Maurice is a finely crafted, socially relevant and fantastically acted drama based on the novel by E.M. Forster, namely James Wilby and Hugh Grant. The Blu-ray released through Cohan Media Group offers up excellent video and audio transfers and a nice selection of bonus features.
Maurice
(1987)
Genre(s): Drama
Entertainment One | R – 140 min. – $30.99 | September 5, 2017
Date Published: 08/24/2017 | Author: The Movieman
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PLOT SYNOPSIS
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| Set against the stifling conformity of pre-World War I English society, E.M. Forster’s Maurice is a story of coming to terms with one’s sexuality and identity in the face of disapproval and misunderstanding. Maurice Hall (JAMES WILBY) and Clive Durham (HUGH GRANT) find themselves falling in love at Cambridge. In a time when homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment, the two must keep their feelings for one another a complete secret. After a friend is arrested and disgraced for “the unspeakable vice of the Greeks,” Clive abandons his forbidden love and marries a young woman. Maurice, however, struggles with his identity and self-confidence, seeking the help of a hypnotist to rid himself of his undeniable urges. But while staying with Clive and his shallow wife, Anne (PHOEBE NICHOLLS), Maurice is seduced by the affectionate and yearning servant Alec Scudder (RUPERT GRAVES), an event that brings about profound changes in Maurice’s life and outlook. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 4.0/5 |
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This release comes with an 18-page booklet containing an interview with James Ivory and an essay about the movie. James Ivory and Pierre Lhomme on the Making of Maurice (15:44; HD) is an interview with the pair as they look back on the project. On-Stage Q&A (22:59; HD) – This is a new feature with Ivory and Lhomme as they answer a variety of questions. The Story of Maurice (30:29; SD) are archival interviews with screenwriter Kit Hesketh-Harvey, actors Hugh Grant and James Wilby amongst others talking about how they became involved. Conversation with the Filmmakers (12:51; SD) – Director Ivory, composer Richard Robbins talk about the movie in this older featurette. A Director’s Perspective: A Conversation Between James Ivory and Tom McCarthy (40:08; HD) – The director of the Academy Award-winning Spotlight chats with Ivory about the film. Deleted Scenes (39:03; SD) – There are a collection of scenes here with commentary by Ivory. Also included is the Original Theatrical Trailer (3:27; HD) and the 2017 Re-Release Trailer (2:21; HD). |
VIDEO – 4.5/5 |
| Maurice arrives to Blu-ray presented in its original 1.66 widescreen aspect ratio and given a 1080p high-definition transfer taken from a 4K restoration from the original camera negative. I was quite surprised by just how good this now 30 year old movie looked, colors are fairly bright and detail sharp, though there is a heavy amount of noise which only adds to the theatrical look. |
AUDIO – 4.25/5 |
| The movie comes with 3 choices: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM 2.0 tracks, with the first being the default option. Dialogue, which permeates the majority of the movie, is crisp and clear throughout while ambient noises and the music makes good usage of the rear channels. |
OVERALL – 4.0/5 |
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Overall, Maurice is a finely crafted, socially relevant and fantastically acted drama based on the novel by E.M. Forster, namely James Wilby and Hugh Grant. The Blu-ray released through Cohan Media Group offers up excellent video and audio transfers and a nice selection of bonus features. |