Harriet – Blu-ray Movie Review

Harriet is the true story of Harriet Tubman, her escape from slavery, and her tireless efforts to free slaves and help the Union to victory in the civil war. The story begins in 1849 where Harriet marries a freedman and learns that her children will be born into bondage. She decides to escape her owners taking on a perilous journey of 100 miles alone. Upon reaching Philadelphia, she meets William Still, one of the leaders of the Underground Railroad. Harriet becomes its bravest conductor as she returns to free more slaves. Eventually, she brings 70 souls to freedom without losing a single one to slave hunters. When the Civil War breaks out, she becomes the first woman to lead an armed expedition at the raid of Combahee Ferry where over 750 slaves were liberated.

I found this film completely engaging and inspirational. Harriet Tubman’s story is told accurately with only a few minor elements falling under the category of interpretation. If you’re like me, and you don’t know the complete history, this film is quite educational. Harriet’s bravery, leadership, and determination are truly unique. Her documented head injury which caused her to have visions and vivid dreams is artfully portrayed here as premonitions of the future. It gives her an almost supernatural power which she attributes to a close relationship with God. Indeed, her faith is a strong element in the story.

As entertainment, Harriet will appeal more to those who don’t know the complete story of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. There are plenty of suspenseful moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. There are an equal number of poignant scenes that ratchet the emotional level up to eleven and I found myself moved many times during the film’s two-hour run time. This movie is not to be missed and I am glad to see principal actress Cynthia Erivo nominated for an Oscar. Her performance is one of the most powerful things I’ve seen in a long time. Harriet is a must-own for anyone interested in American history and one of its most inspirational stories.

Harriet is shot with a realistic color palette that runs from the cool blues of moonlit nights to the warm hues of dawn and dusk over lush farmland and forests. No edge enhancement is apparent in this excellent transfer from a digital master. Contrast is deep with inky blacks and bright highlights that render a wide dynamic range. Though an HDR-encoded version would undoubtedly be better, this 1080p Blu-ray holds its own with the best.

Audio is dialog focused but there are plenty of ambient effects to create a strong surround envelope. There isn’t much for the subwoofer to do but the LFE channel provides a solid foundation, nonetheless. Music is focused on Harriet’s spiritual singing which is mixed to perfection.

Bonus features include 15 minutes of deleted scenes, two short documentary features, and audio commentary by director Kasi Lemmons.