Starting Over Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Starting Over Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 3, 2024

Alan J. Pakula's "Starting Over" (1979) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The only bonus feature on the release is an exclusive new audio commentary by critics Daniel Kremer and Howard S. Berger. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Why would a single woman want to date a guy like Phill Potter? For two reasons. She is exactly like him. She is not looking for a meaningful relationship, but a special kind of therapy that would heal the scars her broken marriage has left her. He would lie to her and make her feel good, and she would do the same, and while recovering, together they would pretend to be a couple. But they will never become a normal couple. These two will be like roommates sharing the same bed, and at the right time, they will simply move on and begin the next chapter of their lives. The second reason is a bit more complicated, but many women believe it is an even better one. Guys who are like Potter can be successfully remodeled into the version of the perfect husband who never was. They are needy and soft, which makes them weak and easy to manipulate. Their remodeling may not be successful, but the enjoyment she would experience from it, and the feeling that she is in control of their relationship while it is in progress, will be enough to make her declare that the experiment was worth it.

Why would a single man want to date a woman like Marylin Holmberg? If he is like Potter, because he needs therapy. Sex will not be a factor. A single man looking for a one-night stand will never invest resources in a woman like Holmberg because it would take a long time to force her out of her shell. For such thrill seekers, there are faster, much more reliable options worth exploring.

Understanding that Burt Reynolds and Jill Clayburgh play characters that begin a relationship in which true love is not a priority, or at least not initially, is essential in a possible attempt to see Alan. J. Pakula’s Staring Over as a rational film. But it is not that kind of film. Potter and Holmberg are both insecure, socially awkward, egoistical characters who connect only because the other is unlike their previous disappointing partners. After that, the rejection of the familiar and the acceptance of the different they recognize provide structure for their relationship. Because of this, the film routinely mocks the minor triumphs and failures the two go through. Some of this mockery becomes hilarious, especially as the depth of their insecurity is revealed, but most of it is pretty sad.

Candice Bergen plays the source of Reynolds’ misery. She is intelligent and strong, a dreamer who is not willing to spend the rest of her life being a traditional housewife. After their divorce is finalized, she immediately tunes out of the broken family’s reality and begins pursuing a singing career, while her ex-husband switches into autopilot. A couple of awkward phone conversations between the two then reveal that she has always been a closeted egoist.

When the final credits appear, it is difficult not to think of the main characters as caricatures in an easily avoidable, unbelievable farce. The 1970s produced many dramedies like Starting Over that were supposed to be witty and thought-provoking but turned out unbearably pretentious. Starting Over is not a pretentious film, but its messaging is poor – by 1970s and contemporary standards. In the real world, couples like Raynolds and Clayburgh do not last long because the acting that creates them is always way too transparent. In Starting Over, this truth is intentionally downplayed so that the farce can last as long as possible.

Oscar-winning cinematographer Sven Nykvist, who lensed many of Ingmar Bergman’s greatest films, produces plenty of predictably wonderful visuals with his camera. However, it frequently feels like they are at odds with the nature of the dramedy.

Starting Over 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, Starting Over arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a recent, very strong 4K master that was prepared at Paramount Pictures. I liked everything that I saw on my system. Delineation, clarity, depth, and even fluidity were as good as I think they could be in 1080p. To be honest, I assume that native 4K visuals would look very, very similar to the ones the Blu-ray produces. Color balance is convincing. There are a few areas where I felt that select shots became a tad too warm/creamy, but I did not see any anomalies. All primaries and all supporting nuances look very healthy and attractive. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is outstanding. The entire film looks spotless as well. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Starting Over Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

The lossless track is fantastic. It is very easy to tell that the audio is newly remastered because there are absolutely no traces of age-related anomalies. All exchanges are crystal-clear, sharp, and stable. Balance is excellent as well. Dynamic contrasts are average, but given the nature of the production this is to be expected.

Starting Over Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Daniel Kremer and Howard S. Berger.

Starting Over Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Are there any characters out there like the ones Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh, and Candice Bergen play in Starting Over? If there are, and they are just as weak and immature, then they deserve their misery. Also, unless they discover the strength to behave like rational adults, it is guaranteed that their misery would evolve differently. Starting Over mocks a lot of it, produces some funny moments, and a happy ending, but it is neither a good comedy nor a thought-provoking drama. It feels very, very dated. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an outstanding new 4K master that was prepared at Paramount Pictures.