BLU-RAY REVIEW

Edge Of Love, The

Featured In Issue 142, September 2009

Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Image Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
TF5260BD
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Sexuality, language and disturbing war images
(Retail Price):
$35.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
111
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2008
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
07/14/09
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
John Maybury
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

In the bohemian underground of World War II London, a stirring love story ignites among legendary poet Dylan Thomas (Rhys) and the two extraordinary women who inspire him. Caitlin (Miller) is Thomas' free-spirited wife, while Vera (Knightley) is the long-lost teenage sweetheart who later reconnects with Thomas. Despite their romantic rivalry, the two women form a surprisingly close bond. The trio is unusually blissful until Vera's husband, a handsome soldier (Murphy), sends their uninhibited lives spiraling out of control. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director John Maybury and Actor Matthew Rhys, the featurette Looking Over The Edge Of Edge (HD 09:40), a gag reel, and the trailer.

The 1080p AVC picture is gorgeous, with a beautiful stylized 1940's look that exhibits warm colors, with a slight desaturated and sepia character. Still, certain colors, such as reds, really pop. Blacks are deep and solid and shadow delineation is excellent, revealing fine textures in shadowy backdrops. Resolution is absolutely superb, with fine facial features perfectly defined, as well as clothes and textures. Smoke-filled scenes are beautifully compelling, with impressive key lighting within the deep shadows. The cold Welsh scenes are always overcast, dismal, and real. While digitally captured and pristine throughout, the imagery exhibits a wonderful filmmatic look. This is a beautiful film and a real treat for the eyes, with impressive cinematography. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is superb, with an impressive holosonic® soundfield contributed by atmospheric sound effects and a wonderful music score. Dialogue is nicely integrated spatially into every scene and sounds perfectly natural and intelligible. Then there is the explosive energy of bombs and the deep, deep bass rumbling below 25 Hz in the .1 LFE channel and other channels when the SPL energy peaks. The air-raid sirens in the distant background, or at times in the foreground, sound haunting and real and sometimes image as a center back surround source. Sound effects are effectively directionalized, which enhances the sense of realism during the bombing scenes. The sounds of rainfall are chilling. The orchestral music score is nicely recorded, with a wide and deep soundstage that wraps into the surrounds. This is a wonderful, well-crafted soundtrack that does not disappoint. (Gary Reber)