The Movie
Widely considered one of the most beautifully photographed movies ever committed to film, Days of Heaven brings us a tragic love triangle set against the lives of migrant farm workers in Texas during the 19-teens. Richard Gere and Brooke Adams star as Bill and Abby, a pair of young lovers posing as brother and sister as they travel across America, to avoid gossip. Their good-hearted landowner boss (Sam Shepard) falls for Abby, and with hopes of a better life for all, Bill encourages her to marry the other man. They live together through good times and bad, but tensions mount, tempers flare, and when secrets and betrayals are slowly revealed, harsh confrontations and dire consequences loom. It's an engrossing, sorrowful tale, all the more powerful for the spot-on performances by the entire cast and the richly realized visual style employed by writer/director Terrence Malick, a noted perfectionist.
The Picture
Benefiting from the talents of cinematographers Nestor Almendros and Haskell Wexler (who had to replace Almendros mid-production), Days of Heaven is a masterpiece of natural light and magic hour exploitation. While this is certainly the best that the movie has ever looked on home video, the subtlety is sometimes lost as this analog peg has been refit for a digital hole. The fine vertical lines of Richard Gere's workshirt are one early challenge, while varying levels of film grain and some video noise recur throughout. The warm colors are every bit as exquisite as we could hope for however, with generous if not exemplary detail, although the images themselves can be stop-and-stare gorgeous.
The Sound
Commendable effort has been invested in rechannelling and remastering the 1978 soundtrack for modern DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The size and oppressive noise of the steel mill is wonderfully represented, with surprisingly aggressive bass, while the vintage farm machinery in action out in the fields commands our attention. Gentle prairie winds can be heard blowing in the rears, while natural and manmade little touches are thoughtfully placed around the soundstage. Enjoyable surprises like flying machines zipping from front to back help make this track better than expected.
The Extras
The bonuses from the Criterion DVD of this title appear to have been repeated here, albeit all with HD presentation now. The audio commentary brings together film editor Billy Weber, art director Jack Fisk, costume designer Patricia Norris and casting director Dianne Crittenden for their unique perspectives years later. The video interview with camera operator John Bailey (20-and a half minutes) leans toward the more artistic while cinematographer Haskell Wexler waxes more philosophical (11-and-a-half minutes). Sam Shepard pops up in his own twelve-and-a-half-minute interview from 2002, while Richard Gere's 22 minutes of reminiscences are audio-only, over a montage of still photos and video clips. The late Nestor Almendros, who won an Oscar for his work here, is represented with a chapter from his autobiography reprinted in the excellent companion booklet.
Final Thoughts
Timeless in its depiction of love gone wrong, the plight of the working man, and in its breathtaking use of the camera, Days of Heaven is a must-see film that many a film buff will want to add to his collection. I wish that the transition to HD video was not quite so bumpy, but high bitrates and expert supervision assure that this is as good as it gets.
Product Details
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