Moscow on the Hudson (1984)
Starring: Robin
Williams, Maria Conchita Alanso, Cleavant Derricks, Alejandro Rey, Saveily
Kramarov, Elva Baskin
Company: Twilight Time
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: 3.5 out 5
Yet again another treat for me. I have never seen this film
going into it. Had no knowledge of what it was about other than starring the
wonderful and great Robin Williams. As I have stated many times before I love
going into films with no knowledge of them or any idea what they are about.
Kind of like a blank slate ready to be filled with information and ideas.
Seeing
this is both fun and yet tear inducing. Tear inducing because of seeing Robin
Williams. It saddens me every time I see him now, all I can think of, is how he killed
himself. It so destroys me thinking this great worthy to praise genius ended it all.
Depression is a horrible destroyer. Robin Williams was an actor that graced the
beauty of cinema in so many ways. Not only as a true comical wonderment of film, but also as a true dramatic thought provoking star. He could capture the funny
bone, with Mrs. Doubtfire, or The Birdcage to the heart strings of Dead Poets
Society and Good Will Hunting. No matter what he did, he aced it in total
clarity of performance. It’s sad now watching his films, although I am truly
thankful that his films exist, so that one can return to them over and over, and
thankfully companies like Twilight Time Blu-ray is honoring this acting master
with this lovely Special Edition Blu-ray.
Moscow on the Hudson can be classified as a romantic comedy
with a little slice of drama. The story is of comical means. Robin Williams
plays Vladimir Ivanov who is a saxophonist with the Moscow Circus. Now the film
is set in the early 80’s during the Cold War days. The Circus performs in New
York City. While there Vladimir decides to defect, denouncing Russia. Giving up
the allegiance of his home country and claiming America. So, begins a wild and
interesting ordeal with comical overtones and classic Robin Williams banter.
Also, starring the very beautiful Maria Conchita Alonso who
has been acting since the late 70's, and is still going strong today. Her beauty
can’t be put into simple words. Her ability at performing is a golden ticket of
perfection no matter how small her part, she aces it. My eyes first caught her
beauty and ability to perform in the odd sci-fi flick 1987’s The Running Man. Also,
her wonderment in 1988’s Colors, and in 1990’s Predator 2. From TV to feature
film, she gives it her all in no matter what role she controls. In 2007 she
shinned in the TV series Saints & Sinners. But I really loved seeing her in
the part of Alice Matthias in one of my favorite horror films, the very
underrated and sadly not appreciated, 2012’s The Lords of Salem. Her beauty and
her acting ability defines her stardom in excellent award worthy performances.
She is one of the greats of cinema that sadly is often overlooked, or never
given the limelight she deserves. She is a true Golden Ticket of cinema. It was
great seeing her in this film.
Also, starring an actor who I have always felt never got the
push, or limelight he deserves, the wonderful Cleavant Derricks. Many TV watchers
and sci-fi buffs will know him as the character Rembrandt Brown on the long
running TV series, Sliders. Been acting since the late 70’s and as of this writing
his last acting was in 2011. He is one of those performers that can own a
character no matter if it’s Television or Feature Film. He graces the screen
both big and small with a total understanding of the parts he plays and
executes those characters in a reality that the viewer accepts them as real, or
understands them. I have to give an ultimate shout out to him, because he is from
my home state, and my home city, Knoxville Tennessee.
Also, keep an eye out for Alejandro Rey, who is a great actor.
Started performing in 1953 and did so up until 1986. Sadly, passing away at the
young age of 57, way too soon, nasty lung cancer. He was a performer in cinema
that you always knew, or always where like “oh yeah it has him in it.” From TV
to feature film he did it all. From lower budget, to higher budget. Many old timers will know him from The Flying
Nun TV series playing Carlos Ramirez. I'll personally always remember him in
1980’s masterpiece of psychological insanity and total filmed mastery, The Ninth
Configuration.
Also, keep an eye out for another underrated actor Elya
Baskin. Another amazing performer that never gets the just due of stardom.
Playing minor parts, or side characters, or thought provoking bad guys in TV and
feature film. Always a treat to see. I always remember him from the character
of Anatoly in the Sci-fi feature film 1984’s, 2010: The Year We Make Contact. He
was wonderful in Moscow on the Hudson.
This was created by actor, writer, producer and director
Paul Mazursky. To be honest I had no idea he did so much. I knew he was the
director for Down and Out in Beverly Hills and that is about all I remembered him for, so I was kind of shocked after researching a little that he
directed 19 films. Really shocked by that. He was more of an actor than
director. Started acting in 1953 and did so until his death in 2011. It’s
amazing the stuff you find out while looking up a film.
Twilight Time has done it again in bringing out a wonderful
film, both funny and entertaining. Twilight Time always gives fantastic care, and
love for the pieces they choose for these 3,000 Unit special edition Blu-rays.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Yet again an amazing transfer to 1080p High Definition. I
have never seen this before and seeing it now on this beautiful Blu-ray, it’s
perfection. Aced it as always. Twilight Time gives such amazing care to their
releases and Moscow on the Hudson is no different. The imagery is vibrant and
crisp. The audio is spot on clarity. A perfect example of how to treat cinema.
Loved it.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1
AUDIO: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA / English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
Extras:
My Rating: 3 out of 5
Isolated Score Track: David McHugh is a wonderful musician.
A very talented musician. His skills and clarity in capturing the sounds and
tunes needed to further a film is spot on. Something I have always stated is
music defines a film and can also create the memorable reality of that film,
Hint: Psycho need I say more. Music is a golden ticket when it comes to film.
Music can create or destroy a film. Music must fit inside that movie and the
music by David McHugh does that with a crystal clarity of sound beauty. His
music has been used on many films. His mastery at his talent shines in Moscow
on the Hudson. His other music for films is one of my personal favorite’s, 1989’s The Dream Team. Also, what I think makes Hugh stand out, he is so many
talented person’s in one. From music, to poet, writer, to creating furniture and
photography, and on an interesting note, he is a United Stated Patent
inventor. He is also a teacher. He is an all-around guru of creation. It was
great hearing this special feature.
Audio Commentary with Film Historians Julie Kirgo and Nick
Redman. Priceless. It’s never a dull moment when two awesome and amazing film
historians come together and teach and express the wonder of a film. Both Julia
Kirgo and Nick Redman are perfect gurus of cinema knowledge and love for film.
They both give passionate lessons to the watcher and film lover.
Audio Commentary with Director Paul Mazursky. It’s always
great hearing from the creator of a film. This was an interesting listen. This
is an older commentary. Sadly, Paul passed away in 2014, but thankfully
recordings like this exist so that film lovers can look back and listen to
those who created the film, and get a personal knowledge of what a director and
writer was thinking. Paul also has a cameo in the film as the character Dave.
Overall:
Yet again all I can say is fantastic. Twilight Time Special
Edition 3,000 Unit masteries are always a constant treat to be entertained by.
Wonderful seeing this for the first time. Loved and yet heartbroken seeing
Robin Williams. A fantastic transfer to High Definition. Amazing audio and
video. A few wonderful extras. Solid designed wrap around artwork. A beautiful
booklet insert. A high quality, must own, must experience Blu-ray that only
Twilight Time can fathom.
INFO:
Make sure you head over to www.screenarchives.com to buy all
the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
Also, head over and like Twilight Time on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/twilighttimemovies