The Hustler (1959/Fox Blu-ray + DVD Set) + The
Verdict – Collector’s Edition (1984/Fox DVD Set)
Picture:
C+ (Hustler Blu: B) Sound: C+ Extras: B- Films: B
PLEASE NOTE: This is an update of a DVD-only
review from 2007 four years later with the Blu-ray added.
It was a
sad day when Paul Newman said he would finally retire from acting. Fox had just reissued two of his best films
in double DVD sets, likely anticipating their inevitable Blu-ray release. Robert Rossen’s The Hustler (1961) is the remarkable tale of the young slick pool
player Fast Eddie Felson and how both his talents and ambition collide with the
then especially dirty world of the popular sport game. The
Verdict (1982) is the ever-powerful tale of an attorney who has fallen from
grace, no mater how good he is, battling his personal demons and an alcohol
problem.
The Hustler is often know as the film that
inspired Martin Scorsese’s sequel, The
Color Of Money with Tom Cruise, but it is the darker, more savvy,
disturbing of the two. If the sequel
helped Cruise become a huge box office star, the original proved that Newman
was more than just a pretty boy (which he was often accused of being at the
time, implying limited to no talent) and also showed that Jackie Gleason (so
popular at the time from The
Honeymooners alone) had a dark side he knew ho0w to play up well. As successful as the sequel was, this film
deserves another round of rediscovery.
The Verdict is another gem by the late, great
Sidney Lumet, one of the great Dramatic directors as Newman has to dig in and
bring lawyer Frank Galvin to life as a very aged, angry, damaged, complex
character who is about to get bought out over a big case. Instead, he decides he will fight the case with
the odds very much against him. Of course,
this is a character study and not just about the case. At a time when the law seems to be failing
more and more people as precedent and civil rights are turned on their head,
the film is more relevant than ever.
Needless
to say both films are must-see features for anyone serious about film or anyone
who claims to know anything about film.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image on The
Hustler was shot in original CinemaScope and it is a great-looking film,
but this transfer had a case of slight digititis throughout that hurts playback
and is not any better than past editions.
The Blu-ray at 1080p AVC @ 19 MBPS digital High Definition transfer is a
major improvement in Video Black, Video White, depth and detail as the
digititis is suddenly gone. It may not
be perfect, with some flaws in the print and some detail issues in some parts
of the transfer, but it is far better than the DVD overall and can be
impressive. The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio)
lossless 5.1 mix on the Blu-ray is a little harsh, shrill and tinny, sounding
like it comes from older materials and the DVD only has Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono,
which is limited, lossy and shows its age.
Some more restoration is needed to match the nice improvement in image.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image on The
Verdict looks a little better that the previous DVD, which is good, but
reminds me that low-definition just cannot do justice to this film. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is here in
original mono and slightly-upgraded stereo with no surrounds. Extras are expanded for each set.
Both
versions of The Hustler include
stills, original theatrical trailer, two five-piece trick shot pieces with
clips from the film, two vintage making of featurettes, three new ones and a
really good audio commentary including Newman, Carol Rossen (Robert Rossen's
Daughter), Dede Allen (Editor), Stefan Gierasch (Actor), Ulu Grosbard
(Assistant Director), Richard Schickel (Film Critic, Time Magazine) and Jeff
Young (Film Historian), while the Blu-ray adds a built-in 24-page collectible
booklet. The Verdict includes its own stills, Newman/Lumet audio commentary
and three new featurettes. That makes
both very loaded and collectible. Expect
The Verdict Blu-ray soon.
- Nicholas Sheffo
