A Brief History of Time Blu-ray Review

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, Criterion's Blu-ray release of Errol Morris' "A Brief History of Time" delivers an exceptional 1080p transfer. Supervised by the director of photography John Bailey and meticulously scanned in 4K resolution from the 35mm original camera negative, this presentation showcases an impressive degree of clarity, sharpness, and contrast. The restoration efforts, involving thousands of manual corrections for dirt, debris, scratches, splices, and warps using MTI's DRS and Digital Vision's Phoenix, are evident in the pristine visual quality.

The image stability stands out, with no compression or encoding issues apparent throughout the playing time. Colors are vividly rendered with a particular emphasis on blues and greens, contributing to the film's three-dimensional depth. Grain is present yet fine and consistent, enriching the visual texture without detracting from image clarity. Facial complexions look natural, offering enhanced detail in skin tones, while clothing and furniture feature crisp, distinct lines. The overall cinematography benefits from these enhancements, enabling Morris' depiction of Stephen Hawking’s concepts to visually resonate.

The masterful use of light and color significantly enhances the narrative delivery, particularly in sequences illustrating Stephen Hawking's theories. In a holistic sense, this high-definition transfer appears to set a new benchmark for the film's home video presentation, likely establishing this release as its definitive edition. Note that this Blu-ray is Region-A locked, requiring compatible Region-A or Region-Free players for access.

The audio presentation of "A Brief History of Time" on Blu-ray, featuring an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, delivers a commendable experience despite some limitations inherent in its design. The orchestral score by Philip Glass receives a significant boost from the lossless format, offering a rich range of nuanced dynamics that effectively complement various segments of the documentary. Hawking's theories are punctuated by shifts in the music, adding depth and emotional resonance to different illustrations and discussions. Dialogue is impeccably clean and stable, ensuring that every spoken word is clear and easy to follow throughout, free from distortions, pops, cracks, or audio dropouts.

While the audio is derived from the original 4-track magnetic strips much like the video, it doesn’t reach the same level of impressive fidelity. The DTS-HD Master Audio track excels in delivering crisp and detailed vocals, essential for a documentary format. Front imaging is well-balanced, though opportunities to appreciate this are sparse across the 89-minute runtime. The dynamic range remains uniform and unfluctuating, with a mostly silent low-end presence. Some sequences include minor rear channel activity, but this is so faint as to be nearly imperceptible. Nevertheless, the high-rez track performs adequately, making it a reliable choice for ensuring the audio quality meets the documentary’s needs.

The Blu-ray release of "A Brief History of Time" offers a substantial collection of extra features that provide a deeper understanding of the film's creation and execution. Director Errol Morris delivers an insightful interview detailing the film's origins, his collaboration with Stephen Hawking, and his creative intentions. Cinematographer John Bailey offers a compelling discussion on the technical challenges he faced, particularly given his limited access to Hawking. Additionally, the release includes a well-crafted 32-page illustrated booklet that features a detailed essay by David Sterritt, a chapter from Stephen Hawking's memoir "My Brief History," and an excerpt from "A Brief History of Time." This robust variety of additional content is likely to satisfy both casual viewers and dedicated fans alike.

Extras included in this disc:

Errol Morris: Director discusses the film's origins and his interactions with Stephen Hawking.

John Bailey: Cinematographer discusses technical challenges and the film's visual aspects.

Booklet: Features an essay by David Sterritt, a chapter from Hawking's memoir, and an excerpt from "A Brief History of Time."

Errol Morris' "A Brief History of Time" offers an engrossing dual narrative: one, a biography of the legendary astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, and the other, an exploration of his groundbreaking theories. The film excels in demonstrating Hawking's extraordinary intellectual tenacity despite his debilitating ALS diagnosis. Through interviews with relatives and colleagues, Morris delves into Hawking's life, revealing a man who enjoyed simple pleasures while deconstructing the universe's complexities. Using flashbacks and personal anecdotes, the film paints a compelling picture of Hawking's journey from childhood curiosity to remarkable scientific accomplishments.

A significant portion of the film is dedicated to elucidating Hawking's theories, especially his famous black hole hypothesis. Morris adeptly simplifies complex scientific ideas through analogies and engaging visuals. At key moments, Hawking himself clarifies his theories using a special communication device, adding authenticity and depth. Cinematographer John Bailey harnesses muted color palettes and shallow focuses to lend the film a somber yet introspective tone, perfectly complementing the themes of cosmic enormity and existential inevitability. This juxtaposition of scientific exposition with personal narrative makes the film both intellectually stimulating and deeply humanizing.

The documentary is visually robust and emotionally resonant, seamlessly weaving together interviews with detailed explanations of cosmology. As the film progresses, it challenges viewers to contemplate not just the validity of Hawking's theories but their larger implications for understanding the universe. While some may find Morris's impartial approach frustrating, it serves to amplify Hawking's philosophies' speculative nature. The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray release enhances this experience with an impressive array of supplemental features, including new interviews and a richly illustrated booklet, making it an essential addition for any serious documentary enthusiast.

Errol Morris' documentary, "A Brief History of Time," provides an engaging biographical presentation of the celebrated physicist Stephen Hawking. Rather than focusing solely on the intricacies of Hawking's best-selling book, the film delves into his life journey, juxtaposing personal anecdotes from his youth with discussions on his groundbreaking scientific theories. The result is a captivating portrayal that reveals both the humanity and intellect behind Hawking's genius.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray release by Criterion boasts exceptional audio and video quality, ensuring that viewers can appreciate the meticulous craft behind Morris' direction and the detailed soundscapes that accompany the narrative. However, it is worth noting that the bonus features are somewhat lacking, which is a letdown for those who were hoping for additional content to enhance their viewing experience.

One does not have to be an expert in physics or astronomy to be seriously intrigued by the questions the great Stephen Hawking asks and then attempts to answer in Errol Morris' documentary "A Brief History of Time." After all, who wouldn't want to know if time, as we know and understand it, would one day come to an end? Recently, Hawking has corrected a number of his theories, but the manner in which they are presented and discussed in this film is absolutely fascinating. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.