7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In a burnt-out city on the verge of collapse, a canny butcher employs various young handymen, kills them, and then sells them as meat. When ex-circus performer Louison arrives looking for work, it seems that his head will be the next on the block. But Louison falls in love with Julie, the butcher's daughter, and together they join forces with an underground vegetarian group who plan to bring an end to the butcher's cruel regime.
Starring: Dominique Pinon, Marie-Laure Dougnac, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Karin Viard, Ticky HolgadoForeign | 100% |
Surreal | 38% |
Dark humor | 21% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In the long and storied history of international film, there have been perhaps surprisingly few pairs who collaborated together as co-directors. In fact, probably the only such pairing that will immediately spring to most people’s minds is the iconic Archers duet of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. But in the early to mid-1990s, another pair appeared briefly on the scene, sharing credit on two somewhat linked films, Delicatessen and The City of Lost Children. These post-apocalyptic fantasies share several common elements, including some cast members, but their unity of vision and technique can probably be squarely traced to the two men behind the camera (in both directorial and co-scenarist roles, indeed much like Powell and Pressburger), Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. If Caro’s name doesn’t immediately ring any bells, Jeunet went on to several high profile films, including Alien Resurrection (for which Caro provided storyboards) and the charming Amélie and A Very Long Engagement. On the SD-DVD of The City of Lost Children, star Ron Perlman in his often very funny commentary, begins his monologue with something along the lines of, “Here’s the very strange opening of the film.” (Pause). “Which is followed by the very strange middle section and, finally, the very strange ending.” That same précis could well be used for Delicatessen, a film which manages to combine a sort of Sweeney Todd plotline with a low-fi post-apocalyptic feel that is strangely redolent of mid-1960s American International films like Panic in the Year Zero.
Ho-hum, just another day in the post-apocalyptic universe.
If I were rating Delicatessen purely for myself, I'd give this Blu-ray's AVC encoded 1080p image (in 1.85:1) probably somewhere between a 4.0 and 4.25 (if that were available), especially when it's compared to the previous home video releases of this film. Delicatessen was made on a relatively small budget, and it is deliberately foggy and smoky a lot of the time, which tends to make the image appear softer and noisier than it actually really is. The sharpness of this image becomes more apparent in the many close-ups, where the weird, Felliniesque faces which fill the film are presented in all their often startling array, despite a very noticeable layer of grain. The bulk of Delicatessen is bathed in ghastly and ghostly yellows and greens, which adds to the strange looking contrast, but this Blu-ray is most definitely a major step up from standard-def releases. However, erring on the cautious side for you persnickety videophiles (and you know who you are), I've graded this release at a conservative 3.5. You may in fact be very pleasantly surprised.
Delicatessen's original French track is presented in an excellent, if narrow, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix which offers an appealing mix of the minimal dialogue, foley effects (which are plentiful), and the whimsical underscore. Fidelity is really top notch here, with some great sound effects dotting the soundscape. Everything from frogs hopping in a flooded apartment to sharp and piercing drilling sounds as two other tenants assemble whatever bizarre item they're making with spools and tuning forks. Range is also excellent here, with good, robust highs and lows making this a fun and appealing sonic experience. There's obviously not a huge soundfield here to exploit, but this is as odd and idiosyncratic a soundtrack as the film itself is, and it is provided a solid lossless track on this Blu-ray.
Delicatessen has a nice mini-smorgasbord of treats in store on this Blu-ray:
Delicatessen may not be everyone's cup of tea (so to speak), but for those who enjoy black comedy, it's a very tasty morsel and is certainly one of the more unique films of the relatively recent past. This Blu-ray offers a considerable upgrade in image and audio quality from the previous home video releases (though curmudgeons will probably take issue with the softness which accompanies the many mist-laden shots). Recommended.
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