Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 13, 2018

Grace Jones has been a recording artist and general pop culture figure for over 40 years, but those who’ve stood outside her fame would probably find it difficult to identify what makes the icon tick. “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” isn’t a career overview or a very in-depth biographical investigation, but director Sophie Fiennes makes it a priority to deliver a seldom seen side of the artist as she approaches the age of 70, following her as she records a new album, dominates the stage, does the promotional rounds, and pays a visit to her family in Jamaica. “Bloodlight and Bami” offers outstanding concert sequences to refresh appreciation for Jones’s talents and blazing sense of style, but it’s also an intimate study of temperament and trauma, with the subject unafraid to showcase her impatience with world as she quests to realize her art.

Fiennes doesn’t really direct “Bloodlight and Bami.” I’m not sure anyone can truly direct Grace Jones, forcing the helmer to sneak around in observational mode with commercial-grade equipment, often shooting the subject from afar, which adds to the voyeuristic ambiance of the documentary. The good news is that Jones is an open book, unafraid to share her schedule with Fiennes and the audience, and “Bloodlight and Bami” cuts between Jones’s day job as a singer and performer and her trip to Jamaica to reunite with family and friends. It’s a restorative journey she apparently hasn’t made in quite some time, returning to her former home, reconnecting with the people who shaped her life, also taking a sensorial odyssey as she gulps down coconut milk, reenters familiar homes, revisits church, and even encounters an old set of jacks, immediately hunkering down to give the metal and rubber another round of play. Fiennes absorbs the atmosphere, with conversations among family members a major part of the film, studying Jones as she processes old memories, including her time as a child under her abusive grandfather, known as “Mas P.” The violence of this time remains embedded in Jones’s psyche, and she discusses the nightmare at length with those in the know.

The Jamaican visit represents a third of “Bloodlight and Bami,” but it’s a necessary mission for Jones, who’s continually working on her issues, using the trip as a way to strengthen herself during a strange time in her life. Another section of the picture tracks the development of a new album, her first without the support of a record company. It’s here where the viewer is introduced to Jones’s famous anger, which she describes as her inner “panther,” showing little patience for those who fail to follow through on promises or mess with her schedule. Rage is periodically detailed in “Bloodlight and Bami,” watching Jones deal with musicians trying to switch recording dates after studio time is booked, and there’s a visit to a television variety show, where producers decide to surround Jones with scantily clad dancers, challenging the focus of the performance. Fiennes draws a connection between the “Mas P” years and Jones’s current psychological unrest, but “Bloodlight and Bami” doesn’t paint a portrait of a curdled woman, just one who has standards and fears, refusing to let others walk all over her. It’s empowering in a way, but also highlights a compelling vulnerability.

The highlights of “Bloodlight and Bami” showcase Jones in her element: on stage, dressed in ornate costumes, and thrilling an audience with sheer artful force. Performing hits such as “Slave to the Rhythm” and “Warm Leatherette,” Jones showcases her wonderful costumes and impressive voice, aiming to generate an eye-popping set where she stalks carefully designed and lit stages, highlighting her interest in abstract images that best emphasize her unique ideas on self-expression and entertainment. The performances are also shot more professionally than the rest of the documentary, giving “Bloodlight and Bami” much needed beauty to properly reinforce Jones’s musical contributions and full-body commitment to the art of showmanship.

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation is balancing two distinct cinematographic approaches to "Bloodlight and Bami." Tour footage is captured with lower resolution equipment, giving the feature a video-esque immediacy, which is smeary but inherently so. Concert footage is richly cinematic, with filmic grain and stronger detail, giving viewers a chance to study Jones's theatricality and her extraordinary costuming. Colors come alive on stage, with bold primaries and brighter lighting effects. Skintones are mostly natural here. Delineation is better in concert than on the road.

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix carries outstanding presence with Jones onstage, delivering sharp, deep instrumentation, including tight bass and crisp percussion, while vocals are distinct, detailing skill and in-the-moment passion. Studio recording scenes also carry precision. Tour excursions are less defined, but again, this is the way the feature was created, preserving a raw sense of moment to Jones's life. Surrounds do well with expanding music, but wisely downplay crowd response to support vocal power. Low-end is appealing, maintaining funky rhythm.

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features star Grace Jones, director Sophie Fiennes, and educator Judith S. Casselberry.

• Commentary #2 features Fiennes and critic Ian Haydn Smith.

• Q&A (26:34, HD) features Fiennes and Jones.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:09, HD) is included.

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Bloodlight and Bami" doesn't supply a career overview or file through biographical details with tight structure. It's loose and fresh, understanding Jones's special personality by collecting fragments of behavior, getting to know the artist from a unique point of view. Obviously, it doesn't take much to make the subject interesting (Jones is a real character), but Fiennes assembles a raw look at a performer who remains in motion, continuing to produce art and experience life, only now such expressions of self include more introspective energy, with Jones reaching out to connect with the woman she once was to contribute to the continually evolving icon she's become.