7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
A pushy, narcissistic filmmaker persuades a Phoenix family to let him and his crew film their everyday lives, in the manner of the ground-breaking PBS series "An American Family." However, instead of remaining unobtrusive and letting the family be themselves, he can't keep himself from trying to control every facet of their lives "for the good of the show."
Starring: Charles Grodin, Frances Lee McCain, J.A. Preston, Matthew Tobin, Albert BrooksComedy | 100% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Albert Brooks' "Real Life" (1979) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Albert Brooks; new program with actress Frances Lee McCain; and vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Criterion's release of Real Life is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray disc is Region-A "locked".
Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.
Screencaptures #1-22 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #25-32 are from the 4K Blu-ray.
The following text appears inside the leaflet provided with this release:
"Supervised and approved by director Albert Brooks, this new 4K restoration was created from the 35mm original camera negative. The original monaural soundtrack was mastered from the 35mm magnetic track by the Criterion Collection. The feature is presented in HDR (high dynamic range) on the 4K Blu-ray disc and SDR (standard dynamic range) on the Blu-ray.
Mastering supervisor: Lee Kline.
Colorist: Gregg Garvin/Raoundabout Entertainment, Burbank, California.
Restoration: Prasad Corporation. "
I started viewing the film in native 4K, but quickly switched to the 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray, and eventually went back to the 4K Blu-ray. In native 4K and 1080p, Real Life looks simply terrific. There are a few shots here and there that look marginally better in native 4K, like the panoramic shot in screencapture #3, but the 4K makeover is so good that I just cannot see how someone can be impressed with the native 4K presentation and underwhelmed with the 1080p presentation. In native 4K, some backgrounds tend to appear slightly better defined, creating the impression that depth is superior. However, while the dynamic range of the 4K visuals is better, the difference is not striking. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Some small density fluctuations can be observed, but they are introduced by the original cinematography. In native 4K, with the tighter visuals make these fluctuations less obvious, which is a standard strength of virtually all 4K presentations. Color reproduction is wonderful. All primaries and supporting nuances look lush and very healthy. They are incredibly well balanced, too. Image stability is excellent. Finally, the entire film looks immaculate.
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The lossless track does not reveal any signs of aging. All exchanges are very clear, sharp, and stable. Even though there are quite a few sequences with chaotic movement and random noises, I did not notice unevenness and dynamic fluctuations either. Dynamic intensity is modest, but this is to be expected from a late-1970s film without any high-octane action material.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
Even though Albert Brooks' directorial debut was inspired by a popular 1970s reality TV series, it actually spends most of its time mimicking what Luis Bunuel's legendary film The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie does. It mocks with great enthusiasm, deconstructs, and tries hard to be illuminating. Unfortunately, Brooks cannot replicate the savage wit and humorous satire of The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, even after he effectively begins competing for the spotlight with the Yeagers. Criterion's combo pack introduces a fabulous new 4K restoration of Real Life, which looks terrific on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. RECOMMENDED only to the fans.
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