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Blu-ray and DVD Review Round-Up: Films by Les Blank, Chris Marker, Terry Gilliam and more!

Les Blank, Chris Marker, and Terry Gilliam are distinguished figures in the realms of documentary filmmaking, experimental cinema, and visionary filmmaking, respectively. Each of these individuals has left an indelible mark on the film industry through their unique and innovative contributions.

Les Blank, an American documentary filmmaker, is renowned for his intimate and evocative portrayal of various cultural traditions and music.

Throughout his prolific career, Blank created diverse work, capturing the essence of American roots music, regional cuisines, and the human experience.

Chris Marker, a pioneering French filmmaker, is celebrated for his groundbreaking work in experimental cinema and documentary filmmaking.

Marker’s influential career spanned over five decades, during which he crafted visually arresting and thought-provoking films.

Terry Gilliam, an esteemed filmmaker and former member of the iconic comedy troupe Monty Python, has made a significant impact on the film industry through his imaginative and visually stunning directorial ventures.

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Blu-ray and DVD Review Round-Up: Les Blank; Always for Pleasure The Criterion Collection

Les Blank’s documentaries, featured in Criterion’s box set, are a vibrant and captivating exploration of life’s most sensory delights.

Described as “humanist,” these films, ranging from short to medium length, offer immersive and warm portrayals of various subcultures and regions.

Blank’s mastery lies in distilling the essence of these cultural experiences into rich cinematic narratives that defy explanation and favor immersion.

Music and food are recurring themes throughout his work, with films celebrating blues guitarists, Creole Zydeco, polka culture, and African-Cuban rhythms.

Les Blank Always for Pleasure
Les Blank Always for Pleasure

The joyous performances captured on Film are significant and showcase the sheer pleasure of artistic expression.

Additionally, the films dedicated to food, such as “Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers” and “Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of Cajun and Creole Cooking,” offer contextualizing tributes to the surrounding cultures, visually and emotionally engaging the audience.

Furthermore, Criterion’s box set presents these films in stunning 2K digital restorations, with beautifully film-like 1080p, 1.33:1 transfers, and crisp uncompressed mono soundtracks.

Each Film is accompanied by insightful extras, including interviews, additional short films, and excerpts from forthcoming documentaries, enriching the viewing experience and offering a deeper understanding of Blank’s artistic vision.

On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, Criterion’s Les Blank: Always for Pleasure Blu-ray rates:

The Films (out of ****): ****
Film Elements Sourced: ***1/2
Video Transfer: ****
Audio: ***
New Extra Features: ****
Extra Features Overall: ****

Level Five (1996) Icarus Films

In “Level Five,” Chris Marker delves into familiar themes, exploring the profound impact of memory and loss and the potential for altering the past through human and technological memories.

This dense and visually stunning essay film serves as a spiritual successor to Marker’s “Sans Soleil” (1983), immersing viewers in Japanese culture while shedding light on the tragic Battle of Okinawa during World War II.

The Film introduces a technological element through a character named Laura, who endeavors to complete her late partner’s video game project related to the conflict.

Through Laura’s direct addresses to her deceased lover and Marker’s own reflections on technology and history, the Film weaves together primitive computer graphics, archival footage, and Marker’s skillful editing to juxtapose the future and the past.

Level Five (1996)
Level Five (1996)

Despite its complex philosophical themes, “Level Five” captivates with its evocative imagery and mournful tone, ensuring it remains far from dry academic discourse.

Marker’s exploration of memory reconstruction and contextualization is likened to Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” (1958), showcasing the Film’s emotional resonance and cinematic wonder.

Following its 2014 U.S. theatrical release, Icarus Films presents Marker’s masterpiece on DVD, featuring a compelling transfer and an accompanying booklet containing an extensive essay by Christophe Chazalon.

On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, Icarus Films’ Level Five DVD rates:

The Film (out of ****): ****
Film Elements Sourced: ***
Video Transfer: ***
Audio: **1/2
New Extra Features: *
Extra Features Overall: *

Kinetta (2005) Second Run DVD

Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos has established himself as a filmmaker with an eerily alienating style with his most recent works, Dogtooth (2009) and Alps (2011).

His debut feature as a solo director, Kinetta, now getting its worldwide home video debut from intrepid UK label Second Run, is clearly those films’ progenitor, examining similar themes in a less formally assured manner.

Like its successors, Kinetta deals with a close-knit community of people that’s developed a series of odd rituals to relate to one another.

Here, a hotel maid (Evangelia Randou), a plainclothes detective (Costas Xikominos), and a photo clerk (Aris Servetalis) pass the time by filming awkward recreations of murder scenes.

This uncomfortable role-playing fills the void in what seems to be primarily colorless existences for these people, playing out in a vacation town that might as well be an actual ghost town during the off-season.

Unlike Lanthimos’ later films, especially Dogtooth, which displays a Michael Haneke-like formal precision, Kinetta features mostly queasy handheld camerawork, fraying the nerves even more than the off-putting but mysterious actions of the people on-screen, who are more types than actual characters.

