Empire of Light

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Though Mendes makes a sincere-enough attempt to sketch out a world for Stephen and, briefly, his Trinidadian mother (Tanya Moodie), these characters never really flourish – like Hilary, they seem designed to be pawns in the film's ultimate message: that of the good old power of the movies. Sam Mendes is no stranger to meaningful and heartfelt storytelling. Empire of Light is another example of that. Set in an English coastal town in the 1980s, the story is all about love, friendship, and compassion. Everything is set around a fading cinema, a place where people have come for all sorts of needs throughout the years. Sam Mendes’ Oscar-nominated drama Empire of Light is releasing for home viewing on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital. The film first releases in digital formats including SD (480p), HD (1080p), and 4k UHD (2160p) on Feb. 7, 2023. ( Read Review) What's most surprising, in that sense, is just how creaky the film is at crafting its love letter to celluloid. The "story" is made up of runtime-padding dramatic beats that always begin in a very strong manner but are always either resolved without any real struggle or conflict or are abandoned entirely. No consequences are ever seen or felt, and it dampens the impact of the whole film. I felt nothing when the credits rolled.

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Hilary sees Stephen being harassed by a group of skinheads on the street and later deal with a racist customer and Stephen confides in her about the racism he faces. Hilary and Stephen go to the beach, where Stephen tells her about his first love, Ruby, who works at the same hospital as his mother. When Stephen asks about her past, she goes on an agitated rant about men and angrily destroys a sand castle they had been building.

For all of Colman's determination, Mendes often leaves her performance hanging. In one scene, Hilary has a breakdown in front of a chalkboard scrawled with crude epithets that make her apartment look more like a serial killer's lair; despite Colman's best efforts to wring pathos from the moment, it tilts toward the comedic — a parody of 'crazy' that undermines the supposed humanity of the scene. Tartaglione, Nancy (28 February 2022). "Sam Mendes Starts Production on 'Empire of Light'; Tom Brooke & Hannah Onslow Join Cast of Searchlight Pic". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 28 February 2022.The film was released for VOD on 7 February 2023, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on 21 February 2023. [18] [19] [20] Reception [ edit ] Critical response [ edit ] The performance of Olivia Colman received critical acclaim. Empire of Light premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2022. [15] It received a limited theatrical release by Searchlight Pictures in the United States on 9 December 2022 and was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2023. [16] [17]

Hilary's precarious state is the emotional centre of the film, and – in Colman's committed, sometimes tender performance – the source of its most affecting moments, but the strangely lethargic drama often feels like it's labouring under its own fog of lithium-induced torpor. (The listless, kneading piano score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross doesn't help the film's energy.) If you’re ready to add it to your DVD collection, there is some great news. Empire of Light is heading to DVD and Blu-ray later this month. Look out for it on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Yes, that is only a couple weeks away. The film stars Tom Brooke ( The Crown, The Bodyguard), Hannah Onslow ( Ridley Road, Call The Midwife, Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Crystal Clarke and Tanya Moodie.It was announced in April 2021 that Sam Mendes had set his next film, which he would write and direct himself at Searchlight Pictures. Olivia Colman was in talks to star and Roger Deakins was announced as cinematographer. [5] Colman was confirmed in July, with Micheal Ward also joining the cast. [6] In December, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Crystal Clarke and Tanya Moodie were added to the cast. [7] Tom Brooke and Hannah Onslow were confirmed to star in late February. [8] Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the film's score. [9]

Empire of Light is a sweet, heartfelt, humane movie, which doesn’t shy away from the brutality and the racism that was happening in the streets outside the cinema: the Empire is showing Stir Crazy starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, directed by Sidney Poitier – a message of diversity, if 1981 Britain cared to listen. It’s clearly a labour of love for Sam Mendes: love requited.

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a b Bradshaw, Peter (12 September 2022). "Empire of Light review – Olivia Colman shines in Sam Mendes's darkening hymn to cinema". The Guardian . Retrieved 4 January 2023.