Blue Sky
Blu-ray DVD Company: Olive Films
Starring: Jessica Lange, Tommy Lee Jones, Powers Booth,
Carrie Snodgress, Amy Locane, Chris O’Donnell, Mitchell Ryan, Dale Dye, Annie
Ross, Anna Klemp
Plot: Product Description: Uprooting his family after being
assigned to a remote testing facility in Alabama, nuclear engineer Hank
Marshall is faced with a moral decision as an opponent of the atmospheric tests
he’s asked to complete. Adding to an already volatile situation is Hank’s
sultry and unstable wife, Carly whose flirtatious nature begins to erode their
relationship and bring unwanted attention to the situation.
My Review and Thoughts:
I never understood why this movie never got the praise it
deserves. It did win awards and was nominated for many awards, but it seemed to vanish after that. I feel this is a movie with stunning acting by a wonderful cast of
performers. The direction I feel is solid. The story is dramatic and most of all a drama that lingers on the watcher long after it is over. This
stars one of the greatest female actresses ever to grace cinema. Her passion
and extraordinary ability to bring characters to life, shine in any role she
does no matter of TV or feature film. I speak about, none other than, the beautiful,
vibrant, sexy and stunning Jessica Lange. A pivotal actress in cinema history.
She owns the character of Carly Marshall in this period piece drama. Like always, Lange is able to place you in the situation through her dramatic,
emotional reality on screen. She is able to bleed perfection and give off the
vibe, that her plight is real.
Next up that makes this film shine would have to be, the
brilliant actor Tommy Lee Jones. What can be said, that has not already
been said about this master talent of acting? Jones is an actor that is what I
call real. He is a man. Not a shining boy toy of Hollywood, or a fabricated
reality of cinema, but just a man. He is a real actor. He is in the class and category
of Clint Eastwood, George C. Scott and all those men, men actors. Jones just
like Lange, brings reality to his character of Hank in Blue Sky.
I think that is what stands out the most in this film is the
chemistry between each performer. Jones and Lange play off each other, as if you
and I the watcher are going through it. The acting, solid direction, and story
all become real. The cinematography is eye opening. The story gives vibes of
history and struggle.
The awesome and amazing Powers Booth plays the character
Vince in Blue Sky. Booth has always been a wonderful performer, and always comes
across as professional and real in his parts, and the character of Vince is no
different. Also the very talented and beautiful Carrie Snodgress plays the part
of Vera. She is always a treat to see perform.
Now I have to mention the man behind the camera. Director
Tony Richards. An icon of cinema. A pivotal director of film making. A personal
and vibrant man that knew how to create movies that stand out above and beyond.
Sadly this is his last film. He died of the horrible killer, AIDS, in 1991 at
the young age of 63. He left his mark on the movie world and his art still
shines. Olive Films has done justice to one of his pivotal films with this
Blu-ray. From directing TV movies, to TV series, to feature films, Tony
Richardson had a passion with telling stories with the lens of the camera. With
the likes of 1961’s A Taste of Honey, 1962’s The Loneliness of the Long
Distance Runner, 1965’s The Loved Ones, 1966’s Mademoiselle, 1973’s A Delicate
Balance and this one I am reviewing, Blue Sky. His mastery shows. For all you
movie buffs out there, a little trivia. Tony was married to the vibrant and
stunning, and very masterpiece gifted actress, Vanessa Redgrave, (might I add
you can get one of Vanessa Redgrave’s, best performances on another Olive Films
Blu-ray of the pivotal Holocaust film, Playing for Time, highly recommended).
They had two daughters, Natasha Richardson. Natasha went on to be a wonderful actress
in such roles as, Patty Hearst, Nell, The Parent Trap, and married actor Liam
Neeson. Natasha sadly passed away in 2009 from a skiing accident. Tony’s and
Vanessa’s second daughter is also an actress, Joely Kim Richardson. Acting in such
great films as, Under Heaven, 101 Dalmatians,The Patriot, and The Girl with
the Dragon Tattoo, and my personal favorite, Event Horizon and many, many more.
Possibly best known as the character of Julia in the long running TV show
Nip/Tuck. Tony Richardson left an amazing career of cinema. Olive Films allows
the viewer to adventure into one of these films with this Blu-ray.
Sadly this film went through the ringer. It was completed in
1991 but did not see the light of day until 1994 because Orion Pictures went
bankrupt, causing the film to be shelved. Sadly Tony Richardson would never get
to see his completed film shown to the world, he died three years earlier. Even
with all its problems after it was released it went on to shine. Many praised its
acting. Jessica Lange would win best actress at the Academy Awards and also
Best actress for the Golden Globes, plus other awards and she rightfully
deserved it. She gives a performance that leaves you breathless.
Another shining example of this film is the music created by
Jack Nitzsche. The music adds so much to the story and emotions taking place.
It’s an in-depth portrait of how flawless a soundtrack can be. Nitzsche is a
master of music garnering such unbelievable soundtracks as The Exorcist, Cruising,
Starman, Stand By Me, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s
Nest, which might I add, he was nominated for an Oscar and a Grammy for it, and
many, many others. Sadly like all good things, it must come to an end, he ended
up drinking a lot, and his health went downhill. He dead in 2000. He left an
amazing career of music. He was an Academy Award winning musician that shined in
his day and the soundtrack for Blue Sky showcases his ultimate perfection in
the art form of music.
I was so happy when I got word that Olive Films was going to
be honoring this film with Blu-ray treatment. It’s a film that should not be
missed. It’s a Blu-ray that should not be missed and is a shining outlet for
this film. I have no flaws with the Blu-ray. I think it’s an excellent example
of how to treat a film that is important to the cinema world. Blue Sky is a
must own, must see Blu-ray, lovingly put out by Olive Films.
Audio/Video:
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: Stereo
Overall:
A perfect Blu-ray to experience this wonderful film of
direction, acting and story. A shining example of a film with an excellent cast
and equally executed perfection though emotionally charged character and plot.
Highly recommended.
INFO:
It will be released on April 21st 2015.
Visit Olive Films at www.olivefilms.com
A place to buy extraordinary cinema.
Link for Blue Sky Blu-ray: TO BUY From Olive Films
Link for Blue Sky DVD: TO BUY From Olive Films