Plot: What’s it about?
Fielding Pierce (Billy Crudup) has always had a sense of destiny, which involved him becoming active in the government and doing good for the people in the process. He even took some steps he might not have under normal circumstances, such as enlisting in the military during the conflict in Vietnam, which placed his life in a degree of danger. But he knew he needed to serve in order to take office, so he pushed ahead and hoped he wasn’t sent to the front to fight. In a visit to his hippie brother, Fielding meets a young woman named Sarah Williams (Jennifer Connelly), whom he finds an instant attraction to even though they’re quite different. Sarah wants to enact change outside the system, whereas Fielding wants to do good through the system. Despite their arguments and such, the two fall in love and become the closest of friends & lovers. They might not always agree, but they always love each other and it seems nothing can change that. But then her stance as an activist brings harm to her, when a terrorist car bomb kills her and some Chilean refugees. Fielding’s life would never be the same after that. Years later as he runs for Senator, Fielding begins to see and hear from Sarah, which drives him beyond the brink of sanity. Has Sarah returned from the other side to guide him, or has Fielding finally cracked under the immense pressure of his ambition?
I don’t say this too often in my reviews, but Waking The Dead is a must see motion picture and though it has some rough spots, it is a haunting and memorable film in the end. From a brilliant storyline to outstanding performances to a masterful stroke of directing, this movie comes together better than any I’ve seen in the past few years. It might not be the best or the most entertaining, but Waking The Dead is among the finest and most impressive films I’ve seen in a long time. I would place this in the top two or three films from last year and among my personal favorites of all time. To call this movie a love story is a little limiting, but that seems to be how it is described in most reviews and I can see why. The heart of the film is the relationship between the two leads, but the real focus is Billy Crudup’s character and the motions he takes in dealing with that relationship. Crudup and Connelly are awe inspiring in their roles and with an impressive supporting cast, this film displays considerable depth all around. This is a fantastic and memorable motion picture, one that I recommend to all those interested. USA Home Entertainment has given this movie the royal treatment here and as such, this one would make an excellent addition to any home video collection.
At the helm of Waking The Dead is Keith Gordon, who continues to advance up the ladder of elite directors. He doesn’t have a lot of experience in the director’s chair, but he shows the control and skills of a seasoned veteran in his films, this one proving to be his most powerful work yet. I knew Gordon had a lot of talent, but I didn’t expect him to improve so much with each new project he takes on. I went into this movie with very high expectations and despite that pressure, the film delivered on all counts and Gordon once again impressed me. I simply cannot wait to see more of his work soon and hopefully, he will have strong material to work with, as he has to this point. Other films by Gordon include A Midnight Clear, The Chocolate War, and Mother Night. Billy Crudup (Without Limits, Almost Famous) gives his usual solid effort here, but also goes further and delivers a dead on turn. I knew he had a lot of potential and now, I know he can live up to it. The real star here though is Jennifer Connelly (Dark City, Labyrinth), who is stunning and breathtaking in this film. We don’t see her too often, but let’s hope she appears again very soon. The cast here also includes Molly Parker (Sunshine), Paul Hipp (Face/Off), Sandra Oh (Last Night), Hal Holbrook (The Firm), and Janet McTeer (Tumbleweeds).
Video: How does it look?
Waking The Dead is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Simply put, I think this is a flawless visual presentation, one with which I could find no problems to report in this review. The contrast is of supreme important in this movie, as the visuals can become dark at times and this transfer delivers in all respects. Shadow depth is dead on, black levels are well balanced, and detail level is always high. The blacks seem crisp here and that adds a lot to the visual impact of the film. The colors are of a more natural scope here, but some brighter shades do emerge and flesh tones seem normal and warm also. No compression problems surface either, this is a tremendous visual transfer in every aspect.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 track and I didn’t expect much from it, but in the end this turned out to be an impressive mix. The dialogue is the major element in this mix and sounds clean here, with no volume errors or harshness in the least. But the surrounds see a lot of attention, though perhaps not in an overpowering fashion. I noticed a lot of directional and subtle use, such as when Sarah speaks to Fielding after her death and those moments were enhanced tenfold by the audio presence. This is much like a romantic ghost story and as such, some terrific atmospheric audio is placed on display in this mix. The music is fantastic and arrives in a rich texture here, which is much appreciated. You can find many of the cues from the score on the menus pages, should you want to relax and listen to them in isolated form. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround track and subtitles in Spanish & English.
Supplements: What are the extras?
As if the powerful film, picture perfect video, and effective audio weren’t enough, this disc also houses a wealth of supplemental features. As I mentioned in the audio section, you’ll notice many of the musical cues as you browse the disc, which is a welcome touch in my opinion. You’ll also find some talent files and the film’s theatrical trailer, but there is also a lot of additional bonus materials to peruse as well. A four and a half minute featurette is included, which is a little too brief but still makes for an interesting watch. I would have loved more interviews with the cast & crew, but the quality of these final two supplements is more than enough to make up the difference in my mind. An extensive selection of deleted scenes (over 45 minutes) can be viewed and I am so pleased USA has worked to put them on this disc. You can also choose to hear Keith Gordon’s commentary on them, which adds a lot of insight into why they were trimmed. The final extra is an excellent audio commentary with Gordon, which proves to be one of the most insightful and enjoyable tracks I’ve heard. He discusses his reasons for doing this picture, why certain choices were made, and many other aspects of this film.
