My Left Foot

WITH BLU-RAY AND FULL MOVIE REVIEWINTRO: Based on Christy Brown's autobiographical book by the same name, the movie My Left Foot is one of those exceptional tales of the human spirit told in an exceptional way. With very little melodrama, it allows us to be enlightened, amazed, and inspired while still seeing some of the subject's warts or imperfections. It can make us question our own excuses for not overcoming personal obstacles.THE STORY: Legendary Irish author and painter Christy Brown was born with cerebral palsy to a poor working class family in Dublin 1932. Despite recommendations from doctors to put him in a home, the large family insists on the challenge of caring for him themselves. With all the physical debilitations of CP, the one limb that Christy can effectively control and manipulate is his left foot. The movie depicts a somewhat hard bitten family that struggles for subsistence and sleeps in communal beds. Christy is well loved and protected, but there is a certain acceptance that he cannot communicate or even understand his surroundings to some degree. The family may display some of those harsh stereotypes (at least as the movie depicts), but when push comes to shove, don't mess with the family! Despite preconceptions, Christy will show sparks of intelligence and understanding as he catches his family's attention, then shows inner brilliance with opportunities of education that present themselves. One could say the economic reality itself would have been a great barrier to success, let alone the challenge of CP. However, we see how Christy not only improves his situation with his disability, but turns that very condition into a path to success in a way. Of course he has help and is pushed at times by those who loved him. This is not a canonization of a perfect individual. Just a story of triumph despite all one's flaws.OTHER THOUGHTS: It was heartening to see the community congeal around Christy and include him in the simplest activities such as a game of football. Even hilarious as much as it was touching. Seeing the family protect each other in a scrap with another party over a snide comment was a highlight of the whole movie! I have to admit this is one of those stories I will remember and ask myself what the excuse is when I am feeling sorry for myself, or that I can't do something. Every person has a hidden corner of exceptionality waiting inside of us. This is an extraordinary tale of someone who found it against all odds.REMASTERED BLU RAY EDITION: The 2015 release of the 1989 movie has received a restoration for all new picture quality that is quite excellent overall. The colors are very good. The film has little grain and it appears they opted for a smooth look (rather than sharper, but with more grain). I was very happy overall with the upgrade. I didn't expect reference quality from an 80's movie. Though the colors are very good, there is also a very slight washed look that I think was part of the color pallet. Here are other specs on this disc: Blu Ray features 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: The Real Christy Brown and An Inspirational Journey: The Making of My Left Foot. 1:85:1 aspect ratio. Subtitles/Captions English SDH, SpanishACCOLADES: Daniel Day-Lewis won the first of his three (time of writing this) Leading Actor awards for his performance. Brenda Fricker also won best Supporting Actress. The film received a total of 5 Academy Award nominations including best picture and best director. It also won many other awards outside the Oscars.