With the poster for this year’s Cannes Film Festival recently unveiled, this week we’re taking a look at the best of last year’s winners available on Blu-ray. So if you’re stuck for ideas this weekend, why not try out one of the following:
Drive
Accelerating onto Blu-ray earlier this year, Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive scooped him the award for Best Director at last year’s festival – and it’s easy to see why. This beautifully crafted drama, starring Ryan Gosling as a getaway driver and Carey Mulligan as his helpless neighbour Irene, has gone on to wow audiences and win fans around the globe. After a heist intended to pay off Irene’s husband’s enemies spins unpredictably out of control, Gosling finds himself fighting for the girl he loves, pursued by a syndicate of deadly serious criminals. Given 4.5 stars for its audio and visual quality by Blu-ray.com, the BD special features include an in-depth look at the characters and the cast, a supplement on the driving scenes and a reflective featurette in which Refn shares his own thoughts on the final cut.
Melancholia
Kirsten Dunst took home the Best Actress award for her part in Lars von Trier’s beautifully shot, end-of-the-world movie Melancholia. The star-studded affair follows the disintegration of her lavish wedding reception, which includes guests such as Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, John Hurt and Alexander Skarsgård. The film revisits her life six months later when a planet named Melancholia is heading directly towards the Earth. Special features include interviews with the director and main characters, a making-of documentary and plenty of additional insight on the movie making process via audio commentaries.
The Tree of Life
Honoured with last year’s Palme d’Or award, Terrence Mallick’s unconventional narrative and surreal but beautiful imagery wowed judges and critics alike. Arriving on Blu-ray with stunning HD picture and audio quality (awarded 5/5 by Blu-ray.com) this emotive drama stars Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, and centres on the memories of a married couple and their three sons growing up in 1950s Texas. Extras include a 30 minute making-of documentary called Exploring the Tree of Life which focuses on Malick’s seven year development of the project, alongside the film’s theatrical trailer.
So what do you think of our choices? Hit the comments to tell us your favourite Cannes 2011 movies, or tell us what else you’ll be looking forward to watching on Blu-ray this weekend.
