Bad Santa – The Unrated Version & Director’s
Cut (Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C- Film: C-
Terry
Zwigoff was off to a good start with Ghost
World, but has lost his way as a filmmaker and the one-joke, one-note,
overly-obvious, semi-hit Bad Santa
is one of the reasons. Billy Bob Thornton plays yet another
foul-mouthed burn-out whose disgust and annoyance with everything is supposed
to be perpetually funny, but instead undermines his career and holds back a
true acting talent. Some would prefer
this over the “official in a suit” roles he has also repeated too much, though
this situation is also a sad commentary on how bad scripts chosen for
production are.
This new
Blu-ray edition brings two different cuts of the film only previously available
on separate DVDs, neither of which are the theatrical version. You can read more about that and the
differences in our review of the film and situation at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4653/Bad+Santa+–+Director's+Cut
Yes, my
colleague liked the film, but I am not as happy to say the least. Nevertheless, it can be said that there is no
in-between on this film. That brings us
to the performance of the Blu-ray.
The 1080p
1.85 x1 digital High Definition image looks good, but not great, sourced from
the same elements the DVDs seem to have been made from. Video Red can be odder than expected and
though this is better than the DVDs (whose picture was liked by the other
critic better than I), this will more than suffice for fans. The PCM 24/48 5.1 mix is better than the
Dolby Digital 5.1 here and on the DVDs, though the two cuts of the film have
some minor variances in fidelity, the sound is dialogue-based at best.
Extras
repeat those of the DVD Director’s Cut, as well as include a Badder Santa gag reel and on-camera
interview with Zwigoff and Editor Robert Hoffman by no less than Roger
Ebert. At least Blu-ray fans of the film
will not need two DVDs.
- Nicholas Sheffo
