Mondays In The Sun (Meridian Collection/Lionsgate DVD)

 

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

 

 

Spanish actor Javier Bardem has been a successful actor for quite some time outside the U.S. borders, but The Coen Brothers put him on the map with American audiences with their 2007 masterpiece No Country For Old Men, which included perhaps one of Bardem’s finest performances.  It’s no secret that when an International star hits it big in the U.S. that audiences begin to track down some of their previous work and soon distributors are trying to get the product out there, the 2002 feature film Mondays in the Sun is one example of such. 

 

Here we are introduced to 5 recently unemployed dock workers who all deal in different ways with their newfound dispositions.  Bardem plays a man named Santa who is essentially their leader and dreams of Australia.  The rest of the film is devoted to their interesting ways of dealing with unemployment, dealing with each other, and finding something to do besides just spending their Mondays in the sun. 

 

For the most part the film works and the 5 men each possess different nuances that help the script from becoming dull and boring.  The pace of the film is fairly steady, but at times it feels a little too meandering and if you are expecting a sharp and shifty script, you might be disappointed; instead it’s more of a character study with superb acting. 

 

For this DVD release the film is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85 X 1 and looks well detailed with a very saturated look to capture the rawness and gritty nature of dock life.  At times the transfer seems a shade soft, but overall explores a neutral tone that works for this particular film.  Darks are fairly well rendered and colors are saturated, but not muddy.  The 5.1 Dolby Digital Spanish audio track is also sufficient, although a predominately forward heavy mix, which suits the nature of the film well. 

 

Fans will enjoy the audio commentary track, a few deleted scenes, plus the making-of featurette, which are all enjoyable and worth a look.  

 

We hope to get more acquainted with Bardem’s other work as it arrives on DVD, this particular film should help expose audiences with Bardem’s ability at various ranges and immediately put him into the next tier of contention for a high profile actor. 

 

A noteworthy performance!

 

 

-   Nate Goss