Reader, The (DVD)

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If the movie has any flaws, I´d have to say it´s a few of the filming decisions made by director Stephen Daldry. The good news is that he captures mood and tension terrifically, and has a very keen eye for creating postcard-esque imagery that lights up the screen. I just felt that some sequences were too long for my tastes, so much so that they became a bit overly melodramatic and tiresome. I also don´t want to spoil anything, so I´m just going to say around the climax there were at least two occasions where the film dragged a little in trying to get a point across when it wasn´t necessary. But aside from these very slight misfires, "The Reader" is still a remarkably competent and thought-provoking film with some of the finest performances I´ve seen in a long time.

Video:
The Weinstein Company presents "The Reader" on DVD in widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The image is very sharp and crisp, and the picture is accented with a hint of grain that is barely noticeable. Colors are cool, earthy and often highlighted by natural lighting, and black levels are very strong. Even for a DVD, the detailing is also impressive, bringing out all of the little cracks and crevices of Berlin structures and there was one scene where I could make out the peach fuzz on Winslet´s cheek. I´m sure anyone who purchases or rents this disc should be pleased with the high quality of the picture.

Audio:
"The Reader" includes Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks in English and French, as well as optional English and Spanish subtitles. This film is primarily dialogue driven, and at the beginning the spoken parts almost sounded a hair distant to my ears. It seemed to get better later on in the movie, so I´m not sure if it just fixed itself or if I just got used to the track, but I think it´s something worth noting here. Surrounds are mostly reserved for subtle background noise, although there´s one particular instance where Ralph Fiennes´ character has a narration montage that makes them really come alive. The score by Nico Muhly also periodically drifts to the rear speakers, filling the room with a nice and soothing ambience.

Extras:
The main supplements on this disc consist of five featurettes: Adapting a Timeless Masterpiece: Making 'The Reader' (23:01) is a traditional "making of" with the cast and crew discussing the story, characters, etc.; A Conversation with David Kross and Stephen Daldry (9:46) spotlights the young German actor; Kate Winslet on the Art of Aging Hanna Schmitz (12:49) covers Winslet's make-up and prosthetics; A New Voice: A Look at Composer Nico Muhly (4:07) is a short vignette on the score's composer; and finally Coming to Grips with the Past: Production Designer Brigitte Broch (7:21) takes viewers behind the scenes of a few of the German sets and locations.

The bonus features conclude with a run of eleven Deleted Scenes (42:08) which also includes extended versions of certain sequences, as well as the film´s Theatrical Trailer (2:32).

The Final Cut:
"The Reader" is an elegant and often unsettling drama commanded by two of the most riveting performances of the year. The DVD features an excellent picture, good audio, and a meaty, if a little pretentious, supplement package. Even though the movie won´t sit well with everyone, it´s still one that deserves the acclaim and should be seen by everyone at least once. Highly recommended.

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