Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Modern Romance Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 20, 2018

Albert Brooks' "Modern Romance" (1981) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; exclusive new video interview with cinematographer Eric Saarinen; new audio commentary by critic Nick Pinkerton; and vintage promotional materials. The release also arrives with a 28-page illustrated booklet featuring a new essay by Isabel Stevens, an overview of contemporary critical responses and historic articles on the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

A new beginning

Here’s friendly advice to single women searching for the perfect guy to fall in love with: If you meet one like the character Albert Brooks plays, and he is that much into you, immediately walk away from him. He is a ticking bomb, the male version of the lunatic that Glenn Close became in Fatal Attraction.

The only piece that does not seem to fit in Robert Cole’s (Brooks) otherwise perfect life is his long-time girlfriend Mary Harvard (Kathryn Harrold). Even though they are very much in love, the two have been constantly arguing about the nature of their relationship, and now they are at a point where both appear almost ready to call it quits. Almost.

Robert is the first to raise the white flag, but then immediately realizes that there will never be another woman that could fill the void that Mary has left in his life. So he panics, then becomes seriously depressed, and t eventually goes back to Mary and begs her to forgive him. She does, and even compliments him for buying her a cute, slightly oversized stuffed giraffe. How could she not, it’s smart and classy.

But the truce turns out to be very temporary, and the fireworks return. First Robert discovers an old phone bill in Mary’s bathroom revealing an unusually long call to New York City which instantly convinces him that she has been a cheater, and then he suddenly realizes that she is still spending way too much time working outside of her office. Mary also becomes seriously annoyed when Robert unexpectedly appears in a fancy restaurant where she is having an important business meeting and creates an awful scene.

Brooks’ direction is quite a bit better than his performance, but another actor almost certainly would not have been able to replicate the neurotic behavior of his successful Hollywood editor. Indeed, Brooks’ energy is perfect and when he has to be annoying he is very convincing. The parts that do not work particularly well are the prolonged monologues where he repeatedly doubles-down on the obvious and in the process erodes the authenticity of his character. This also has a negative impact on Harrold’s character, whose quick verbal capitulations after her lover’s typically overly melodramatic whining never ring true.

What prevents the film from evolving into an unhinged romantic parody is the smart decision to insert Hollywood into the mix and target the brilliant minds that supposedly flourish there. So by expanding the playing field and introducing more winners like Brooks’ character, the film succeeds in legitimizing the awkward by blaming it on the culture that Hollywood promotes. (The session in the editing room and party that the fussy director organizes are very effective in introducing precisely this counter-balance that helps the film).

There is some really smart use of music as the jealous editor struggles with his emotions. Brooks borrows bits from such classics hits as Nazareth’s “Love Hurts”, Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful”, and Michael Jackson’s “She’s Out of My Life”, amongst others.

Modern Romance Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Albert Brooks' Modern Romance arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release is sourced from an older remaster that was prepared by Sony Pictures some time ago. It has a fair share of limitations, but it is healthy and on a larger screen it holds rather well. The best looking parts are the ones where light is nicely balanced (see screencapture #1). However, during outdoor footage with plenty of daylight (screencapture #11) nuances begin to struggle, and during darker/indoor footage it is often obvious that shadow definition isn't optimal (screencapture #14). There are traces of management work as well, so a new remaster will undoubtedly introduce a much healthier grain structure that will in return ensure superior density. Some blown out highlights pops up here and there, but I did not find them distracting. Colors are stable and quite nicely balanced, with good ranges of nuances. However, saturation could be superior. Image stability is excellent. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Modern Romance Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I did not detect any issues to report in our review. The audio was very clean, nicely rounded, and equally well-balanced throughout the entire film. If there is any room for improvements and such are introduced in a future remix, I am convinced that they will be cosmetic adjustments that do not alter the overall solid quality of the audio.

Modern Romance Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Trailer - original trailer for Modern Romance. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Movie Love with Eric Saarinen - in this new video interview, cinematographer Eric Saarinen discusses his work with Albert Brooks during the shooting of Modern Romance and addresses some very specific choices that were made during key sequences to support the intended atmosphere. Also, there are additional comments that address the psychology of the film. The interview was conducted exclusively for Indicator/Powerhouse Films in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (15 min, 1080p).

• Audio Commentary with Nick Pinkerton - in this new audio commentary, critic Nick Pinkerton discusses in great detail the careers and work of the two stars of Modern Romance, the balance between comedy and drama and how it affects the tone and ambience of the film, some of the interesting similarities and differences between Maurice Pialat's We Won't Grow Older Together and this film (both film focus on crumbling romantic relationships), the transition of familiar themes to Lost in America, etc. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Indicator/Powerhouse Films in 2018.

• Image Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for Modern Romance.

• Booklet - 28-page illustrated booklet featuring a new essay by Isabel Stevens, an overview of contemporary critical responses and historic articles on the film.

Modern Romance Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Are there women out there that are actually willing to tolerate guys like Albert Brooks' character from Modern Romance? I can understand how a powerful Hollywood producer with similar 'qualities' can temporarily become attractive to some women, but I find it hard to believe that someone so emotionally unstable like Brooks' editor can be seen as a reliable long-term partner. As far as I am concerned, he is everything that a smart and independent woman would not want to have in her life, and in fact almost certainly needs medical help. I admit that I laughed quite a bit while watching him go off the rails, but there were only a few times when it felt right. Indicator/Powerhouse Films' recent Blu-ray release is sourced from a decent remaster that was prepared by Sony Pictures in the United States and is Region-Free. RECOMMENDED.