7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A petty criminal, wanted for the murder of a police officer, returns to Paris where he reunites with an American journalism student and attempts to persuade her to run away with him to Italy.
Starring: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, Daniel Boulanger, Henri-Jacques Huet, Roger HaninDrama | 100% |
Foreign | 76% |
Crime | 9% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
French: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
German: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, French SDH, German
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Region B (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Jean-Luc Godard's "A bout de souffle" a.k.a. "Breathless" (1960) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include restoration trailer; vintage introduction by Colin MacCabe; documentary film; and more. Also included with the release is a 12" vinyl soundtrack. In French or German, with optional English, German, and French SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
The criminal
The release is sourced from a brand new 4K restoration that was completed on behalf of StudioCanal. The laboratory that carried out the restoration is L'image Retrouvee. (See screencaptures for complete details).
4K BLU-RAY DISC
I did a number of direct comparisons with StudioCanal's previous release of Breathless and I think that the most obvious improvements actually come from the transition to native 4K. Indeed, a direct comparison between the 1080p presentation of the old 2K restoration and the 1080p presentation of the new 4K restoration does not reveal any significant improvements in terms of delineation, clarity, and density. In fact, because of the manner in which the new 4K restoration is graded, in 1080p the old 2K restoration often looks stronger. In native 4K, however, the 4K restoration reveals wider and much more subtle ranges of grays, white, and blacks, and as a result there are areas of the film where it is very easy to see improved delineation and depth. Also, density levels are marginally stronger, though I am quite certain that viewers who, like me, appreciate superior density will not be overly impressed. Why? Because the old 2K restoration is already quite nice, and because there are some inherited source limitations that make it virtually impossible to get superior visuals even in native 4K. Contrast levels are better managed in native 4K, but in 1080p there are again some unusual trade-offs. Image stability is outstanding. The entire film looks very healthy as well.
*Screencaptures #1-7 are from the Blu-ray release. Screencaptures #11-21 are from the 4K Blu-ray release and downconverted to 1080p. (In native 4K, the grading will look different on your screen).
BLU-RAY DISC
When viewed in 1080p, as opposed to native 4K, the new 4K restoration can look somewhat underwhelming at times. For example, in a lot of darker areas the elevated blacks actually flatten some existing detail. Grain exposure can be a tad loose as well. Additionally, in select darker areas I noticed light macroblocking patterns that easily could have been avoided with superior encoding. (You can see an example in the right corner of screencapture #7). Density levels are good, but on a larger screen I think that the old 2K restoration frequently looks superior. I also think that it is easy to argue that the grading job on the old 2K restoration is more convincing. To sum it all up, I would recommend the 4K restoration as the definitive presentation of the film only if viewed in native 4K. In 1080p, the old 2K restoration seems like the better option. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There are two standard audio tracks on this release: French: LPCM 2.0 and German: LPCM 2.0. Optional English, French SDH, and German subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The lossless French track sounds terrific. I felt that it was marginally fuller now and perhaps better rounded as well. Also, it is definitely cleaner, which does not surprise me at all because it was extensively restored. There are no encoding anomalies to report in our review.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
The new 4K restoration of Breathless is the best presentation of the film, but only if viewed in native 4K. So, if you decide to upgrade you will need to pick up the 4K Blu-ray release. If you do not have the equipment to view 4K Blu-ray discs at the moment, my advice to you is to stay with the previous release of the film which was sourced from a pretty good 2K restoration. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
À bout de souffle / StudioCanal Collection
1960
À bout de souffle | Vintage World Cinema | 60th Anniversary Edition
1960
À bout de souffle / Vintage World Cinema
1960
À bout de souffle / Godard: The Essential Collection
1960
StudioCanal Collection
1965
My Life to Live
1962
4K Restoration | Les quatre cents coups
1959
Jules & Jim / Jules et Jim
1962
Vintage World Cinema
1970
A Woman Is a Woman / Godard: The Essential Collection
1961
Otto e mezzo / Federico Fellini's 8½
1963
L'armée des ombres / Vintage World Cinema
1969
Contempt | Vintage World Cinema | 4K Restoration
1963
Il deserto rosso
1964
Remastered / 25th Anniversary | Reissue
1995
1960
1959
Le livre d'image
2018
Band of Outsiders
1964
Il Conformista / Arrow Academy
1970
Ladri di biciclette / Arrow Academy
1948
Le week-end
1967
1962
1960