|
|
|
White of the Eye (Blu-ray)
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray B - United Kingdom - Arrow Films Review written by and copyright: Samuel Scott (20th March 2014). |
|
The Film
 ***This is a technical review only. For reviews on the movie from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** A serial killer is on the loose in and around the small community of Globe, Arizona, and housewife Joan White (Cathy Moriarty) gradually comes to suspect that her opera-loving hi-fi engineer husband Paul (David Keith) might know more than he’s letting on… So far so familiar, but in the hands of British visionary Donald Cammell (who wrote and co-directed Performance with Nicolas Roeg), the film becomes a dazzling kaleidoscope of images and ideas, spanning everything from Apache folklore, desert landscapes and stylish murder set-pieces that recall Dario Argento to a painfully vivid dissection of the emotional fissures undermining a modern marriage. It’s all set to an equally eclectic score co-written by Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason. Described by the distinguished critic David Thomson as “one of the great secret works in cinema”, White of the Eye is one of the most bizarre and unforgettable thrillers ever made.
Video
Arrow Films have released Donald Cammell's serial killer thriller "White of the Eye" onto Blu-ray in what is the movie's format debut. The transfer is in the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, uses an AVC MPEG-4 encode, and is 1080p. Overall, the transfer is very good indeed, and those who have been disappointed with the previous DVD releases will want to upgrade immediately. I should note beforehand, that the flashback scenes have undergone a bleach-bypass treatment, resulting in a heavier grain structure in these scenes, and higher contrast levels. The extra feature entitled "Pre-Bleach Bypass Sequences" allows you to view these scenes before the process. The film uses a few different styles, and the transfer does differ, depending on the scene. Outdoor scenes which are not flashbacks are easily the highlight, with the dusty roads, muddy cars, and sandy desert locations all show great clarity and detail. During some of the indoor scenes, there is a slight drop in detail (though nothing too bad), and shadow details are lacking a little at times, yet great during others (such as the underground chase to the reservoir). Colours are strong, especially the reds that pop out through the various yellows and darker colours, though skin tones occasionally feel slightly warm. Damage wise, I was taken aback by how little there was. Apart from the odd speck which is totally forgiveable on a 25 year old+ film, the transfer is surprisingly clean with no scratches, major blemishes, or any other causes for concern. The disc is region B locked, and the feature clocks in at 111:03.
Audio
Arrow Films have provided a single English LPCM 2.0 Stereo track for the film, which sounds great. Separation is good throughout, and the track shows good depth, despite its limitations. The score is punchy when it needs to be, but never drowns out any of the dialogue which is clear and concise at all times. Volume levels are consistent throughout, and the balance between the dialogue, effects and score is spot on. Although it's only a 2.0 track, I found that it still managed to be immersive. There were no signs of damage to the track such as drop outs or scratches and I noticed no signs of background hiss. Optional subtitles are available in English.
Extras
We kick off the packed extras package with an audio commentary by Donald Cammell biographer Sam Umland. When it comes to Cammell, and "White of the Eye", Umland knows what he is talking about. Sam Umland and his wife Rebecca, wrote the book "Donald Cammell: A Life on the Wild Side", and I would guess the commentary utilises a lot of the relevant information from this book and their research. Cammell sometimes sounds like he is doing an audio descriptive track for the blind rather than a commentary, and he doesn't have much excitement in his voice, but it's worth sticking with, as it gives plenty of details about Cammell and similarities "White of the Eye" has to other films. "The Ultimate Performance" documentary by Kevin McDonald and Chris Rodley (73:12), originally aired on the BBC on the 17th May 1998, two years after Donald Cammell passed away. Cammell was often looked at as a rebel filmmaker, and McDonald and Rodley take an in-depth look at his life and career whilst interviewing many of his family, friends and colleagues including Barbara Steele, Johnny Shannon, James Fox, and Elliott Kastner. Going into this Blu-ray release, I did not much about Cammell, although I had seen this movie before. This documentary gives great insight into a complicated and artistic British individual, and is the type of documentary that makes the BBC license fee worthwhile. The 1972 short film "The Argument" (11:30; with optional commentary by Sam Umland) is next up. It was originally shot by Vilmos Zsigmond but abandoned shortly after it was finished, and was rediscovered in 1999 by Donald Cammell's regular editor Frank Mazzola. It stars Myriam Gabril (a witch) and Kendrew Lascelles (a director) who argue in the middle of a desert. It's well shot, amusing, and not as pretentious as it should be. A very welcome addition. Like the feature, and a commentary is also available from Cammell biographer Sam Umland. "Into the White" is an interview with director of photography Larry McConkey (10:58). He talks about how he originally became involved in the project, how Cammell was a unique individual to work with, pre-production, the cast, and the flashbacks. McConkey is a lively character, and his love for his job shines through. He's open with how he felt uneasy with the idea of filming the violent scenes, and with what was a rumour on set - openly saying he doesn't know if some of these rumours (such as casting a drowning actress) are true. Next, a selection of deleted scenes (5:18) which are in complete silence due to the original audio being lost, despite the footage surviving with the original elements. The scenes feature John Diehl's character and were removed for unknown reasons by Cannon, despite being passed uncut by the BBFC. To combat the lost audio, Arrow have commissioned biopgrapher Sam Umland to continue his commentating spree throughout this release and to explain these deleted scenes. There are some Pre-Bleach Bypass Sequences (11:39) which I talked about in the video section, so please go there to learn what this extra is about. The final on-disc extra is an alternate credits sequence (2:24). Also included is a DVD copy, a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh, and a collector’s booklet featuring the following: - Credits - "A Fresh Look into Donald Cammell's Eye" by Brad Stevens - "The Argument" by Sam Umland - An Extract from the memoir of Elliott Kastner - About the Transfer - Production Credits
Overall
"White of the Eye" was the announcement I was least bothered about from Arrow during Q2 2014, but it's a very unique thriller, and just as enjoyable as the first time I watched it on the Dutch DVD. The disc itself is what I have come to expect from Arrow, and the extras are the icing on the cake.
|
|||||
|