Blu-ray Review: A Mighty Heart

Angelina Jolie gives a transformative performance as Mariane Pearl, widow of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and beheaded by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002. The film is a powerful and memorable look at love and loss post-9/11. Pearl’s legacy, the Pearl Foundation, is the subject of an optional public service announcement preceding the movie, and a short featurette on the Committee to Protect Journalists drives home the point that such a group is sadly necessary these days. The standard-definition documentary A Journey of Passion goes deeply into the characters and their motivations. Shot with high-definition cameras, the picture looks exceptionally sharp and natural, while the Dolby True HD audio gives clarity to the ambient noises of Karachi, Islamabad and other filming locations.

Shelf Talk: Pearl’s killing has long since faded from the headlines, but Jolie is always a hot property. This is arguably her best performance, and those building their Blu-ray library will want to add this title based on her name and the film’s critical acclaim.