The Mini-Series
Unlike me, author Charles Dickens was paid by the word for much of his career, which led to his, shall we say, generous verbiage, and mountainous tomes eagerly devoured by generations of loyal enthusiasts. A favorite theme in his work was the indictment of contemporary British society, the blatant injustices, and the complex Bleak House focuses particularly on the legal system of the era. An immense fortune is at stake as an infamous will continues to be contested, affecting the very lives of a colorful cast of characters, here portrayed by a stellar ensemble in this 2005 Masterpiece Theater mini-series, in 15 parts. It's a captivating drama of manners, of secrets and lies, and dirty scandal. The sheer scope of its nigh-eight-hour running time appropriately captures the spirit of Dickens' grand storytelling, but don't be fooled: The journey is brisk and enjoyable.
The Picture
Captured on HD video, the 1.78:1 image is tainted by a slight harshness, particularly in bright spots such as candle flames, with some unpleasant streaking to the motion as well. Visible compression artifacts appear on out-of-focus backgrounds, or in shadow, and a bluish hue is cast over many scenes. Detail however can be excellent: This being Dickens, we must appreciate the pasty complexions and boils, while period exteriors are well recreated and they reproduce quite lovely, with subtle colors. The costumes too flaunt outstanding texture. There are a lot of legal documents being shuffled about and we can read almost everything.
The Sound
The choice of two-channel Linear PCM is a high-resolution method of delivering what sound like were limited-resolution original recordings. The story begins with a clap of thunder and a rainstorm, and it conveys the necessary mood; no more, no less. Crowds are a believable cacophony of voices, but they do not draw us in. The mix is front-heavy of course, comprised largely of dialogue, which is always crystal clear. Modern atmospheric effects are appropriately big and attention-grabbing. In short, the audio here is merely adequate, and noticeably thin.
The Extras
This is being touted as a "Special Edition," with a few new perks for patient fans. Episode 1 includes an audio commentary by director Justin Chadwick, joined by producer Nigel Stafford-Clark and screenwriter Andrew Davies. Susanna White eventually took over the reins and she offers her own audio comments for Episodes 11 and 15, again alongside Davies and Stafford-Clark. A concise audio description of the events is read--with a curious accent--between moments of dialogue, for the benefit of the visually impaired. Stars Gillian Anderson, Charles Dance and Denis Lawson (also known as Wedge, the best damned star pilot in Rebellion, in the classic Star Wars films) each provide a one-on-one interview, in standard definition. A gallery of still photos is also included.
Final Thoughts
This most recent redux of Dickens' Bleak House is faithful to the original while smartly crafted with ample, juicy drama for today's TV audiences. The high-definition video quality imparts a (literally) warts-and-all immediacy, the audio is serviceable, and the extras add a charming touch.
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