Wright, Joe (22 November 2021). "Empire of Light, starring Olivia Colman and directed by Sam Mendes, to be filmed at Dreamland in Margate". Kent Online . Retrieved 29 November 2021. Olivia Colman plays the cinema manager, Hilary, who is managing mental health issues in a time when we didn’t talk about it. Meanwhile, Micheal Ward is Stephen, a new employee who just wants to escape the town he currently lives in. The two of them find a sense of belonging with each other and in the cinema, and they will do anything they can to save it. Empire of Light DVD release date Anderson, Erik (12 December 2022). "Washington DC Critics go for 'Everything Everywhere All At Once', 'Glass Onion', 'The Banshees of Inisherin' ". AwardsWatch . Retrieved 13 December 2022. The "story" is made up of runtime-padding dramatic beats that always begin in a very strong manner but are always either resolved without any real struggle or conflict or are abandoned entirely. No consequences are ever seen or felt, and it dampens the impact of the whole film. I felt nothing when the credits rolled. Sam Mendes is no stranger to meaningful and heartfelt storytelling. Empire of Light is another example of that. Set in an English coastal town in the 1980s, the story is all about love, friendship, and compassion. Everything is set around a fading cinema, a place where people have come for all sorts of needs throughout the years.

Hilary becomes jealous when Stephen begins hanging out with Janine, a younger employee. While watching New Year's Eve fireworks from the cinema roof, Hilary impulsively kisses Stephen. The two of them begin a sexual relationship. Hilary cuts off Donald and, happy about the new relationship, stops taking her medication. Sam Mendes’ Oscar-nominated drama Empire of Light is releasing for home viewing on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital. The film first releases in digital formats including SD (480p), HD (1080p), and 4k UHD (2160p) on Feb. 7, 2023. ( Read Review)

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Empire of Light is a sweet, heartfelt, humane movie, which doesn’t shy away from the brutality and the racism that was happening in the streets outside the cinema: the Empire is showing Stir Crazy starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, directed by Sidney Poitier – a message of diversity, if 1981 Britain cared to listen. It’s clearly a labour of love for Sam Mendes: love requited. Jones, Ian (13 March 2023). "UK has modest success at 2023 Oscars with four wins". The Independent . Retrieved 13 March 2023. Production [ edit ] The Dreamland Margate Cinema signage was changed to "Empire Cinema" during production of the film. What's most surprising, in that sense, is just how creaky the film is at crafting its love letter to celluloid. If you need another movie to add to your DVD collection, look no further than Empire of Light. It heads to DVD and Blu-ray this month.

Also, Colin Firth is woefully miscast as the cinema manager; not because he's bad in the movie, he's great in the movie. But because he has such limited screen time and has such a thankless, undemanding roll. It's far beneath an actor of his calibre and experience. He's tragically under-utilised. On Blu-ray, the film is presented in 1080p at 2.39:1 aspect ratio with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 channels. Subtitles are provided in English SDH, French, and Spanish. In Digital 4k UHD, the film is presented in 2160p with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. For British filmmaker Sam Mendes, the Oscar-winning director of American Beauty, Skyfall and, more recently, the WWI drama 1917, the movies still matter – as an art form that can generate empathy, inspire emotion, and maybe even transcend a reality that's confusing and sometimes hostile.Hilary's precarious state is the emotional centre of the film, and – in Colman's committed, sometimes tender performance – the source of its most affecting moments, but the strangely lethargic drama often feels like it's labouring under its own fog of lithium-induced torpor. (The listless, kneading piano score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross doesn't help the film's energy.) The film had its world premiere at the 49th Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2022, and was released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through a limited theatrical release in the United States on 9 December 2022 and theatrically in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2023. Empire of Light received praise for Colman and Ward's performances and Roger Deakins's cinematography, but the screenplay was criticised. [ by whom?] At the 80th Golden Globe Awards, the film was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for Colman, while Ward received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 76th British Academy Film Awards. It also received a nomination for Best Cinematography at the 95th Academy Awards. [4] Plot [ edit ] Disney has announced that Searchlight Pictures’ “Empire of Light” will release on Digital platforms in the United States on February 7, 2023, and Blu-ray and DVD on February 21, 2023, with never-before-seen bonus content featuring Sam Mendes and the cast that uncovers the story’s origins and the director’s love of cinema. The film will also release on HBO Max in the United States on February 7th and on Disney+ in Canada on February 8th. Selected items are only available for delivery via the Royal Mail 48® service and other items are available for delivery using this service for a charge.

Empire of Light is a 2022 British romantic drama film directed, written, and co-produced by Sam Mendes. Set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, the film is about the power of human connection during turbulent times. It stars Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Monica Dolan, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth. The film was released for VOD on 7 February 2023, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on 21 February 2023. [18] [19] [20] Reception [ edit ] Critical response [ edit ] The performance of Olivia Colman received critical acclaim. Empire of Light premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2022. [15] It received a limited theatrical release by Searchlight Pictures in the United States on 9 December 2022 and was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2023. [16] [17]Neglia, Matt (19 December 2022). "The 2022 Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture . Retrieved 22 December 2022. a b Bradshaw, Peter (12 September 2022). "Empire of Light review – Olivia Colman shines in Sam Mendes's darkening hymn to cinema". The Guardian . Retrieved 4 January 2023. For all of Colman's determination, Mendes often leaves her performance hanging. In one scene, Hilary has a breakdown in front of a chalkboard scrawled with crude epithets that make her apartment look more like a serial killer's lair; despite Colman's best efforts to wring pathos from the moment, it tilts toward the comedic — a parody of 'crazy' that undermines the supposed humanity of the scene. Empire Of Light” is being overseen by Searchlight Pictures’ Head of Film Production and Development, Katie Goodson-Thomas; Director of Development and Production, Pete Spencer; and Creative Executive, Cornelia Burleigh. Pippa Harris and Mendes will produce it under their Neal Street Productions banner. Also joining the project is production designer Mark Tildesley ( No Time To Die), costume designer Alexandra Byrne ( Dr Strange, Guardians Of The Galaxy), and co-producer Celia Duval ( Belfast). Tangcay, Jazz (5 January 2023). " 'Banshees of Inisherin', 'Everything Everywhere', 'Women Talking' Tie for Most Wins at Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards". Variety . Retrieved 5 January 2023.