6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Detectives Steve Carella, Meyer Meyer, Eileen McHenry, and Bert Kling are part of the 87th Precinct's team investigating a murder-extortion racket run by a mysterious deaf man. While attempting to investigate and prevent the murders of several high-ranking city officials, they also must keep track of the perpetrators of a string of robberies. Further complicating matters is a rash of arson attacks on homeless men.
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Jack Weston, Tom Skerritt, Raquel Welch, James McEachinDrama | Insignificant |
Crime | 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 Mono
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
An offering of supercop cinema from a decade that was positively addicted to the stuff, 1972’s “Fuzz” catches up with the ragtag ways of the Boston Police Department as they’re faced with an atypically determined enemy. It’s cold-blooded procedural executed with a special spin, managing a community of exhausted cops, dismissive politicians, and active villains as they race around the city, mixing it up while elements of suspense and comedy vie for the dominating mood. It’s based on the “87th Precinct” series by author Ed McBain, adapted for the screen by Evan Hunter, and they’re both the same man, leading to the sort of confusion “Fuzz” thrives on, overseeing a combustible mix of personalities and tonal adjustments as the production makes its way through the thick of criminal encounters and personal antagonisms. It’s a messy effort, odd all over, but director Richard A. Colla keeps the feature on the move to the best of his ability, wisely investing in brevity as the episodic nature of the source material is hammered into shape here, resulting in an entertaining endeavor that’s frequently breathless, never lingering anywhere for very long.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation commences with source issues emerging from an aged print. Scratches are present but clear up as the feature unfolds, settling into a pleasing viewing experience that generally supports the particulars of the urban crime story. Detail is satisfying, supplying textured facial responses and set dressing, and costuming keep fibrous qualities. Colors are subdued but effective, handling cooler hues while still retaining interesting primaries. Grain is fine and filmic. Delineation has challenging moments, but doesn't become a sustained problem.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix deals with thin production values and age issues. It's a sharp track, hitting uncomfortable highs at times, but it deals adequately with the movie's aural bustle. Dialogue exchanges are mostly delivered in group settings with character speaking on top of one another, but intelligibility isn't troubling, maintaining individual performances. Scoring is more substantial but nothing reaches deep, handling moods acceptably. Atmospherics are plentiful, adding a sense of location and movement to the picture.
The Deaf Man's plans finally pick up momentum in the last act of "Fuzz," which begins to assume the form of a traditional thriller. The cops are playing beat the clock with The Deaf Man and his minions, who are after a grander target to make their biggest impression yet on the citizens of Boston (sadly, there's no sense of citywide panic). Violence emerges with shootouts and chases, giving the movie charged imagery to help balance out its pleasingly messy introduction. And it's always good to have Brynner handling scenes of intimidation, managing to make a largely unseen foe into a real threat. "Fuzz" isn't direct, it's barely linear, but it has its own special charisma and way with urban grittiness. Colla takes care of the streetwise chess game, and fans of "Die Hard with a Vengeance" might recognize its combustible energy in an earlier form here, with the features weirdly identical when highlighting the feistiness of law enforcement and precinct commotion as all hell breaks loose. It's an engaging picture with a playful disregard for structure, unfolding in its own way as temperaments are tested and national security is playfully disregarded.
Warner Archive Collection
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