that is a bit distracting and consistent
throughout. The black and white tones of Dead
Dreams
is the highlight and looks the best of the lot (though I adore the
look of black and white on Blu-ray in general). This is probably the
best possible presentation available of the material.
No
extras.
There's
no doubt that this is a well written and performed piece and it is
nice to have it captured together in a collection like this on
Blu-ray disc. It's a shame there aren't any extras or commentary to
better explore how this all came about.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
