Miracle At St. Anna + Soul Men
(2008/Touchstone + Genius Blu-rays + DVD-Videos)
Picture:
B+/B- Sound: B/B- Extras: C+/C- Film: C+/D
Spike Lee
and his brother Malcolm Lee have two different approaches to making films and
telling the Black Experience, with Spike taking the gritty New York School
approach and Malcolm taking a commercial approach with a certain affection for
the Pop & Soul 1970s. Lately, Spike
has been moving towards more commercial fare, in part by not writing his own
scripts, but the films have kept a certain edge. Malcolm continues his ways, but keeps pushing
up the comedy factor. Both have their
latest films on Blu-ray and DVD.
Miracle At St. Anna is Spike’s WWII film, written by
the very competent Jim McBride and despite some strong points, is his weakest
film in key ways. It has an ending with
little credibility and realism, despite any points intended, though his ability
to not make another “war porn” film is a plus.
Black soldiers must deal with Nazis and fascist sympathizers in Italy
and how they must stick together to survive.
It is told in flashback (which does not always work) as we have to
figure out a mystery that is more Tyler Perry than Agatha Christie and despite
a very good cast well cast, it is too long at 160 minutes, but I give it points
for ambition. It is Spike’s most
disconnected work.
Soul Men is a tale of two soul singers
(Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac) who were once a big music duo, but personal
conflicts and other distractions broke up their act and they try to go on the
comeback route. Though it has shades of
the great duo of Sam & Dave, it is not their story and that is sadly part
of the problem. This was also Isaac
Hayes last film and it is a dud where the humor is as dumb as it is predictable
and even allusions to a once-great musical era of R&B fail over and
over. After some fine moments in Roll Bounce, this is Malcolm’s worst
film.
The 1080p
2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image surprises on both releases with good
definition and detail throughout for the most part. Their anamorphically enhanced widescreen
versions on the DVD also fare pretty good for those formats, but Blu-ray is the
way to go in both cases. Miracle has DTS HD 48/24 Master Audio
(MA) lossless 5.1, while Soul has
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and though you’d think Miracle
would have some edge over the other film, they both have soundfield and
compression problems, made worse in their Dolby Digital 5.1 versions and though
they both use surrounds well, they are not as well-rounded as they should be.
Extras on
Miracle include previews on the DVD,
while the Blu-ray adds deleted scenes and two making of featurettes, while Soul has tributes to Hayes and Mac, the
theatrical trailer, feature length audio commentary with Lee and the co-writers,
four featurettes and Bernie Mac At the
Apollo.
- Nicholas Sheffo
