My Left Foot

Based on the autobiography of the late Christy Brown, a painter and writer born with cerebral palsy who was only able to fully control the muscles in his left foot, this Academy Award nominee for Best Picture is a brilliant effort from all concerned. Daniel Day-Lewis won a well-deserved Oscar® for his unsentimental portrayal of the self-pitying, yet courageous and determined Brown. Director Jim Sheridan masterfully evokes the indomitable Irish spirit in his wonderful creation of the sprawling Brown clan, a Dublin family whose struggling hand-to-mouth existence is delineated by familiar details: endless days of porridge, and children who sleep packed in small beds like sardines. Although each phase of Brown's story is arresting and moving, the relationship between Christy and his mother (admirably played by Brenda Flicker, winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress) is the highlight. Truly one of the best films of the year, this is highly recommended. (R. Pitman) [DVD Review--July 12, 2005--Miramax, 103 min., R, $19.99--Making its second appearance on DVD, 1989's My Left Foot: Collector's Series sports a so-so transfer and DVD extras including an 11-minute 'making-of' featurette, a featurette on the real-life Christy Brown (5 min.), a stills gallery, text reviews, and trailers. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for an excellent bio-pic.] [Blu-ray Review—Jan. 13, 2015—Lionsgate, 103 min., R, $14.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1989's My Left Foot features a fine transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include 'An Inspirational Story' making-of featurette (10 min.), a segment on 'The Real Christy Brown' (5 min.), a stills gallery, text reviews, and a bonus UltraViolet copy of the film. Bottom line: a wonderful film with a powerhouse central performance by Day-Lewis makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]