8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
A waggish, freewheeling bachelor and a straitlaced law student take a madcap trip from Rome to Tuscany.
Starring: Vittorio Gassman, Catherine Spaak, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Claudio Gora, Luciana AngiolilloForeign | 100% |
Drama | 92% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Italian: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (A, C untested)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of Radiance's Commedia all'italiana: Three Films by Dino Risi set.
Any film fan worth his or her salt would probably respond with a near instant "Neorealism!" if asked to name a post-World War II genre in Italian
cinema. What came next is the focus of a really appealing three film set from Radiance, which further serves as a trio of examples of the
wide ranging if kind of weirdly lesser remembered work of Dino Risi. Supplements on the three discs in this set offer a primer of sorts for those
unacquainted with either/both neorealismo rosa (i.e., "Pink Neorealism") or/and commedia all'italiana (i.e., "Italian style
comedy"),
and provide some really interesting context of what Italy was going through both overtly and perhaps on a subliminal level as it dug itself out from
the
horrors of Fascism and the devastating effects of a global conflict where it initially at least played a central part in hostilities. The "transition" from
neorealimso rosa to commedia all'italiana was perhaps not "cut and dried", and so the three Risi films may at various times
reflect
different aspects of both of these perceived genres, but all three stories offer some trenchant observations about Italian culture and its basic
socioeconomic framework in the late fifties to early sixties, and two of the three films offer showcases for Vittorio Gassman, who was, as one
supplement included in this set gets into, suddenly an "overnight sensation" as a frequently buffoonish comedy performer after having earned
plaudits
for much
more serious stage and film work, including celebrated performances in plays by Shakespeare.
Il Sorpasso is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Radiance Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. While Radiance's packaging doesn't offer much technical information, the presentation starts with the following text cards (in Italian, translated in the subtitles as follows):
This restoration was performed by the Cineteca Foundation in Bologna and Istituto Luce - Cinecitta, Suf Film, RT, Lyon Film, and LCJ Productions. The 4K digital restoration was based on original film and soundtrack negatives. Some frames were heavily compromised by mould and tears and were recovered using first generation counter-negatives. The process took place in 2016 at the L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratories.This is an often exceptional looking presentation, with really secure fine detail levels throughout, with some possible very minor softness issues in some of the on location outdoor material, notably some of the sequences shot in moving cars. Contrast is consistently solid throughout, with some understandable variances in any number of optical dissolves, techniques which can also affect grain thickness for a second or two. There's a really appealingly organic appearance to this transfer and whatever restoration gauntlet was undertaken has eliminated any signs of major damage and/or age related wear and tear.
Il Sorpasso features an LPCM 2.0 Mono track in the original Italian, and I'd rate this one at the top of the three offerings in this set in terms of offering an overall full bodied sound without distractions like overly bright high ends. There is still definitely a somewhat boxy sound on hand, but elements like the swingin' jazz score by Riz Ortolani really sound great for the most part, and all dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
Some of the supplements on this disc address what might be perceived by some as a slight whiff of homophobia running just beneath the surface of this film, and while that perception is actually not germane to this particular plot point, there is a distinction drawn between the "traditionally" masculine Bruno and the more reserved, bookish Roberto (Jean-Louis Trintignant). This is arguably the best of the three Risi films in Radiance's set, and it offers secure technical merits and some outstanding supplements. Highly recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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