Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Reds Blu-ray Movie Review

A dry and sporadic epic that's nevertheless worth a look...

Cinematic labors of love have always fascinated me. When filmmaker Warren Beatty first learned about the life and times of Ten Days that Shook the World author John Reed -- an American journalist whose early-1900s Communist conversion sparked a firestorm of controversy -- he couldn't have known it would take fifteen grueling years to actually bring Reed's tale to the big screen. Script problems, personal tragedies, studio hesitancy, and a ballooning budget continually threatened the project, challenging Beatty's commitment and passion. Even he began to wonder if his efforts were in vain. When it finally debuted in theaters in 1981, audiences were split, but the film went on to find critical acclaim, earn twelve Academy Award nominations, and win three Oscars... including one for Best Director. It seemed Beatty's labor of love had paid off after all.

When career ambition and loneliness separates a pair of volatile lovers -- Greenwich Village journalist John Reed (Warren Beatty) and feminist writer Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton) -- they turn to other pursuits. John becomes more and more obsessed with his work and political philosophy, while Louise turns to a poet and playwright named Eugene O'Neill (Jack Nicholson) for companionship. In a last ditch effort to preserve their relationship, John invites Louise to accompany him to Russia to cover the exploits of a revolutionary named Vladimir Lenin. She agrees and their subsequent travels bring them to the front lines of the 1917 October Revolution, a rousing event in which the Bolsheviks seized power from the Russian Provisional Government. However, when John is caught up in the Communist movement, he quickly becomes an enemy of his homeland and is forced to choose between new ideals and old loyalties. In all, it's a sweeping epic that sees the rise and fall of nations, shows the ease with which revolution entices revolutionaries, and features interviews with actual survivors of the era.

Sadly, Reds just didn't strike me as particularly engaging or compelling. Maybe it's the fact that twenty-five years have passed since its release or that modern sensibilities have lessened the impact of its themes, but I thought Beatty's three-hour exploration of Reed's life was lost beneath an uneven story, the director's tumultuous personal relationship with Keaton, and a series of mixed messages that leaves the entire project feeling a bit rudderless throughout the third act. Aside from the various interview segments (which admittedly inject authenticity into the proceedings), I constantly found myself trudging through Reed's sometimes sappy love-life when I wanted to learn more about the historical implications of the upheaval being portrayed on-screen. Frankly, I didn't care about Reed's relationship with Bryant or his inability to prioritize her needs over his own... I wanted to understand his growing disillusionment, his drive, and his overwhelming desire to transport what he encountered in Russia to the United States. For a man who was indicted for sedition, I expected the film to be more concerned with political intrigue than romantic drama.

Even so, Reds is worth watching, if only to enjoy the fruits of Beatty's relentless attention to detail. His epic is a sprawling, multi-faceted biopic that will certainly keep your brain working from beginning to end. While the result may not be as emotionally invigorating as you might expect (as I found out first hand), Beatty still manages to capture a period of history that changed the world and continues to influence diplomacy, warfare, and political expression to this day. Approaching it all through the eyes of John Reed and Louise Bryant probably wasn't the most effective way to revisit such events, but it does provide the director an opportunity to put it all in context. My suggestion? Give it a rent on a rainy day and see what you think.

Reds Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

When it arrived alongside the many problematic 1080p/MPEG-2 transfers that were dominating the 2006 Blu-ray market, Reds quickly established itself as an exception. While lingering artifacts and crushed shadows still found their way into the presentation, Paramount's decision to spread the three-hour film across two discs gave it plenty of room to breathe and eliminated most of the compression issues that plagued other early BD-25 releases. It doesn't hold up as well today in light of the more impressive catalog remasters that have debuted over the last three years, but it's still worth some attention.

Beatty's palette is subdued, but the transfer's primaries are strong and natural, blacks are suitably well resolved, and skintones are quite attractive. Minor contrast wavering is a frequent issue, but the image has a classy, filmic appearance that makes the presence of moderate grain a welcome addition. More importantly, while detail is a bit inconsistent -- some shots are astonishingly refined, while others are a tad hazy and indistinct -- the original print seems to be the culprit. For the most part, fine textures are crisp, foreground edges are sharp, and delineation is revealing. Brief bursts of swarming noise and slight edge enhancement prevent the picture from claiming complete faithfulness to its source, but I never felt entirely disappointed with the results. Ultimately, the Blu-ray edition of Reds trounces the standard DVD version and will still satisfy fans of the film. Could a future release improve matters further? Sure... I just wouldn't avoid this one in the meantime over a few visual shortcomings.

Reds Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Paramount provides two audio options on this 2-disc release: a recently-crafted Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track and a 2.0 presentation of the film's original mono. Unfortunately, the limited nature of Beatty's early '80s sound design and the dated specifications of this 2006 Blu-ray release mean both tracks deliver mediocre, lossy mixes. Dialogue is generally clean and well prioritized, but it's occasionally clipped and compressed. Likewise, effects are relatively strong, but sometimes more stagey, tinny, and inconsistent than anything else. Moreover, while LFE support and rear speaker ambience are fairly decent on the new Dolby mix, the overall experience is almost as front-heavy and uninvolving as its mono counterpart. Add to that air hiss and intermittent popping and you have too many distractions to warrant a higher score.

I actually enjoyed Paramount's original mono presentation far more than their surround track simply because I didn't have unreasonable expectations as to what I would hear. All things considered, I don't think anyone will be blown away by Reds' sonic output. At best, it offers a passable presentation that improves upon the standard DVD's audio package.

Reds Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

While light on supplemental selection, the Blu-ray edition of Reds includes an extensive 74-minute documentary called "Witness to Reds" that delves into the oft-delayed project, its many developmental woes, its long-anticipated production, and its eventual reception. Smartly divided into eight digestible portions -- "The Rising," "Comrades," "Testimonials," "The March," "Revolution," "Revolution 2," and "Propaganda" -- the documentary offers interviews and thoughtful analysis from Beatty, the majority of the cast, and key members of the crew. It includes on-set footage and candid observations, all of which combine to create a compelling glimpse behind-the-scenes.

Reds Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Having lost some of its appeal and controversy over the years, Reds is merely a solid period piece that boasts an otherwise fantastic cast. I found myself glancing at the clock as the movie plowed along, but it nevertheless held my attention for the long haul. Alas, this 2006 Blu-ray release's MPEG-2 transfer and standard audio package doesn't hold up to 2009 standards. It features a decent picture and a top-notch behind-the-scenes documentary, but not much else. If you count yourself among the film's fanbase, you'll probably be pleased with the overall upgrade this 2-disc set offers over the DVD edition. However, anyone else should rent Reds long before considering a purchase.