Reversal of Fortune Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Reversal of Fortune Blu-ray Movie Review

The devil's advocate.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III November 13, 2020

Barbet Schroeder's haunting 1990 legal drama Reversal of Fortune valiantly dissects the still-unexplained case of wealthy American socialite Sunny von Bülow, who fell unconscious in December 1980 and remained in a diabetic coma until her death in 2008. Her estranged husband at the time, Claus (d. 2019), was convicted of attempted murder in the first of two subsequent trials but acquitted on appeal due to the efforts of Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, who wrote a popular 1986 book on which this film is based. Expertly constructed and very compelling, Reversal of Fortune establishes a focused narrative but remains dutifully ambiguous (a tactic also used in later films like David Fincher's outstanding Zodiac), with standout performances by Glenn Close, Jeremy Irons, and the late Ron Silver.

Avoiding a consistently linear structure, Reversal of Fortune immediately leads with cold, hard reality: Sunny von Bülow (Close) remains in a persistent vegetative state and will likely not recover. Told partially in narrated flashbacks, some of which take cues from Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon, it depicts fractured events leading to -- and stemming from -- the fateful December 1980 incident as seen from multiple perspectives: a strained marriage, tender moments from their earliest encounters, at least one amicable affair, alcohol and painkillers, a Christmas party gone wrong, and an insulin-encrusted needle. Our primary guide during Claus' conviction appeal is legal scholar Alan Dershowitz (Silver): he's hired by Sunny's husband Claus (Irons) but initially resists due to strong moral objections, which are partially quelled when Claus agrees to fund Alan's defense of two wrongfully imprisoned black youths on death row.

Although early portions of its narrative flashbacks border ever-so-slightly on cheap melodrama, the resounding majority of Reversal of Fortune maintains a very engaging and clear-cut tone that holds interest whether you're familiar with the real-life case or not. All three leads could have very well earned Oscars but only Jeremy Irons was nominated, let alone recognized; surprisingly enough this was, to date, this first and only win for Best Actor. While Irons is perhaps the more immediate standout and Silver is absolutely perfect as well, Glenn Close very much holds her own in a role that, due to the events depicted on-screen, could have been a potentially thankless role. These three are collectively magnetic in their respective roles, even though other names were considered several years earlier including Dustin Hoffman and Klaus Maria Brandauer (Out of Africa), as well as much more established Hollywood directors like Stanley Kramer (Judgment at Nuremberg, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?) and Hugh Hudson (Chariots of Fire).

But relative Hollywood newcomer Barbet Schroeder, riding off the recent strength of his acclaimed (but since largely forgotten) film Barfly and landmark international documentaries such as General Idi Amin Dada: A Self-Portrait and Koko: A Talking Gorilla, proved to be a very capable fit, not surprisingly aiming for realism within all that potentially sordid drama. This could have very well been a disposable made-for-TV production; one that favored raw, tactless sensationalism and manufactured drama over methodical, measured investigation. It doesn't, so not surprisingly Reversal of Fortune plays just as well now as it likely did in 1990, and perhaps even better since a new generation can now discover a legal case that has drifted away from widespread attention during the last three decades.

Although it sounds cliché, Reversal of Fortune really is the type of "total package" film that feels as good as -- if not slightly better than -- the sum of its parts, a trait magnified by its ripped-from-the-headlines source material. It's aged very well in the last 30 years, partially due to the morbidly unsolved nature of its case and the more recent deaths of both real-life von Bülows. It's also ripe for new life on Blu-ray thanks to the reliably great work by Warner Archive, who once again serve up a disc with top-tier A/V specs and limited but engaging extras carried over from its original 2001 DVD release. Whether you're a long-time fan of the film, interested in the real-life case, or entirely new to both, Reversal of Fortune remains essential viewing that stands as a career highlight for everyone involved.

Reversal of Fortune Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Although Warner Archive released Reversal of Fortune on DVD just four years ago, for many this new Blu-ray will be viewed as a quantum leap past their parent company's first DVD edition back in 2001. Sourced from a brand new master, the end result is right in line with other WAC catalog releases: a pristine and very film-like presentation that will immediately impress purists. Fine detail is absolutely fantastic in many close-ups and wide shots alike, although portions of Reversal of Fortune are imbued with a slightly hazy appearance and, of course, films shot around this time often made use of stocks with a very distinct appearance. Color saturation is excellent with no bleeding and plenty of vivid hues on clothes, background details, and foliage, with some of the less colorful interiors still maintaining a striking appearance thanks to pleasing depth and a consistently high level of film grain. Although Reversal of Fortune is clearly not a visually ambitious production from a storytelling standpoint (really, a large portion of it is literally just a group of people talking legalese indoors), the ornate production design and occasional flourishes make this an unusually strong catalog Blu-ray that has, as usual, been meticulously preserved by one of the best studios in the business.

Reversal of Fortune Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray's DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio cleanly replicates the film's original two-channel source, which is obviously dialogue-heavy but graced by plenty of ethereal music cues by Mark Isham that add some much-needed depth and sonic interest to the proceedings. Clarity and channel separation are both very well-rendered, with a dynamic range wide enough to give certain scenes and moments more than enough weight without overpowering speech. Dialogue placement is also as precise as possible given the format, with many of the crowded legal conversations -- in relatively small rooms, nonetheless -- sounding relatively full-bodied rather than ramped and claustrophobic. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are also offered during the main feature; they're formatted perfectly with no sync issues.

Reversal of Fortune Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release arrives in a standard keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork and no inserts. Both primary bonus features are ported over from previous DVD releases with nothing of real interest missing.

• Audio Commentary - This feature-length track with director Barbet Schroeder and screenwriter Nicholas Kazan covers an expected amount of ground, with topics including the storytelling process, Dershowitz's book, other aspects of the real case, dramatic license, casting and shooting locations, and more. Although there are an awful lot of gaps for a two-person commentary, on the whole it's a pretty engaging listen that fans will enjoy.

• Theatrical Trailer (1:57) - This vintage promotional piece can also be seen here.

Reversal of Fortune Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Barbet Schroeder's Reversal of Fortune is a film I would have been bored to tears with at a younger age but can certainly appreciate now: it's very well crafted with excellent performances, great cinematography and music, and a compelling core story that's treated with plenty of care. In the wrong hands, this could have easily been a forgettable made-for-TV production. Same goes for Warner Archive's Blu-ray: the extremely striking 1080p transfer wrings out an awful lot of fine detail and, like its lossless audio track and carryover bonus features, makes Reversal of Fortune a rock-solid catalog release that will certainly impress established fans and newcomers alike. Highly recommended!