Fat Man and Little Boy (Widescreen)
Picture: B+ Sound: B
Extras: D Film:
B+
In 1989’s Fat Man and Little Boy, the events of
the Manhattan Project are closely examines through the eyes of Gen. Leslie R.
Groves (Paul Newman). The title comes from
the two atomic bombs, which were ironically named ‘Fat Man’ and ‘Little
Boy’. The events that took place during
this period of time would change the world in many ways never thought of at
that particular moment, but here we are many decades later with some effects
still in transition.
The film also is told
though the life around the head scientist Robert Oppenheimer (Dwight Shultz)
and involves his family as well. What
allows for this film to have the effect that it does is that the characters of history
are given the depth that allow for them to be screen characters as well, not
just some names we have heard in history books.
Because of this, we see a greater significance in the choices that were
made to launch this project and to carry it out as well.
Most American’s are not
found of historical films, but some are.
Most of the time we prefer a melodramatic version of the real story in
order to make it more cinematic, but this film tries to veer from that. Director Roland Joffé, known at this point
mostly for his 1986 film The Mission
starring Robert DeNiro takes the cast on a fine trip into history and while
there is a sense of manipulation in the narrative filmmaking, it overall is a
good film.
Paramount has been rooting through their back catalog of
titles and gradually putting them onto the DVD format, now having arrived at
this title, delivering it to the format just the way one might expect. Since the film does not exactly have a huge
following there are no extras, which might disappoint those history buffs that
would have liked to have more material on the true events or other production
material about the research done in order to re-enact the film. However, we are not given those, so instead we
shall stick with the technical qualities instead.
Presented in an anamorphic
2.35 X 1 transfer demonstrating Vilmos Zsigmond’s amazing camerawork, the film
was shot in the J-D-C scope process, which uses lighter lenses and allows for
more maneuverability. It also looks more
like a Panavision type of process with its clarity and excellent presentation
of color. Since the events are taking
place during the 1940’s the palette for the film maintains a very golden almost
sepia style, which gives the ‘older’ feel to the picture. Choosing a cinematographer like Zsigmond was
a very wise choice since he knows how to capture a period like with 1978’s The Deer Hunter or 1980’s Heaven’s Gate. Both are fine examples of master camerawork
that is able to put the viewer into the era and keep them there. He is also quite capable of utilizing scope
framing, which once again is demonstrated on this film.
The Dolby 5.1 and Dolby
Surround audio options are almost identical with the 5.1 benefiting from a more
discreet sub-woofer channel. Not only
that, but dialogue placement and musical direction seem more natural. I would have liked to have received more
dimension with scenes where the bombs are exploding, but the front portion of
the sound stage is the only part that gets activity for the majority of the films
duration.
If you are looking for a
very moving and powerful portrayal of the events that happened with the Atomic
bombs, this is your resting home. Fans
that enjoyed uplifting movies like Apollo
13 will be satisfied. The film has
enough strength from a production standpoint that make all the elements come
together well. Question is…will anyone
take notice?
- Nate Goss
