Fat Guy Kevin Carr reviews Lionsgate’s Studio Canal Collection Blu-rays of The Ladykillers, Contempt and Ran.
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The Ladykillers Not Rated Studio: Studio Canal/Lionsgate What it’s about: A gang of thieves pretend to be musicians in order to plan a heist, only to be continually thwarted by a little old lady. The movie: Kinda rocks – I know this is blasphemy to many, but I actually prefer the Coen Brothers’ remake of The Ladykillers to this incarnation. Maybe it’s because this film is so dated, both from a pacing and cinematography style, that it just didn’t click with me. Still, it’s a clever romp with fantastic and surprising performances, giving fans of actors like Alec Guinness, Herbert Lom and Peter Sellers a chance to see them in their earlier years. |
The bonus material: Rocks! – The Studio Canal collection from Lionsgate, new to Blu-ray, offers a great, comprehensive look at the films. Even if you are not a fan of the movie, you can get lost for hours in the bonus material. This release includes an introduction by Terry Gilliam, audio commentary, a documentary on the Ealing films, a featurette on the restoration, plus additional interviews with Allan Scott, Terence Davies and Ronald Harwood.
Notes on the Blu-ray experience: Like many films from the classic era, there’s a lot of grain to the picture, and the color scheme isn’t quite up to snuff of modern digital technology. Still, The Ladykillers has been restored brilliantly, which is chronicled in the bonus material. Not available in widescreen, the image won’t fill your hi-def television, but it will look as good as it ever is going to.
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Contempt (Le Mepris) Not Rated Studio: Studio Canal/Lionsgate What it’s about: Jean-Luc Godard directs Brigette Bardot in his highest-profile film about a screenplay writer whose relationship with his wife implodes during a rash of studio meddling. The movie: Kinda sucks – I’m a reverse film snob. I like the blockbusters and just don’t get into the art cinema scene. This leaves entire genres, like the French New Wave, out of my tastes. So if I don’t fawn over Contempt, feel free to flame the hell out of me as many people did after I gave Sunset Boulevard a sour review. Still, I can appreciate what Godard is doing in this movie, especially when it comes to the introspective nature of the filmmaking process. Indeed, this movie is more about interpersonal relationships, of which Godard is a master. I just was somewhat bored… but I did appreciate his insistence on having Bardot naked in the first scene. |
The bonus material: Rocks! – Like other Studio Canal releases, this is loaded with bonus material. The biggest drawback is the same with the film itself – it’s all in French. (See, I told you I was a reverse film snob.) Still, you get an introduction by Godard expert Colin MacCabe, a documentary of the film called “Once Upon a Time There Was… Contempt,” a conversation with Fritz Lang (not in French, of course), a discussion between Lang and Godard called “The Dinosaur and the Baby” and the film’s original trailers.
Notes on the Blu-ray experience: Audiences don’t always get to appreciate the beauty of older films with pristine prints, and the look of Contempt is quite beautiful. Though not an effects-driven film and relatively static in its shots, Contempt looks crisp and sharp in high definition.
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Ran Rated R Studio: Studio Canal/Lionsgate What it’s about: Legendary director Akira Kurosawa loosely retells Shakespeare’s King Lear against the backdrop of 16th century feudal Japan. The movie: Kinda rocks – I’ve not be a huge student of Kurosawa, so I’m coming at his epic masterpiece from a rather ignorant field. Still, this movie has the scope you would expect from an epic, and it definitely takes the audience for a journey. The 80s production value does get a little dated with static shots and film grain, but overall, it’s an artistic look at betrayal and power that rips apart a family. Take your time to watch this one, and try it in the original Japanese, but give yourself time. With a running time approaching three hours, you don’t want to split this one up. |
The bonus material: Rocks! – More great stuff from Studio Canal, including featurettes “Art of the Samurai,” “Akira Kurosawa: The Epic and the Intimate,” “The Samurai” and the feature length documentary “A.K.”.
Notes on the Blu-ray experience: Movies like Ran are made for high quality presentation. They have their intimate moments, but they shine in the sweeping shots of the countryside, the battle sequences and the start contrasting colors of the not-always-realistic but nonetheless beautiful imagery.
This sounds like an amazing collection. And how dare you dislike 'Contempt'. Sinner.
Well, it's not my cup of tea, but I respect the movie. That's gotta count for something. 🙂
This sounds like an amazing collection. And how dare you dislike ‘Contempt’. Sinner.
Well, it’s not my cup of tea, but I respect the movie. That’s gotta count for something. 🙂
When is Studio Canal going to release “The Go-Between” t on Blu-ray for US release.
Thank you
Bruce Christenson