A
Bronx Tale 4K
(1993/Imprint/Via Vision 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)/The
Drama
(2026/A24*)/Father
Mother Sister Brother
(2024/MUBI*)/Fresh
Horses
(1988/*all Alliance Blu-ray)/Last
Summer
(1969/Allied Artists/Warner Archive Blu-ray)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: B+ Picture: B-/B+/B-/B-/B Sound:
B-/B+/B/C+/B- Extras: B/B/D/D/B Films: B/B+/B-/C+/B-
PLEASE
NOTE:
The A
Bronx Tale 4K
4K/Blu-ray set is now only available from our friends at Via
Vision/Imprint Entertainment in Australia, can play on all Blu-ray
players, is limited to only 1,500 copies and can be ordered while
supplies last, while the Last
Summer
Blu-ray is now only available from Warner Bros. through their Warner
Archive series. Both can be ordered from the links below.
Now
for a very interesting group of dramas you should know about and
see...
Robert
De Niro's A
Bronx Tale 4K
(1993) is the legendary actor's directing debut form a play and
script by co-star Chazz Palminteri, playing opposite each other. De
Niro has a son he is trying to raise well while working as a bus
driver, while Palminteri is the local head mobster. His son has both
men in his life, but will the son choose crime or follow the better
example of a life without crime?
Released
by the fledgling Savoy Pictures, it was not the hit it deserved to
be, but is as realistic, dense, raw and honest as it was when it
first hit theaters. All the actors are good here, including the two
young men who play the son at different ages and De Niro definitely
was paying attention to all the work he did with Scorsese over the
years. The period is brought to life with full authenticity and it
is a film people are still discovering. This is now easily the
ultimate, deluxe edition that was way overdue for this film and 4K
too! Definitely recommended!
Details
on the extras can be found at the ordering link below, but they
include the great hardcase, a mini-hardcover version of the
screenplay, a new interview, several archival extras from 1993 &
2023 and an Original Theatrical Trailer. Just remember they
have only made 1.500 of these.
There’s
a lot to say about The
Drama
(2026,) a deep dive into the psychology of a marriage on the verge of
collapse between a couple Charlie and Emma (Robert Pattinson and
Zendaya) after one of them uncovers the worst thing the other has
ever done, or attempted to do. The catalyst for the story is best
left out of this review, allowing viewers to experience it for
themselves. The film explores the couple's relationship before the
truth comes to light and the emotional spiral that follows,
culminating in a unique ending that leaves you thinking long after
the credits roll. The
Drama
is brilliantly acted, written, and directed, and will no doubt remain
a talking point in A24's library for years to come.
The
film also stars Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, and Hailey Gates.
Special
Features:
A
feature length audio commentary track with costume designer Katina
Danabassis, production designer Zosia Mackenzie, and co-editor Joshua
Raymond Lee
"Unpacking
the Drama"
making-of featurette
Wardrobe
and camera test with commentary by Katina Danabassis
"Relationship
Hotline"
promo
Charlie
& Emma wedding video
and
a set of six collectible postcards illustrated by Kristina Tzekova.
The
collectible A24 packaging is, as usual, superior to that of most
other boutique labels.
A24
once again proves that it is a studio committed to utilizing some of
Hollywood's brightest talent to tell captivating, topical stories
that push the boundaries of conversation. The
Drama
also makes for an excellent companion piece to The
Invite,
another A24 release from this movie season that explores similar
themes of love, trust, and the lengths people are willing to go for
those they care about. Both films examine what people are willing to
forgive, and what they are not, if a relationship is to remain
healthy.
Jim
Jarmusch has made many films, including Music Video, music films and
feature film dramas. At first, some might think his most recent
film, Father
Mother Sister Brother
(2024) might be film on the making of the theme to the TV classic
Soul
Train,
but it is actually an impressive piece in three parts, taking place
in three different cities in three different countries, dealing with
personal family reunions.
The
first has two siblings (Miyam Bialik and Adam Driver) visiting their
father Tom Waits who is not in the trouble or dire straits he
pretends to be. In Ireland, two sisters (Cate Blanchett and Vicki
Krieps) meet up over their mother's house (Charlotte Rampling) for
afternoon tea and two other siblings from the U.S. (Indya Moore and
Luka Sabbat) get together in their new home town of Paris, France.
The
segments have some common denominators on purpose, sometimes with
irony, sometimes with humor and all showing the writer/director's
ability to capture subtle human behavior like too few directors do
today. Jarmusch is sadly one of the last of the indie directors form
a great cycle of them not too long ago and we are not getting many
more like him, as the newer directors are going for package deals,
formula scripts and exploitation films. Jarmusch never sold out and
this is his strongest film maybe since Broken
Flowers
(2005) which was also underrated, but this one got less notice.
Where are the good, supportive critics these days?
Father
Mother Sister Brother
is definitely worth a good look.
There
are no
extras.
David
Anspaugh's Fresh
Horses
(1988) is one of the last major feature films for Molly Ringwald, a
tale of a intimate affair with an engaged man (Andrew McCarthy, who
is also really good here) when they should both know better. The
fiancee is beautiful comes from a good family and is very nice, but
the sudden chemistry between the two is of the kind they cannot
resist. Problems will eventually
follow.
