7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
When, unbeknownst to Gloria, a microfilm cassette is left with her by a dying agent, she becomes entangled in a complicated series of events. She's pursued by a dwarf and an albino, and becomes convinced that they are out to kill her. Finally, with the help of San Francisco detective Tony Carlson, she begins to turn the tables on her pursuers. It becomes clear that the nerfarious crew after her are plotting a dastardly deed indeed - to assassinate the Pope as he visits the city to see The Mikado. Gloria and Tony must race against time to prevent this terrible crime.
Starring: Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, Burgess Meredith, Dudley Moore, Rachel Roberts (I)Romance | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Japanese
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 2.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Foul Play is a pretty fair Thriller with heavy comedic overtones. The film, from Writer/Director Colin Higgins (writer, Harold and Maude, and director, 9 to 5), tells the story of a young, shy woman caught up in the middle of a high stakes power play. Why and who doesn't matter so much as how she responds to the predicament, which takes her through any number of zany encounters and deadly scenarios. The film is rather fun, a bit long and sluggish through a somewhat repetitive middle stretch, but it's superbly well cast and infectiously entertaining in a way that eases the audiences in and allows the viewer to relax, even as its lead character can do anything but.
It would be nice to report that Paramount has released Foul Play to Blu-ray with a handsome, filmic transfer befitting the material and the original film source. Sadly, that is not the case. Instead, this 1080p transfer is not the finest the studio has ever released. Far from it, in fact. The picture might look serviceably good at a glance, but its shortcomings are readily apparent on a second look. Grain is frozen in place, leaving behind a meshy, filtered look. The picture does not look dramatically smoothed over to the point that textures have turned to wax, but heavy filtering is readily apparent, and the frozen grain structure is anything but attractive. A few spots and speckles are apparent as well, further degrading the viewing experience. Details may not be plastic, but neither are they organic. There's a dullness, a flatness, to them, leaving would-be complex faces, clothes, and environments looking less than perfect and even less that acceptable. Colors fare well enough, at least, offering decent foundational depth and contrast, but never mind that: the processing is just too much. Why Paramount chose to release this in the current state, when the studio has been on such a role with other catalogue titles of late (even outside of the "Paramount Presents" line) is anyone's guess. Fans long wanting this film on Blu-ray are going to be disappointed, even those who don't label themselves as "videophiles."
While the 1080p video transfer leaves much to be desired, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is in fine shape. The presentation offers impressively wide and immersive music – a chase scene in chapter four is one of the highlights – that holds for the duration, including during the intoxicatingly fun sequence in Dudley Moore's apartment. There's not a whole lot more going on beyond music. Light atmosphere in bars, city streets, and the like offer good essential immersion elements with fine foundational clarity. Dialogue is clear, clean, well prioritized, and centered for the duration. This is a very good listen overall.
This Blu-ray release of Foul Play contains no supplemental content. The menu screen offers a static image with options for "Play," "Settings," and "Scenes." No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.
Foul Play is more than a fair movie. It slows down a bit during the middle, but the humor and horror are largely in fine working balance and the performances are very good from a terrific ensemble cast. Paramount's Blu-ray is sadly featureless, and the video leaves much to be desired. However, the audio track is good. Worth a look just to check out the movie. At least it's priced right.
2010
1992
Warner Archive Collection
1972
2013
1987
1971
Warner Archive Collection
1936
2010
1924
Holiday Gift Set
2010
1955
1928
1955
1990
2014
1943
Warner Archive Collection
1966
1981
1978
Warner Archive Collection
1945