Afterglow / Ray Meets Helen Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Afterglow / Ray Meets Helen Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 12, 2021

Despite a long career that has seen at least some success in both critical circles and box office returns, Alan Rudolph hasn’t really seemed to become a significantly recognized name for much of the filmgoing public at large. Rudolph’s oeuvre is rather wide and varied, but for anyone unfamiliar with him and needing a probably inherently inadequate summary of his approach, it may be salient to note that Rudolph was an acolyte of Robert Altman, with Rudolph lending a hand in a number of capacities on such well remembered Altman efforts as The Long Goodbye, California Split, Nashville, Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson and The Player, and with Altman returning the favor by co-producing a number of films directed by Rudolph, including one included in this new double feature from MVD’s Marquee Collection imprint, Afterglow.

For reviews of the film included on this release, please click on the following links:

Afterglow Blu-ray review

Ray Meets Helen Blu-ray review

Afterglow / Ray Meets Helen Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality of each film is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Afterglow / Ray Meets Helen Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality of each film is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Afterglow / Ray Meets Helen Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailers include Afterglow (480p; 1:49) and Ray Meets Helen (480p; 1:39), along with a number of other releases from MVD Visual.

Afterglow / Ray Meets Helen Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This double feature of Alan Rudolph films offers evidence of both the pluses and minuses of Rudolph's work. Both films feature some really winning performances, but the stylized dialogue and often preposterous narratives may tend to diffuse some of the energy. Technical merits are generally solid for those considering a purchase.