Diana Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Diana" by Entertainment One delivers a solid, albeit uninspiring, visual experience with its AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Utilizing a variety of international locations, the film benefits from a high-definition treatment that enhances its authenticity, though it remains unclear if some of these scenes are supplemented with stock footage. The film’s sharpness is commendable and detail is perceptible, although it lacks the dynamic ‘pop’ seen in more vivid presentations. This disc significantly maintains the integrity of the material without succumbing to overt compression artifacts, thanks to its dual-layer format and reasonably healthy bitrates. The colors, while not particularly lush, are accurate, and occasionally Diana's costumes provide stand-out visual moments.

Shot on 35mm film using the Arricam LT, "Diana" sees film grain subtly pushed to the background, rendering it non-intrusive. Viewers may catch rare instances of white or black 'dirt' on the print, though these occurrences are infrequent and minor. The color palette leans towards warmth, but without reaching oversaturation. Detail levels fluctuate; certain outdoor scenes stand out with clarity while indoor scenes appear softer and less defined. Black levels, regrettably, fall short of deepening adequately, resulting in occasional murkiness during darker scenes. Despite these minor critiques, the Blu-ray displays a strong technical performance devoid of aliasing, banding, or other artifacts that might detract from the viewing experience.

The audio presentation in the Blu-ray release of "Diana" is characterized by a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which offers a proficient yet not overwhelmingly stellar experience. The soundtrack primarily features classical music despite Princess Diana's known preference for British bands like Icehouse, creating a rich atmosphere that prominently fills the surround channels. The usage of the low-frequency effects (LFE) is noteworthy, especially during the film's opening moments, adding an unexpected depth. Ambient environmental effects are neatly incorporated into discrete channels, enhancing location footage. Dialogue reproduction is clean and clear, ensuring that spoken words are intelligibly presented throughout the film.

The supplementary 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track adequately handles a film heavily focused on dialogue and predominantly accompanied by a solo piano score, classical in nature. This results in crisp and clear dialogue with no glitches, firmly anchored in the center channel while ambient sounds and parts of the musical score populate the rear speakers. However, the lack of pronounced directionality means that the audio presentation does not deliver a fully immersive experience, rendering it decent but not extraordinary. Additionally, the Blu-ray package includes an English 2.0 track, an English Audio Description track, and offers English SDH subtitles.

The Blu-ray extras for "Diana" offer a series of insightful interviews with key members of the cast and crew, providing a deeper understanding of the film's production and the portrayals of its central characters. While the lack of a "Play All" feature makes viewing somewhat cumbersome, each interview serves as a detailed exploration of the individual’s contributions and perspectives. Naomi Watts and Naveen Andrews provide comprehensive reflections on their respective roles as Diana and Dr. Hasnat Khan. Meanwhile, Douglas Hodge and Charles Edwards share their experiences portraying supporting roles. Director Oliver Hirschbiegel discusses his narrative approach and actor motivations, while producers and designers, like Robert Bernstein, Kave Quinn, and Julian Day, offer insights into the film’s production design and costume detailing. A supplementary booklet explores Diana's fashion sensibility.

Extras included in this disc:

• Naomi Watts: The star discusses her portrayal of Lady Diana Spencer.
• Naveen Andrews: Reflects on his role as Dr. Hasnat Khan.
• Douglas Hodge: Shares about playing Diana's butler, Paul Burrell.
• Charles Edwards: Talks about his role as Patrick Jephson.
• Oliver Hirschbiegel: Director's insights on storyline and character motivations.
• Robert Bernstein: Producer discussing the importance of the story.
• Kave Quinn: Insights from the production designer.
• Julian Day: Interview with the costume designer.

"Diana" aims to explore the last few years of Princess Diana's life, predominantly focusing on her romantic relationship with Dr. Hasnat Khan (Naveen Andrews). Naomi Watts stars as Diana, embodying the late princess but falling short of fully bringing her to life. The film struggles to balance its portrayal of Diana, oscillating between glorifying her humanitarian efforts and presenting a more intimate, warts-and-all view. This disjointed narrative leaves both ardent admirers and skeptics of Diana wanting, as it neither fully celebrates nor deeply interrogates her complex legacy. This ambivalence renders the film more suitable for television than the big screen.

The film awkwardly bookends its narrative with scenes from the fatal car journey in Paris, punctuated by an oddly ominous soundtrack. These bookends quickly transition into what could be mistaken for low-stakes melodrama, particularly in its depiction of Diana's romance with Khan. Their interactions often lack authenticity, veering into clichéd territory more fitting for a Lifetime movie. Noteworthy is an absurd scene where Diana, unable to cook Hasnat a burger, resorts to takeout from Burger King. Despite these shortcomings, Andrews manages to inject some credibility into his role, portraying Khan with a palpable sense of vulnerability.

While the romance narrative falters, the film offers brief insights into Diana's charitable efforts, notably her campaign against landmines. However, younger viewers and those less acquainted with British history might leave the movie viewing Diana as merely a wealthy divorcee rather than a significant public figure. The Blu-ray edition enhances the viewing experience with a standard keepcase and an informative color booklet on the movie's fashion design. Despite its earnest attempt to treat Diana's memory respectfully and avoid sensationalism, "Diana" ultimately delivers an underwhelming portrayal of one of the most iconic figures of modern history.

Diana's Blu Ray presentation is a mixed bag that offers a technically competent but ultimately hollow viewing experience. The film's visual transfer is commendably sharp, exhibiting vibrant colors and precise details that bring scenes to life with clarity. The audio mix is equally proficient, providing crisp dialogue and a well-balanced soundstage that immerses the viewer. Despite these technical merits, the film itself falters significantly in delivering a cohesive narrative and compelling character study.

The performances, anchored by Naomi Watts as Diana, fall short of redeeming the movie's fragmented script and lackluster direction. While Watts brings an earnest effort to the role, her portrayal is hampered by a screenplay that fails to delve deeper into Diana’s complexities. Naveen Andrews offers a noteworthy supporting performance, lending some depth to an otherwise superficial story arc. However, both actors seem adrift in an unfocused narrative that struggles to find its footing, covering neither the most pivotal moments of Diana's life nor providing substantial insight into her persona.

Though Diana has been dead now for well over a decade, it simply have been too soon to expect a balanced, well formulated biographical film based on her life (or in this case, part of her life). This is a sad film for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that such an accomplished actress is left to flounder with such a directionless (or, perhaps, multi-directional) script and listless direction. Watts brings the requisite star power to this feature, but there's nothing supporting her, other than an appealing supporting performance by Andrews.