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By
NICK ZEGARAC
"A Man For All Seasons" is the viscerally engaging, taut case study for Sir Thomas More, an English nobleman of influence who is at first courted, then condemned by Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) after he opposes the king's divorce that would allow Henry to marry for a 6th time.
This is a powerful closet drama, full of finely wrought performances. Orson Welles is really something in his cameo as Cardinal Wolsey. Wendy Hiller plays Sir Thomas' dutiful, though forthright wife. Leo McKern is brilliant as the self-satisfying jackal of destruction, Thomas Cromwell. But the centerpiece of the film remains Paul Scofield's meticulous handling of Thomas More -- a truly inspiring tour de force that is brilliant, spellbinding and ever worthy of the Best Actor Statuette.
Columbia Tri-star has given us a DVD to equal its subject matter. Colors are rich, bold and vibrant. Flesh tones are quite naturally rendered. Overall, the image is quite solid. Age related artifacts are kept to a bare minimum. Although colors are well balanced and black levels appear solid, there is some minor edge enhancement, shimmering and aliasing present throughout the DVD. The audio is mono but well presented -- only sporadically sounding strident. There are no extras. |
