‘Maudie’ Blu-Ray Review – Sally Hawkins Disappears Into The Role Of A Real-Life Artist

An arthritic Nova Scotia woman works as a housekeeper while she hones her skills as an artist and eventually becomes a beloved figure in the community.

For thoughts on Maudie, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/D6hpN4qYZgE?si=ridhmu4GqBo1adjK&t=3282]

Video Quality

Maudie comes to MOD Blu-Ray in a 1080p presentation that holds up nicely. The Nova Scotia setting really comes alive with plentiful sequences featuring vegetation and stark landscapes that provide depth to the image. The image is consistently crisp and detailed as you get textures from the costumes and elements of the production design. With the focus on artwork within the narrative, it comes as no surprise that this is a lovingly composed film with many impressive shots you would want to frame to inspect the incredible details. 

There are no obvious deficiencies when it comes to noise or other such digital nuisances. Skin tones look very detailed, consistent, and natural all around. Highlights are handled beautifully, along with the deep blacks that do not appear to suffer from any compression artifacts. While there is a cool push to the overall palette, the film embraces the vibrancy of the paint which extends to elements of the production design. The world is reproduced perfectly here with a pleasing radiance. This presentation does what is asked of it, although we would have preferred a pressed disc. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures the subdued ambition that transports you to this time and place. This is a very gentle film, but environmental elements give the track more activity in the surround channels. The sound design is deftly executed with all of the sounds positioned just right in the mix. The Michael Timmins score is showcased impeccably here with a subtlely enveloping use of the rear channels. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being overwhelmed by competing elements. This release brings the movie to life with a quiet confidence. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Director Aisling Walsh provides a commentary track in which she discusses the process of developing the film, filling in the gaps of Maud’s story, the location shooting, the nuances of the performances, the shot composition, and much more. 

• Maudie – The Inside Story: A 15-minute featurette is provided in which the cast and creative team discuss the real-life Maud, the thematic arc of the story, the direction of Aisling Walsh, the qualities of the paintings, and more. 

Final Thoughts

Maudie is a rewarding look at a real-life talent who was consistently dismissed and treated unfairly by nearly everyone around her. The movie attempts to emphasize the “love story” aspect of her relationship with her husband, but this never really feels like love – at least in a romantic sense or by modern standards. What is far more compelling is the journey to independence she undertakes as she proves her worth again and again with enriching works of art. Sally Hawkins disappears into the role with her commitment to bringing Maud to life in a way that captures her complexity. Some conventional elements are forced onto the story, but this remains a compelling story well worth consuming. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a MOD Blu-Ray featuring a solid A/V presentation and a few cool special features. If you want a touching story about an inspirational woman, put this on your list. Recommended 

Maudie can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.