Between the Lines Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Between the Lines Blu-ray Movie Review

FM, print edition.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 19, 2019

As mentioned in our recently published FM Blu-ray review, critic and writer Glenn Kenny kind of cheekily asks in a supplement included on that disc, “What’s radio?”, as if to suggest that some younger folks coming to that film may not even understand its basic context (Kenny’s comment is obviously said jokingly, in case anyone is wondering). To that pointed query might be added, “What are newspapers?”, since they, like “old school” over the air broadcasting, seem to be increasingly a thing of the past. There are actually some other analogs (no pun intended) between FM and Between the Lines, with both films (which came out within a year of each other, more or less, anyway) evincing a rather similar conflict between corporate bean counters intent on commercializing some kind of business, and what amount to counter culture types who work for the business responding to those corporate efforts with some significant pushback. I’m not quite sure frankly why the change in “milieu” makes at least a bit of a difference in believability, though perhaps one reason is because the scrappy reporters and other journalists who work for the “alternative” Boston paper Mainline in Between the Lines are kind of inherently confrontational to begin with, but Between the Lines seems passably more “authentic” on some levels than FM, though it, too, may strain credulity at times.

Also rather like FM, and perhaps arguably not totally in a good way, is the fact that at least some elements at play in Between the Lines seem kind of weirdly “old fashioned” for a later 1970s effort, since some of the “philosophies” being espoused seem decidedly “sixties” in nature. For that reason, the actual counter culture aspects of Joan Micklin Silver’s story may strike some as kind of silly, while the personal interrelationships which Silver spends at least as much if not more time developing may resonate better. One of the unabashed delights of the film in any case is the chance to see quite a few future luminaries at a relatively early stage in their careers, with an ensemble cast portraying a motley crew of crusading muckrakers and their friends.

Another linkage to FM might be subliminal, but noticeable, in one of the focal characters, Max Arloft (Jeff Goldblum), who is the rock critic for the paper, and who therefore kind of straddles the two worlds that FM and Between the Lines individually depict. Goldblum’s character also shares a potentially disturbing trait that I discussed in our review of FM with regard to the character played by Martin Mull, namely some unabashed womanizing (or attempts to womanize), which may strike some modern #metoo eyes as more than a bit provocative. More “traditionally” romantic, though in an on again, off again sense, is the relationship between paper founder Harry Lucas (John Heard) and photographer Abbie (Lindsay Crouse).

Harry’s career washout provides some “kitchen sink” drama elements, as does a dalliance with Laura (Gwen Welles), who is otherwise “attached” to Michael (Stephen Collins). There are a number of other supporting characters who drift in and out of the proceedings, including a cub reporter played by Bruno Kirby, a dancer played by Marilu Henner, and the supposed villain of the piece (or at least a lingering subplot), a publishing impresario played by Lane Smith. Two great character actors with "J"'s in their names, Michael J. Pollard and Lewis J. Stadlen, are also on hand. As such, this is often a vignette driven enterprise, and while the story may have seemed dated even in 1977 (something it again shares with FM), it’s buoyed by a really attractive and often very effective cast turning in some nicely nuanced performances that at times offer the players just a few moments to establish their characters.

Hester Street remains one of the defining films of its era, and it will always hold a paramount place in the hearts of anyone whose personal family history involved Jews coming to America and surviving on the “mean streets” of Manhattan at or near the dawn of the 20th century (it certainly holds that place in my heart, anyway). There’s most certainly some Jewish subtext at play in Between the Lines, at least with regard to some of the characters, but this film probably will not have the same emotional resonance that Hester Street did, at least for some viewers. It’s often breezily enjoyable, but it does have a few tonal shifts that may chafe at some viewers.

Between the Lines Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Between the Lines is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Cohen Film Collection, an imprint of Cohen Media Group, with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Cohen is touting a new 2K restoration of this title, and this is another very nice looking presentation from the auspices of the usually reliable Cohen. There's an appealing "indie" feel to this production, and as such it doesn't really offer a lot of glitz or visual allure, and in fact a lot of the film plays out in the rather ramshackle offices of the focal paper. The entire palette looked just a trifle pink to my eyes, but that said, colors pop rather well, all things considered, and detail levels are routinely very good to excellent. There are a few variances in clarity and overall definition, including some downturns in some darker scenes, and a couple of moments look kind of weirdly desaturated with a more pronounced grain field (one such example can be seen in screenshot 19). On the whole though, this is a commendable looking transfer that offers a nicely organic appearance and no signs of over zealous digital tweaking.

Between the Lines Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Between the Lines features a reasonably expressive LPCM 2.0 mono track which capably supports what is in essence a pretty talky enterprise. There are certainly nice moments here that offer good accounts of an urban setting, and even some sidebars featuring enjoyable music (Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes put in an appearance), but for the most part this film plays out in dialogue scenes, often between two characters. Dialogue is always cleanly and clearly presented, and there are no problems with regard to distortion, dropouts or other damage.

Between the Lines Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Conversations from the Quad: Making Between the Lines (1080p; 14:30) is an engaging interview with Joan Micklin Silver moderated by Shonni Enelow, Assistant Professor at Fordham University.


• Restoration Trailer (1080p; 1:22)


• Original Trailer (1080p; 00:32)

Between the Lines Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Between the Lines probably won't offer the same kind of emotional tether for viewers that Silver's Hester Street was able to attain, but this film has its own, arguably small scale, pleasures, chief among them a really fun and colorful cast (even if some, like Stephen Collins, have gone on to a certain kind of infamy due to bad behaviors). This film, much like FM, tries to ply a counter culture revolutionary aspect that frankly might have been more at home a decade or so earlier, and as such a central conflict in the film may strike some as needless. That said, there are some fun moments here, and Silver's examination of a bunch of characters in the throes of career and personal trials is frequently quite winning. Cohen has provided another release with solid technical merits, and Between the Lines comes Recommended.