Kinetta (2005)
Kinetta (2005)

On its own, Kinetta might feel like a filmmaker valuing obliqueness for its own sake. Still, in conjunction with his subsequent films, it fits into a discomfiting oeuvre of estrangement from reality.

Second Run’s 1.85:1 transfer is quite strong considering its standard-def limitations, with a crisp image and a detailed reproduction of Lanthimos’ almost colorless palette.

Extras include a newly filmed conversation with the director and a booklet with an essay by critic Michael Ewins.

On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, Second Run’s Kinetta DVD rates:

The Film (out of ****): **1/2
Film Elements Sourced: ***1/2
Video Transfer: ***1/2
Audio: **1/2
New Extra Features: **
Extra Features Overall: **

Slaughter Hotel (1971) Raro Video

In “Level Five,” Chris Marker delves into familiar themes, exploring the profound impact of memory and loss and the potential for altering the past through human and technological memories.

This dense and visually stunning essay film serves as a spiritual successor to Marker’s “Sans Soleil” (1983), immersing viewers in Japanese culture while shedding light on the tragic Battle of Okinawa during World War II.

The Film introduces a technological element through a character named Laura, who endeavors to complete her late partner’s video game project related to the conflict.

Through Laura’s direct addresses to her deceased lover and Marker’s own reflections on technology and history, the Film weaves together primitive computer graphics, archival

footage, and Marker’s skillful editing to juxtapose the future and the past.

Despite its complex philosophical themes, “Level Five” captivates with its evocative imagery and mournful tone, ensuring it remains far from dry academic discourse.

Slaughter Hotel (1971)
Slaughter Hotel (1971)

Marker’s exploration of memory reconstruction and contextualization is likened to Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” (1958), showcasing the Film’s emotional resonance and cinematic wonder.

Following its 2014 U.S. theatrical release, Icarus Films presents Marker’s masterpiece on DVD, featuring a compelling transfer and an accompanying booklet containing an extensive essay by Christophe Chazalon.

On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, Raro Video’s Slaughter Hotel Blu-ray rates:

The Film (out of ****): **
Film Elements Sourced: ***
Video Transfer: **
Audio: **1/2
New Extra Features: N/A
Extra Features Overall: ***

Flaming Star (1960) Twilight Time

Elvis Presley’s performance in Don Siegel’s “Flaming Star” showcases his understated acting abilities, deviating from his typical musical roles.

Set in post-Civil War Texas, the Film centers on Pacer Burton, a man of mixed heritage who grapples with conflicting loyalties amid escalating tensions between white settlers and a Kiowa tribe.

The movie adeptly portrays the precarious relationships between the communities and skillfully navigates the complexities of the characters’ interpersonal dynamics.

Presley delivers a sensitive and reflective performance, portraying Pacer as a conflicted young man facing difficult decisions.

Siegel’s direction brings out the Film’s tension and precision in action sequences while emphasizing the intricate interpersonal relationships.

The presentation of Native American culture is notably fair-minded, highlighting the shared aspects of both cultures and acknowledging their differences.

Flaming Star (1960)
Flaming Star (1960)

Twilight Time’s high-definition transfer of the Film offers exceptional clarity and vivid visuals, accompanied by uncompressed audio options.

The release includes extras such as an isolated score track, a commentary by Lem Dobbs and Nick Redman, and the theatrical trailer, enhancing the viewing experience.

Overall, “Flaming Star” is a compelling and engaging Western showcasing Presley’s nuanced dramatic abilities.

On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, Twilight Time’s Flaming Star Blu-ray rates:

The Film (out of ****): ***
Film Elements Sourced: ***1/2
Video Transfer: ***1/2
Audio: ***
New Extra Features: *1/2
Extra Features Overall: *1/2

The Zero Theorem (2014) Well Go USA

In Terry Gilliam’s film “The Zero Theorem,” the elaborate production design and ideas are criticized for feeling shallow and derivative of Gilliam’s previous work, particularly “Brazil.”

The protagonist, Qohen Leth, played by Christoph Waltz, is depicted as an office worker in a futuristic society, preoccupied with unlocking the meaning of life while awaiting a significant phone call.

His interactions with characters like Barnsley, a prostitute who provides virtual reality experiences, are likened to the fractured mental state portrayed in “Brazil.”

However, the Film’s attempts at incisive commentary on pervasive advertising and surveillance are deemed lackluster.

Even the typically vibrant Christoph Waltz is criticized for delivering a lackluster performance.

The Zero Theorem (2014)
The Zero Theorem (2014)

Tilda Swinton’s appearance as a rapping virtual psychiatrist is a distinctive element in the Film.

The Blu-ray presentation of the Film features rounded corners to replicate vintage photography, with sound color reproduction and solid levels of detail.

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is considered immersive when utilized.

The extras on the Blu-ray include a behind-the-scenes feature and the theatrical trailer.

On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, Well Go’s The Zero Theorem Blu-ray rates:

The Film (out of ****): *1/2
Film Elements Sourced: ***
Video Transfer: ***
Audio: ***
New Extra Features: *1/2
Extra Features Overall: *1/2

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Ashish Dahal
Ashish Dahal
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