My Left Foot (1989/Miramax/Lionsgate Blu-ray)

Picture: B Sound: B+ Extras: B Film: B

One of Daniel Day-Lewis' best performances is now out on Blu-ray disc with the Lionsgate special edition of Jim Sheridan's My Left Foot. Released originally in 1989, the film was well received by critics and audiences alike. Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker both won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Supporting Role, respectively, and was nominated for three more awards, Best Adapted Screenplay for Shane Connaughton and Jim Sheridan, Best Director for Sheridan and the Academy Award for Best Picture.

(Start Spoilers)

The film opens with Christy Brown, who has cerebral palsy, being taken to a charity event, where he meets his handler, a nurse named Mary Carr. She begins reading his autobiography. Christy could not walk or talk, but still received love and support from his family, especially his mother. One day, while Christy was still a young boy, he is the only person home to see his mother fall down a flight of stairs while in labor. He is able to get the attention of some neighbors, who come to his mother's rescue. His father, who had never really believed in Christy, becomes a supporter when, one day, when he is about ten, Christy uses his left foot (the only part of his body he can fully control) to write the word mother on the floor with a piece of yellow chalk.

Consequently, Christy seeks a hobby in painting. He is included by the young people in his neighborhood in their activities, such as playing street soccer, etc. However, when he paints a picture and gives it to a girl he likes, she returns it to him. His father loses his job and the family faces exceptionally difficult hardships. Christy, to his mother's dismay, devises a plan to help his brothers steal coal. Christy's elder sister, who was always very nice to him, gets pregnant and has to get married and leave home. Christy's mother, who had been gradually gathering some savings in a tin in the fireplace, finally saves enough to buy him a wheelchair.

Christy meets Dr. Eileen Cole, who takes him to her school for cerebral palsy patients and persuades a friend of hers to hold an exhibition of his work. Christy falls in love with Dr. Cole, but in the subsequent dinner, he learns she is engaged to be married. As a result, Christy considers suicide. He and his mother build Christy his own private studio, but his father soon thereafter dies of a stroke. During the wake, Christy instigates a brawl. At this point, Christy starts writing his autobiography, My Left Foot. (End Spoilers)

Full of remarkable performances and an inspirational story line, the film may be considered by many to be Oscar bait and a little slow, but it's never looked better than it does here on Blu-ray. Mastered in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and boasting a crystal clear, lossless DTS-HD 5.1 (MA) Master Audio track this is the first mastering of the film on Blu-ray.

Extras include:

The Real Christy Brown

An Inspirational Story: The Making of My Left Foot

Still Gallery

My Left Foot Reviews

- James Harland Lockhart V

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