Glory 4K UHD Steelbook Review
“Glory” is still one of the best war films.
1989’s “Glory” is a Civil War film based on historical facts. The story centers around Robert Gould Shaw who goes from a Captain to a Colonel that is placed in charge of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment of African-American soldiers. Under the guidance of Cabot Forbes and Mulcahy, the soldiers begin rigorous physical and weapons training all while trying to fight for equal rights, equal pay, and the attire that any soldier should be afforded. At first, it appears as if the squad will only be used as manual labor, but the regiment gets an opportunity to see the battlefield where they really make a mark on history .
Directed by Edward Zwick (best known for “The Last Samurai” and “Legends Of The Fall”) and written by Kevin Jarre, “Glory” still stands as not only one of the best Civil War films, but among the most important war films ever produced. Even seeing this film 30 years ago in a history class, it had such an impact on me. It was an emotional and moving cinematic work that shed light on black soldiers fighting in the Civil War (a subject that doesn’t get explored nearly enough) while also telling a deep story about America’s past, racism, freedom, and the human spirit. Yes, the fact that the story is told through the Colonel (played by Matthew Broderick) does undercut the impact of the story to a degree, but he was the leader of the outfit in real life. With that said, it would have made more sense to explore the story from the POV of a soldier like Thomas Searles (Andre Braugher) or Private Trip (Denzel Washington).
On the subject of the cast, Denzel Washington definitely owned the screen here and earned his first Oscar win. From the second he appears, he grabs your attention as the tough, vocal, and angry Private Trip who is harboring a lot of pain and complex emotions. Some may find that Matthew Broderick seems a bit miscast here as a rich kid turned Colonel, but he winds up fitting the part. It’s easy to see why Broderick took the role. He wanted to shed his Ferris Bueller role and showcase his acting range. Morgan Freeman is great as always as Sgt. Rawlins. Cary Elwes shines as Cabot Forbes. You could make a case that Elwes should have been in Broderick’s role instead. The late great Andre Braugher gives a truly emotional performance as Thomas Searles.
It should be mandatory that every review of “Glory” mentions James Horner’s score. When it comes to film score history, this is one of the best you will ever hear. It’s so powerful and tailor made for every scene of the film.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.85:1 2160p. How does it look? A prime example of how to do a catalogue title on 4K. A pristine print through and through.
Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? Whether Horner’s score is playing or a battle is playing out on screen, this is a dynamic track.
Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* Theatrical trailer (on the 4K).
* Picture-In-Picture commentary by Edward Zwick, Morgan Freeman and Matthew Broderick (on the 4K).
* On The Blu-ray- 2 deleted scenes with optional commentary by Edward Zwick, Sony trailers, vintage theatrical making-of featurette, a Virtual Civil War Battlefield, commentary by Edward Zwick, a featurette on the 54th titled “The Voices Of Glory,” and “The True Story Continues” (a substantial extra about the history of the 54th and Civil War).
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