6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.2 |
Paul Bratter, a conservative young lawyer, marries a vivacious young woman, Corrie. Their highly passionate relationship descends into comical discord in a five-flight New York City walk-up apartment.
Starring: Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Charles Boyer (I), Mildred Natwick, Ted HartleyRomance | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 2.0 Mono
German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
English, English SDH, French, German, Japanese
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Gene Saks (The Odd Couple) makes his directing debut with 1967's Barefoot in the Park, a Robert Redford/Jane Fonda Romantic Comedy based on the stage production written by Neil Simon, who also penned this screenplay. The film explores the whirlwinds of wedded matrimony and the turbulence of togetherness, looking at two fairly disparate people who fall in love but learn that their life priorities don't necessarily match up once they say "I do" and start to make a life together in Manhattan's Greenwich Village.
Lovebirds.
Paramount brings Barefoot to the Park to Blu-ray by way of a gorgeous 1080p presentation. It's pleasantly and organically filmic. Grain bolsters the image with a natural, even, light structure, complementing the film source and bolstering the many fine details evident throughout, which include the basics like faces and clothes but also extend to plenty of interesting environmental elements, like some of the run-down appointments in the apartment complex, and the well worn stairwell in particular. City street exteriors are likewise sharp in the display of density and points of wear; one of the sharpest, best defined objects in the movie is the green bus Paul exits in two or three scenes in the movie. That green color is also a fine example of the transfer's excellent color presentation. Tones are well defined, precisely saturated, and consistently natural. Clothing tones find perfect depth while various urban hues seen around the city dazzle. As the apartment gains more furnishings, it gains more color, too, all of which presents with healthy depth and tonal accuracy. Skin tones are excellent and blacks are strong. The picture appears to be free of any unwanted blemishes either at the source or introduced by way of the encode. This is a perfect image from Paramount.
The two channel mono soundtrack, presented in the Dolby TrueHD lossless encode, satisfies within the original element constraints. There's a demonstrable lack of range to the content, but most of it is pleasant enough, finding satisfying richness to music and light ambient effects. Dialogue images well to the center and rarely wants for greater clarity. In one of the final scenes, in the 98 minute mark, dialogue is clear but the underlying background sounds are harsh and unnatural. Fortunately, such distracting elements are few and far between. The track lacks complexity, but the movie demands only a straightforward listen which this one produces without much fuss or fault.
This Blu-ray release of Barefoot in the Park contains no supplemental content. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.
Barefoot in the Park explores a fairy tale marriage turned upside down by the intrusions of everyday life and the realities that exist beyond the bedroom. Can love survive when lovemaking can't be a full-time job? Witty, winsome, and even a bit wise, Barefoot in the Park delivers charm and reality with equal spark and depth. Paramount's Blu-ray is unfortunately featureless but the video is first-class and the audio presentation is just fine. Highly recommended.
2009
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