Made
for the fledgling and failed Weintruab Company, it had some high
expectations when issued and of the few films they made, is one of
the only ones that is watchable, but it still got compromised in its
screenplay and in other ways where some 1980s cliches just had to be
thrown in, childish and ruining the pace, while insulting the
audience a good bit. Audiences and fans deserved better.
Besides
the locales, the director helmed Hoosiers and later Rudy,
so he can direct, plus the supporting cast includes Patti
D'Arbanville, Molly Hagen, Marita Geraghty, Welker White, Ken Strunk,
William Youmans and very young turns by Ben Stiller and Viggo
Mortensen. If anything, the cycle of the so-called 'brat pack' films
was winding down and unfortunately, audiences and films like this
that sadly fell short did not let them grow up and evolve. That is
why its nice to see this get reissued, for what does work and for
people to catch up with it or even see it again. Just wish it worked
far more than it does.
There
are no
extras.
Frank
Perry's Last
Summer
(1969) is a controversial look at youths in the late 1960s
freewheeling and enjoying themselves, but maybe throwing more caution
to the wind than they should. It all starts when two guys (Richard
Thomas and and Bruce Davison) meet up with a very pretty young gal
(Barbara Hershey, all three were just starting out in the business)
when she saves a bird that is choking. After they save the bird (in
a very bloody and graphic scene, a foreshadowing of things to come,)
they start to hang out and get slowly involved, both guys obviously
sexually interested in her and she knows it.
Their
fun is palpable and the beautiful summer weather is another plus, but
things stay interesting as they befriend another gal (Catherine
Burns, who won an Oscar for her work here) that only mixes things up
more. I will quit there because I do not want to reveal any
spoilers, but this got a pre-hardcore sex X-rating (when that meant
serious themes and intelligent adult material, versus what it became
after 1972) and you'll see why when you watch this often remarkable
film that is as much of a time capsule as it is as relevant as ever
today.
Allied
Artists took a real risk making this film and the result was some
commercial and critical success that helped build up the company
while they lasted and of course, the three leads moved onto long
enduring careers. Well made, if the results are slightly predictable
and expected, it is a must-see film for all serious film fans. Glad
it is back and restored.
Extras
include a feature
length audio commentary track by Larry Karazewski and Justin Bozung
Deleted
Scene
Two
Q&As from American Cinematheque, one with Hershey and Davison.
Promo
Reel from Allied Artists promoting the film
Deleted
Scene with Richard Thomas and Ralph Waite, years before they would
co-star on their long-running TV hit The
Waltons.
and
Trailers
from Hell
clip on the film
Now
for playback performance. The 2160p HEVC/H.265, 1.85 X 1, Dolby
Vision/HDR (10; Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced Ultra High Definition
image on A
Bronx Tale 4K
is finally looking good after a few horrid DVD releases. The 4K is
the closest to a fresh, mint 35mm film print since I saw the film in
its original release, with a fine use of color and style throughout
that is periods accurate. This is as well shot as it is edited too.
The sound
is here in DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 and PCM 2.0 Stereo lossless
mixes, trying its best to sound good, but the 2.0 Stereo is a little
more effective and the film was originally issued in Dolby's more
advanced, analog SR (Spectral Recording) format. You can toggle
between the two to see which one you like best.
The
Drama
is presented in 1080p high definition on 2K Blu-ray disc with an
MPEG-4 AVC codec, a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and a lossless
Dolby
Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mixdown for older systems; 48kHz,
24-bit) soundmix. Occasionally you will see a bit of film grain or
noise on the transfer that is noticeable but not distracting. In
fact it kind of adds to the experience of watching the film and makes
it feel like a creative choice rather than a misstep. That being
said the Blu-ray transfer is of a high quality even if some
compression is evident which is native to the format.
The
1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image on Father
Mother Sister Brother
is a little softer throughout than I would have liked, but might look
better in a 4K presentation, while the sound is here in DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo lossless mixes that are about
even, though the 2.0 Stereo was a little more natural. Both are
solid.
The
1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer on Fresh
Horses
is from an older HD master and can show the age of the materials
used, but this also has some nice shots, while the DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Stereo mix is a little weak and from the
original theatrical Dolby System, Dolby old A-type analog noise
reduction format. Be careful of high playback levels and volume
switching to be on the safe side.
The
1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer on Last
Summer
can show the age of the materials used a bit, but this needed some
serious restoration work and it worked out well enough. Issued
in regular Eastman Color Kodak 35mm prints, the film is often shot on
the soft side (read natural) and that works fine throughout, with no
sign of fading or major issues. The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0
Mono sound is in great shape for its age and original theatrical
monophonic format, so that's a plus.
To
order the A
Bronx Tale 4K
box set, go to this link for the cover, packaging, extras and
ordering details:
https://viavision.com.au/collections/new-release/products/a-bronx-tale-limited-edition-4k-uhd-blu-ray-hardbox-hardcover-booklet?variant=52113080320313
And
to order the Last
Summer
Warner
Archive Blu-ray,
go to this link for it and many more great web-exclusive
releases at:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/ED270804-095F-449B-9B69-6CEE46A0B2BF?ingress=0&visitId=6171710b-08c8-4829-803d-d8b922581c55&tag=blurayforum-20
-
Nicholas Sheffo and James Lockhart (The
Drama)
https://letterboxd.com/jhl5films/
