6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
He has a firm handshake, a ready smile, and some strange ideas about friendship. His name is Lester Long and when the bodies start piling up he generously decides to share the blame. Now the F.B.I. has got the whole town under observation, and Lester has put his new friend Clay over a barrel. The only way for Clay to set things straight is to beat one twisted individual at his own game of deceit and double-crossing.
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Joaquin Phoenix, Janeane Garofalo, Scott Wilson, Ian HolmCrime | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
David Dobkin's "Clay Pigeons" (1998) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include exclusive new audio commentary recorded by the director and vintage promotional materials. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Clay Pigeons arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The release is sourced from an old and unfortunately rather weak master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. Excluding a few darker sequences -- such as the footage from the popular bar -- the rest of the film tends to look unnaturally sharp and contrasty. During daylight footage this effect can become quite distracting, but there is well-lit indoor footage that is problematic as well. Grain can appear somewhat smeary, which suggests that some digital enhancements were applied on the master. This is the reason why fluidity isn't convincing. (During quick pans and zooms the smearing becomes a serious issue). The primary colors are stable, but quite a few darker nuances are either flattened or lost. Image stability is good. A few white specks remain, but there are no large damage marks, debris, cuts, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.
I viewed the entire film with the 5.1 track and did a few random tests with the 2.0 track. I was quite impressed with the quality of the lossless track, and particularly the manner in which it handles John Lurie's unusual score. At times it felt like the relationship between the music and the ambience was copied to imitate what Wim Wenders has done in some of his films. I liked it a lot. Clarity, sharpness, and dynamic balance are excellent. The 2.0 track is very strong as well. In fact, for what it does, I think that it is on par with the 5.1 track.
The relationship between Clay Pigeons and Blood Simple is instantly recognizable. However, in Clay Pigeons a lot comes together in a very organic way, and while it isn't always pitch-perfect, it looks and feels right. I think that this is why this film can delight in so many unexpected ways -- it is wild and yet somehow totally normal. It is too bad that it did not make it into the Criterion Collection because it deserves to be there. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an old and rather weak master, but features an outstanding exclusive new audio commentary recorded by director David Dobkin. Pick up a copy for your collection, but only when you find the release heavily discounted. RECOMMENDED.
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