Godard Mon Amour (Blu-ray Review)
- Review Date: Jan 10, 2019
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
-
Director
Michel HazanaviciusRelease Date(s)
2017 (September 4, 2018)Studio(s)
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (Cohen Media Group)- Film/Program Grade: B
- Video Grade: A
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: D+
Review
Director Jean-Luc Godard was a pioneer in the French New Wave film movement. His innovative directing style churned out many unconventional films that changed the cinematic landscape, and in the film Godard Mon Amour, we get a glimpse of a particular period in both his personal and professional life.
The setting is 1967 during the making of his classic film La Chinoise. Godard falls in love with 19-year-old actress Anne Wiazemsky and marries her. Anne not only cares for him, but has a deep admiration for him and his work. Their life is happy, full of romance and love, but by May of 1968, their marriage is put to the ultimate test. Godard gets involved in a cultural and political revolution and they have less time to spend with each other. At the same time, Anne begins acting in films containing erotic scenes, which turns Godard into a nasty, jealous husband.
Michel Hazanavicius, director of the 2011 Oscar-winning film The Artist, was given the challenge of directing Godard Mon Amour. It’s an excellent dramatic comedy, with the cast handing in superior performances, including Louis Garrel who embodies Godard with ease. Under the direction of Hazanavicius’, the film is given a distinctive style and pace, as well as top notch cinematography by Guillaume Schiffman.
Cohen Media Group brings the film to Blu-ray in a superb presentation. It was shot on film and finished as a 2K digital intermediate, and with the majority of Cohen releases, the transfer maintains a very natural, organic look that offers a finely-resolved field of grain. Detail is excellent and the colors are rich and bold, with reds and blues being the most prevalent.
In the audio department, Godard Mon Amour features a 5.1 DTS-HD track with the dialogue coming in loud and clear, even during scenes of rallies taking place outside, which is where the soundtrack gets the most aggressive.
Supplements for this release include the featurette Conversations from the Quad with Michel Hazanavicius and Stacy Martin, which features an interview hosted by Richard Pena of Columbia University, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
Fans of Jean-Luc Godard should most definitely see Godard Mon Amour. It’s a great look back at a historical moment in the career of a brilliant director. This Blu-ray release by Cohen Media is more than worth your time. Recommended!
– David Steigman