Nutcracker: The Motion Picture Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Nutcracker: The Motion Picture Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 12, 2019

Chicago was rightly or wrongly perceived as having "re- energized" the faltering film musical, but even some fans who loved the film version of the long running Broadway hit complained about some of the quick cut editing in the dance sequences, rapid fire choices that admittedly helped to propel the rhythm of things, but which prevented dance lovers from actually being able to see entire bodies in movement. Bob Fosse had a retinue of well trained dancers at his disposal for the original Broadway version (and the revival was similarly adorned), but the film version may have "cheated" a bit, letting some non-dancers (like some of the principal cast) off the hook by engaging in shots that either masked parts of their bodies or which cut so quickly that it was hard to apprehend individual movements. While there really isn't any quick cutting in evidence in this at times interesting film adaptation of Tchaikovsky's immortal ballet, there are some rather odd framing choices that would seem to defeat what is one of the main allures of ballet: namely, seeing people, as in entire bodies, dance.

Live performance Blu-ray editions of The Nutcracker have regularly dotted my review queue, as both Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Blu-ray review and Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Blu-ray review show, and in some ways, this filmed version is among the more opulent, courtesy of some striking design features done by the noted illustrator Maurice Sendak. And director Carroll Ballard, remembered for some of the ravishing imagery he contributed in films like The Black Stallion, does invest this version with occasional cinematic acuity, but he just as often makes rather strange choices in how he stages and more importantly films some of the sequences. This version was based on a highly acclaimed production by the Pacific Northwest Ballet under the venerable direction of Kent Stowell, and some ballet curmudgeons may wish that that original production had been memorialized instead of this film.

Nutcracker: The Motion Picture Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Nutcracker: The Motion Picture is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. As is sometimes the case with Olive releases, especially of somewhat older, niche items, there doesn't appear to have been any substantial restoration undertaken, and so this presentation has a fair degree of recurrent age related wear and tear, including some especially noticeable damage that crops up at slightly past the one hour mark. The film is filled with old style optical compositing, and as such detail levels and grain coarseness can be fairly variable. The best thing about this presentation is a rather healthy looking palette, one which bursts with both very well suffused, bold primaries, and some appealing interstitial pastel tones.

Nutcracker: The Motion Picture Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Nutcracker: The Motion Picture features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix which offers a secure accounting of Tchaikovsky's score, here played by the London Symphony under the baton of Charles Mackerras. The film also has some probably unnecessary voice over by the legendary Julie Harris (as an adult Clara, presumably), which also sounds fine.

Nutcracker: The Motion Picture Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no supplements included on this Blu-ray disc.

Nutcracker: The Motion Picture Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Is September too early to be planning your Christmas season viewing? Even if it isn't, this particular Nutcracker has both pluses and minuses. The production design by Maurice Sendak is inventive, and Kent Stowell's original staging also has some sweet moments. Carroll Ballard does some things smartly (including having Clara's dream begin to appear on her bed as she sleeps), but he doesn't seem to understand that a fundamental aspect of watching a ballet is being able to see the dancers. Technical merits are good (video) to excellent (audio) for those considering a purchase.