Bobby Deerfield (1977)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Marthe
Keller, Al Pacino, Anny Duprerey, Walter McGinn, Romolo Valli, Stephen Meldegg
My Review and Thoughts:
My Film Rating: 2.5 out of 5
This time around reviewing a Twilight Time Special Edition Blu-ray,
was a treat for me because I have never seen this film before. Yes, believe it
or not there are movies out there that I have not seen, and this is one of them.
It’s always a treat to go into a film when you have no knowledge of it. What
makes it all the more shocking is that I had no knowledge of this film, is that it
stars one of my favorite actors, the one and only Al Pacino. This is a film that
is described as a romantic drama. The film displays itself differently in that category, in that it has an originality to it for its time period. It’s not your basic
love story. With that said, the film is not great, yet not bad, although it has it's moments, specifically Pacino's acting, which is the best of the overall film.
Directed by a film directing legend the one and only Sydney
Pollack. Still can’t believe the legend has passed away. Pollack was a unique
director that worked outside the box of film making. Not only a director,
producer and an actor. His films where both great and small, and both good and
bad. He had his hits, and he had his misses. His mastery gave us 1969’s They
Shoot Horses, Don’t They? 1972’s Jeremiah Johnson, 1973’s The Way We Were, 1985’s
Out of Africa. The one and only 1982’s Tootsie. One of my favorite mystery
thriller’s 1975’s Three Days of the Condor. 1974’s The Yakuza. Pollack was a
true cinema master that created many wonderful hours of entertainment.
The plot is about a racer car driver named Bobby Deerfield. Now Bobby has a life where is always use to winning. Bobby witnesses a race car crash that ends up killing his friend and hurting another. This reality greatly upsets him and he delves on the reality of death and how life and death is a constant reality. While visiting the hurt driver that survived in the hospital, he meets a woman named Lillian. Lillian would end changing his life and the reality around him is forever changed as he delves into the reality of life and death. A love story with issues and questions that can never be answered.
The plot is about a racer car driver named Bobby Deerfield. Now Bobby has a life where is always use to winning. Bobby witnesses a race car crash that ends up killing his friend and hurting another. This reality greatly upsets him and he delves on the reality of death and how life and death is a constant reality. While visiting the hurt driver that survived in the hospital, he meets a woman named Lillian. Lillian would end changing his life and the reality around him is forever changed as he delves into the reality of life and death. A love story with issues and questions that can never be answered.
Al Pacino needs no introduction other than he has been in so
many important films in cinema history. He is a cinematic master, specifically
his older work, such as the all-important Godfather series, Serpico, Dog Day
Afternoon, and Justice for All, and many others. He is just one of those
performers that stand out no matter what he is doing. Also starring the
wonderful and beautiful Marthe Keller. I am a huge fan of hers. It was really
great seeing her in this film. I thought I had seen all of her work, but I was
wrong. I loved her in 1976’s Marathon Man as the character Elsa, which I think
is my favorite part she has ever done, which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. I love her in anything she does. She has a beauty and a strong acting
ability that can control the screen through any character she does. Also most
will remember her from the character of Dahlia in John Frankenheimer’s 1977
thriller, Black Sunday. Besides Marathon Man I have to pin point her performance
in Billy Wilder’s 1978 Fedora. Still acting strong today, more than 90
performances under her name. The chemistry between Pacino and Keller in Bobby
Deerfield is fantastic and they both play off each other.
Now with all that good stuff said that does not mean it’s a
great film. I don’t think it’s a film worthy to praise for any cinematic mastery, or cinematic history, for dare I say, it is a forgettable film, sorry, but that
is what I felt overall. I can see why I had never heard of it, or seen it
before. Don’t get me wrong it’s not a horrible film, it’s just one of those
movies that really has no impact, or to be discussed in movie round tables. I
think the acting is good, the direction is great. The story is so, so. The
music is amazing. The sets, costumes and overall atmosphere work. It lacked a
lot of substance, but still maintained the goal of holding the watcher.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
No flaw in this department. A great job in bringing this to
Blu-ray. A wonderful and amazing transfer to high definition. Twilight Time did
an amazing job. The audio is spot on, the sound effects are crisp, and to the
point. Believe it or not, I go to great lengths to review the films that I am
writing about. I decided to seek out a DVD copy of the film, believe it or not
there is a Ma and Pa video store a mile away from me, they do still exist; very
few, but they still do. I went and checked out the DVD version of the film, I
in honesty could not sit through the film again, because like I say it’s not a
great film, yet still not a bad film, it’s just what it is. Any way’s, I looked
at keys spots in the film that had the greatest sounds and music clarity, and
voice spoken, comparing it to the DVD, there is no comparison. The DVD quality, compared to the Blu-ray, simply put, sucks. Twilight Time has created a gem in audio and video for the
feature, and for that, it gets a top rating from me.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA / English 2.0 DTS-HD MA /
English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1977 / Color
Extras:
My Rating: 2 out of 5
Isolated Score Track: The movie has fantastic music by Dave
Grusin. Grusin is most of all a composer, but also involved in many realities of music, from arranging music, to being an amazing pianist. Dave Grusin in his career has done
many wonderful soundtracks and music period, winning over 19 Grammy’s. His
landmark soundtrack that he did for the film The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) is
one of his best. The soundtrack for The Fabulous Baker Boys won the Grammy
Award for Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score. It also was
nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score, and many others and so
that should show you, his overall importance to the musical world. All one
really has to do is look at his wonderful works from 1981’s On Golden Pond,
1982’s Tootsie. And most of all a personal favorite of mine 1985’s cult classic The Goonies, 1967’s
The Graduate, 1973’s The Friends of Eddie Coyle, 1981’s Reds. Nominated for 7
Academy Awards and winning one for Best Original Score for the film 1988’s The
Milagro Banfield War. A wonderful musician and one to always listen to, and
stand out as being one of the best musician’s and film score creators.
Audio Commentary with Director Sydney Pollack. Pollack is
always fantastic to listen to. Plus, it’s always fantastic to hear from the
person that made the film. I think it would have been a better commentary if
there was more of an analysis of the film by film historians, but still is an
overall great listen.
Original Theatrical Trailer, running time 2 minutes and 30
seconds.
Also the very important 8-page booklet that I always look
forward to. These booklets are always by the one and only film historian, Julie
Kirgo. Always a great write up about the film’s. Julie always gives a great
insight into the film at hand, and Bobby Deerfield is no different.
Overall:
Not the greatest movie, but not the worst. I think it might
be a misunderstood movie. There seems to be a hollowness with some of the tone
of the film. I really can’t pinpoint what is wrong with the film, other than at
times its over melodramatic. I really don’t know what I am trying to say, it’s
a film, some will like more than others. It has a lot going for it, great actors
and actresses, an amazing director, wonderful music soundtrack, great sets. In defense of the film Al Pacino was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion
Picture Actor for this part.
Twilight Time did another fantastic job in bringing out a product that is in reality flawless in audio and video. A few special features. If your a diehard Pacino fan, then give it a go. If you collect great Blu-ray products for High Definition transfers and restoration of films through audio and video quality, then I highly recommend, because Twilight Time does it the best.
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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