Healing
(2014/Starz/Anchor Bay DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: C+ Film: C+
Healing
is a moving drama by and interesting new filmmaker named Craig
Monahan. The film deals with the relationship between man and an
injured bird and how both of them help each other despite impossible
odds. Reminds me a little bit of the '90s film Fly Away Home
with a young Ana Paquin, though that was a bit more endearing since
it was from the perspective of a small child and here the focus
shifts to a criminal. It should also be noted that this film is from
Hugo Weaving's native land of Australia, which could be one reason
why he chose to do it.
A
man named Viktor Kahdem (Don Hany) has almost given up on life
because he has been sentenced to a low-security prison farm with a
non-threatening environment where it still seems like some
individuals can be reformed. At Won Wron, a case worker named Matt
Perry (Weaving) has established a special kind of program to
rehabilitate broken men by giving them the responsibility for
rehabilitating injured raptors. Against all odds, Viktor meets Matt
and becomes his number one test case and is introduced to Yasmine,
the majestic wedge tailed eagle with a 2-meter wingspan. If these
two can tame each other, anything is possible. The film also stars
Xavier Samuel, Jane Menelaus, and Justine Clarke.
Presentation
on the disc is in standard definition with an anamorphic widescreen
with an aspect ratio of 2.40:1 and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track to
boot. With a film as beautifully shot as this, it could definitely
benefit to a Blu-ray upgrade.
Extras
include:
Photo
Gallery
Trailer
Deleted Scenes
'Making Of' Featurette
The
feel-good Australian film isn't necessarily a bomb but more just a
rehash of a story we have seen before. Decent direction, acting, and
cinematography make it worth a watch though.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
