The Eye of the Storm (2011)

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General		Extras
Category	Drama	Main Menu Audio & Animation Interviews-Cast & Crew Audio Commentary
Rating
Year Of Production	2011
Running Time	114:22 (Case: 119)
RSDL / Flipper	RSDL	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Fred Schepisi
Studio Distributor	Paperbark Films Transmission Films	Starring	Charlotte Rampling Maria Theodorakis Jamie Timony Judy Davis Bob Marcs Alexandra Schepisi John Gaden Helen Morse Robyn Nevin
Case	Amaray-Opaque
RPI	?	Music	Paul Grabowsky

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English (Burned In) English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     What a marvellous collection of local talent was involved in this production! This film was produced by Sydney based producers Gregory J Read and Antony Waddington, directed by Melbourne born Fred Schepsi, is based on a novel by a great Australian author, Patrick White with a screenplay written by Judy Morris and stars two of our best local actors, Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis. If that isn't enough the DOP is world-renowned local Ian Baker and the music is by local jazz composer Paul Grabowsky. If local talent is not enough there is also a lead role for British actress Charlotte Rampling and the addition of Branford Marsalis and his saxophone to the soundtrack.

     But enough hyperbole, what is this movie about and is it any good?

     Essentially this film and the novel it is based on are about family relationships and the challenges, tragedy, love and dislike involved. Elizabeth Hunter (Charlotte Rampling) is an old dying lady who lives in a grand house in one of Sydney's best suburbs in the early 1970s. She is dramatic, manipulative and overbearing as she has always been it would seem but now she is also suffering from delusions and slips into and out of reality. She is attended by a large staff including two nurses, gardeners, a cook, a cleaner and a driver. Her two children, who both live in Europe, are returning to be present if she passes away. The reasons they come home are complex and driven by love, greed and possibly an actual desire to see her. The two children are flamboyant actor and playwright, Sir Basil Hunter (Geoffrey Rush), who is based in London and Princess Dorothy de Lascabanes (Judy Morris) who had a failed marriage to a European prince and now struggles with money. One of the aims of Basil & Dorothy is to reduce the ongoing cost of running their mother's estate (in order to ensure their inheritance) by getting her to move to a nursing home. However, their relationships to each other and their mother are much more complex than this surface greed and the film explores these relationships and the events in the past which drive their relationships now.

     This is an excellent film, which despite being focused on the impending death of Elizabeth has many more elements than this. Many films in this subject area are dramatic and somewhat depressing however this film has excellent elements of comedy which make it entertaining as well as drama and a deep experience. It is this combination of elements that make this a superlative film. Obviously being based on a highly regarded novel helps but also the assured direction of Fred Schepsi, the marvellous acting by the three leads and excellent local supporting cast, combined with technical elements like the award winning production and costume design, the score and the marvellous photography make this an excellent cinematic experience.

     Highly Recommended.

Video

     The video quality is very good for SD.

     The feature is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

     The picture was quite clear and sharp throughout. Shadow Detail was very good.

     The colour is very good highlighting the flashbacks to happier times and the costumes.

     Artefacts were limited to some minor aliasing.

     There are subtitles available in English for the Hearing Impaired. There are also burned-in subtitles for the French spoken.

     The layer change triggers a slight pause.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio quality is very good for DVD.

     This disc contains an English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1 at 448 Kbps along with an Audio Descriptive Track in Dolby Digital 2.0.

     Dialogue was generally clear and easy to understand although the subtitles were occasionally useful. Front separation is a highlight on this film from an aural perspective.

     The music by Paul Grabowsky (featuring Branford Marsalis) is high quality and adds to the atmosphere of the film significantly.

     The surround speakers were used for mild atmosphere and a few direction effects.

     The subwoofer was used mostly to support the music.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     A couple of quality extras which is always better than loads of ordinary ones.

Menu

     The menu included music, scenes and allowed for scene selection.

Q&A with Geoffrey Rush & Fred Schepsi (24:25)

     A Q&A with a live audience at a film festival, hosted by an online journalist. There is excellent discussion between the two men and the audience covering topics like casting, adapting the novel, shooting and how they condensed the story to fit a film. Well worth watching.

Audio Commentary - Fred Schepsi

     A high quality audio commentary from the director. He is engaging and interesting, covering topics like the imagery he was trying to use, shooting challenges, casting, the novel and areas where the adaptation differs to the novel.

    This film does not seem to be available in other regions at this time, which is their loss.

     An excellent Australian film.

     The video quality is very good.

     The audio quality is very good.

     The extras are quality rather than quantity.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall