Zookeeper's
Wife
(2017/Focus/Universal Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B+/B- Sound: B+/B- Extras: B Film: B
The
new film from Focus Features, Niki Caro's The
Zookeeper's Wife
(2017), is a powerful new WWII-era drama led by Jessica Chastain
(Zero
Dark Thirty,
Crimson
Peak),
who is one of Hollywood's brightest stars and whom works very well in
the leading woman role. While films set in this period are all
similar in one way or another, this one especially pulls at the heart
strings, and may be a tough watch for animal lovers. Don't worry
though, I'm sure no animals were harmed during the making. The film
still takes some chances on its tender subject matter and doesn't shy
away from the intensity of war. The production design and look of
the film is very nice as well, making it adapt nicely to high
definition in this release.
The
Zookeeper's Wife
also stars Daniel Bruhl (who plays a Nazi again as he did in
Tarantino's Inglorious
Basterds),
Johan Heldenbergh, Iddo Goldberg, Michael McElhatton, and Anna Rust.
Based
on the true story of the Warsaw Zoo, Jan (Heldenbergh) and Antonina
Zabinski (Chastain) and her family save over three hundred lives
(both animal and human) by hiding them in their zoo during the Nazi
invasion in Germany. The duo face many trials and tribulations,
including encounters by Lutz Heck (Bruhl) who is a Nazi who is
schooled in zoology that soon becomes wise to their scheme. The
themes of the film explore the cruelty of man and the compassion they
also have for animals.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.40:1 and
an English DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) lossless 5.1 track. The image is
sharp and clear, which compliments the great cinematography and the
sound mix is demo-worthy in many action sequences. The most standout
scene in terms of sound design is when the bombs first fall onto the
zoo near the end of the first act of the film. Animals are going
haywire and the intensity of the explosions is on point. Also
included is a standard definition DVD version of the film with an
anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of 2.40:1 and a lossy Dolby
Digital 5.1 track. Compression on the disc is evident, but not bad
for the format.
Special
Features...
Deleted
Scenes
The
Making of The Zookeeper's Wife
The
Zabinski Family
Bleak
yet optimistic, this is one of the best films I've seen as of late
for the time period and really a showcase for the acting of Jessica
Chastain, whose talents are on full display.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
