Zelig (1983)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Woody
Allen, Mia Farrow, Garrett Brown, Stephanie Farrow, Will Holt, Mary Louise
Wilson, Michael Jeter
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Twilight Time picks another classic Woody Allen film for all
the fans of this unique and one of a kind film genius. Twilight Time has
released many of Allen’s films on wonderful Special Edition Blu-ray’s and Zelig
is no different. Another fine example of how to treat a film.
Another wonderful
reality in adding to the Woody Allen collection of films. As always Twilight
Time expresses and showcases the brilliant reality of a proper release of how
to take care of a film and give it a whole new beautiful outlet to express to a
modern generation and the old generation. Another positive example.
Woody Allen is just
one of those unique, mastery, gifted and iconic performers, directors and
writers that are, few in number. Woody Allen was and is a director that always
knows what he wants in a film and how he wants to go about the final touches to
finish the film. This like many of Allen’s films has a wonderful cast of actors
and actresses. Your main female lead is his once wife and often a stable in
many of his early films, actress Mia Farrow. Always a wonderful treat to see.
An amazing actress that owns and creates a memorable character that only she
can do. Woody Allen has a style that only he can do and get away with in film.
He has a natural talent of creating truly original pieces of cinema. His
ultimate completion of films is something that stands out as being one of a
kind experiences. You either love or hate Woody Allen movies. Most of Allen’s
films are simple, down to earth and nothing grand, just great interaction of
performing. That performing holds the watcher and creates a satisfied
experience, no matter how simplistic it is.
This is the first time that I have seen Zelig so this was an
ultimate treat for me. And what better way to experience it, than on a
wonderful High Definition Blu-ray. This is another oddball comedy that only
Allen can do and succeed in. Allen plays Leonard Zelig. The movie is created in
a Documentary style, making it a mockumentary. The plot is set in 1920’s and 30’s.
Allen’s character Zelig has the ability to transform his persona and appearance
to the people that happen to be around him. Basically he becomes a human
chameleon only in the way that Woody Allen could be. The movie is very unique
in the sense that it comes together in black and white moments, flashes to the modern
color setting with interviews. This also pieces together actual archival
footage of the past. Another interesting reality is the movie re-enacts real
historical moments in time. The whole movie is an odd mixture of the brain
thinking of Woody Allen’s wild imagination that only he could create and get
away with. That is what makes Allen a one of kind visionary of cinema and
Twilight Time has honored this directing guru with another flawless transfer to Blu-ray.
Now to show you the odd and artistic creation of Allen is
the many technics he went about to create this odd ball film. He took himself
along with performers and inserted themselves using bluescreen technology of
the time period. I have to mention all the characters that Allen places in the
real footage that he mixes himself with at times. Just to name a few, Charles Lindbergh,
Al Capone, William Randolph Hearst, Charlie Chaplin, Josephine Baker, Carole
Lombard, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Göring, James Cagney, Lou
Gehrig, Babe Ruth. Now if you flash forward many years later you can see the
film Forrest Gump use sort of the same technic of adding Forrest’s characters
into real live historical events.
If you know me I'm a diehard lover of Twilight Time Special
Edition Blu-ray's because they grace cinema with an outlet that creates beauty
and an atmosphere for any movie lover. Their Blu-rays are always capturing
perfection and create worthy products to collect. Zelig is another prime
example of honoring cinema and the film geek.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
As always the film looks amazing. The audio is vibrant,
crisp to the ears and displays everything it is supposed to display. You can
hear everything crystal clear. The imagery is vibrant in black and white and
colored tones. The film is a lovely example of how to treat an older film, on
new outlet.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA / German 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1983 / Color/B&W
Extras:
My Rating: 1 out of 5
Isolated Score Track. The wonderful Dick Hyman composed the
music for this film. What is interesting is Hyman has done many of Allen’s
films. Composing, arranging, and conducting and playing the piano. That brings
another mastery aspect about this movie is the music score by music master
Richard Hyman. His 50-year career has spanned all aspects of the music world.
His craft in movies and albums and countless concerts has left a perfectly
woven mastery that only his touch has formed. He is a stable in Woody Allen
films. Composing over ten of Allen's features. What makes Hyman so unique is
his various styles of music from classic too electronic, to jazz and everything
in-between.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Overall:
Another worthy disc to own. Another passionate Twilight Time
Blu-ray for fans of cinema and fans of Woody Allen. Twilight Time has brought
out some fantastic Woody Allen special edition Blu-ray’s such as Radio Days,
Broadway Danny Rose, Crimes and Misdemeanors, The Purple Rose of Cairo, and
also brought out the movie Allen stared in Martin Ritt’s The Front. Zelig is
another fantastic film to add to this wonderful collection and also another
beauty from Twilight Time.
INFO:
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the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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