7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
During the 1930s, in Marseilles, France, two small time crooks work for local crime bosses until they decide to go into business for themselves.
Starring: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Alain Delon, Catherine Rouvel, Corinne Marchand, Hélène RémyForeign | 100% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
French: LPCM Mono
English: LPCM Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
While some of the supplements included on this disc allude to two iconic movies starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford as having at least some perceived connection to Borsalino, namely Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, the fact that there's another supplement on this disc devoted to production design in general and costume design in particular may point to a third referent, Arthur Penn's 1967 opus Bonnie and Clyde. Those old enough to remember the late sixties (a dwindling number, to be sure) may recall that while there were all sorts of "hippie-fied" styles that came into fashion in the mid- sixties and then especially after the so-called Summer of Love, the same year as the Summer of Love more ostensibly haute couture types could be seen sporting the kind of clothes that Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty wore in the Penn film. Theadora Van Runkle in fact received an Academy Award nomination for her costume work on Bonnie and Clyde (she perhaps understandably lost to John Truscott for Camelot), but she had the "consolation prize" of starting a 1930's fashion craze that was quite the thing for a while, and which at least subliminally also informed the look of Borsalino, which came along three years later, but which notably references an actual piece of fashion in its very title.
Borsalino is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.66:1. Arrow's insert booklet isn't especially informational about the transfer, offering only the following:
Borsalino is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 with original mono audio.This is more of than not a rather nice looking presentation, especially in the outside locations or more brightly lit interiors, where the palette pops quite agreeably and detail levels on things like those notable thirties' fashions is typically excellent. There are some occasional ebbs in quality, including a kind of wan, yellow and splotchy optically printed opening credits sequence, but then also a few times later where densities falter and/or grain can spike for no particular reason, occasionally resulting in deficits in fine detail. Any signs of age related wear and tear are minimal.
The master for this release was supplied by Paramount Pictures.
Borsalino is presented with French or English tracks delivered in LPCM Mono. My strong advice is to stick with the original French track if at all possible (i.e., you don't have a problem with subtitles), as it's noticeably more full bodied and just plain louder, offering a much more pleasant listening experience for the musical aspects in particular. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
Borsalino never quite attains the pure entertainment value of the Newman-Redford efforts, and in fact its tone is notably different from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid one way or the other. Delon is frankly a little forced in this effort, but Belmondo is kind of fun and the story, while rote, has some emotional impact. Technical merits are generally solid and the supplements and non disc swag first rate. Recommended.
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