Stir Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Stir Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 3, 2024

Stephen Wallace's "Stir" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by Stephen Wallace, cinematographer Geoff Burton Bryan Brown, and producer Richard Brennan, moderated by filmmaker Mark Hartley; exclusive new audio commentary by Australian crime and film literature historian Andrew Nette; archival documentary; new filmed tribute to actor Phil Motherwell; newly restored original trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subttiles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Prison reality has been recreated in a lot of different films. In the best of these films, there is a common theme -- if prisoners are treated like animals, eventually they become animals. After that, it is only a matter of time before they evolve into angry, frequently suicidal animals.

Australian helmer Stephen Wallace’s film Stir retells a true story and at the center of it is the same theme. The story was penned by Bob Jewson, a former prisoner, who survived the massive riot at Bathurst maximum security jail in central New South Wales, Australia, in 1974. While the riot lasted, multiple prisoners were injured and different sections of the jail were set on fire.

In Stir, all events before, during, and immediately after the riot are seen through the eyes of a fictional character named China Jackson (Bryan Brown). A petty thief with terrible luck, Jackson is brought back to the jail just three years after leaving it and publicly accusing several high-ranking guards of mistreating fellow prisoners during a non-violent protest. Shortly after, all but one of the guards begin inventing reasons to get even and, in the process, awaken the animal in him. The one guard (Max Phipps) who acknowledges the validity of Jackson’s accusation and refuses to follow his colleagues warns that there is too much static in the air and even the tiniest spark could unleash a riot that will be impossible to contain, but he is promptly scorned and silenced.

After a series of incidents, Jackson and two other power prisoners agree that the only way to stop the abuses is to take over the jail and burn it to the ground. When the riot is greenlighted, the prisoners launch multiple bombs and take over large areas of the jail, forcing the guards to begin firing at them while waiting for reinforcements.

Even though Stir has an unmistakable Australian identity, it is easy to place next to terrific American films like The Glass House and Against the Wall. It is because it is similarly intense and brilliantly acted. It also looks strikingly authentic, which is unquestionably its greatest strength.

Jewson was also used as a technical consultant, and many of his former cellmates were cast to play different characters. While it is difficult to know exactly who these men were and what characters they played, it must be said that many of the prisoners captured by the camera look one hundred percent legit. If they speak, they sound legit, too. (For what it’s worth, some of the Australian accents that are heard throughout the film are quite thick, so American viewers will probably have to use the optional English subtitles to get everything that is said).

Brown gives a stunning performance that should be considered one of his best, possibly even the best. As his character enters the jail, his anger is already overwhelming, and from there, it quickly becomes even more intense. Unsurprisingly, the camera spends a lot of time observing his facial expressions. However, Stir is not a slowly moving film that produces plenty of opportunities for Brown to impress in the best way possible, which is why the drama is so captivating. Indeed, even seemingly casual or inconsequential material with Brown present looks terrific.

Wallace and cinematographer Geoff Burton shot Stir on location at Gladstone Gaol, a historic jail in South Australia, in 1979. However, it took several months to edit and finalize it, so it was officially released in 1980.

Severin Films’ Blu-ray release introduces a new 2K restoration of Stir sourced from a 35mm interpositive held at The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

Stir 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, Stir arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films.

The release introduces an excellent recent 2K restoration of Stir sourced from a 35mm interpositive held at The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. I liked everything that I saw on my system. There is one spot during the opening credits/prologue with a momentary drop in the density levels and light color pulsations, but this appears to be an inherited limitation. Delineation, clarity, and depth are consistently very pleasing. There are no traces of problematic digital correction. Grain can be slightly better exposed, but it still looks very healthy and even. Color balance is excellent. The indoor footage produces some rather intense greens and blues, but the lighting and some stylization choices are to be credited. The outdoor footage boasts lovely, very healthy primaries and supporting nuances. There are no distracting age-related imperfections, such as large debris, cuts, damage marks, warped or torn frames. All in all, I think that Stir has an excellent, very attractive organic appearance on Blu-ray. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographica location).

Stir Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I chose to view the entire film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. It is a very healthy track with a good range of nuanced dynamics, or at least good for a 1980s film. The dialog is clear and easy to follow, but I had to turn on the optional English SDH subtitles because some of the Australian accents were quite thick. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review.

Stir Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director Stephen Wallace, cinematographer Geoff Burton Bryan Brown, and producer Richard Brennan, and is moderated by filmmaker Mark Hartley (Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!). This is an incredibly informative commentary with a lot of very interesting information about the genesis of Stir and the real event that inspired it, the shooting process, the decision to mix professional actors with real prisoners, the staging of the violent confrontations, etc. If you enjoy Stir, find the time to listen to this commentary in its entirety.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by Australian crime and film literature historian Andrew Nette. This is also a very informative commentary with a lot of information about the real event that inspired Stir, the casting choices that were made, the Australian slang that is used throughout the film, the exact period in which the film was made and some of the politics behind it, etc. Also, there is some really good information about Bryan Brown's career and legacy.

• Tales From the Inside - this archival documentary examines the production history of Stir and the film's reception and reputation. Included in it are clips from interviews with Bryan Brown, producer Richard Brennan, writer Bob Jewson, and Stephen Wallace, amongst others. The documentary was produced by Mark Hartley 2005. In English, not subtitled. (51 min).

• A Career on the Fringe - presented here is a filmed tribute to actor Phil Motherwell featuring Australian theater historian Robert Reid and film critic Paul Harris. In English, not subtitled. (25 min).

• Director Stephen Wallace Introduces The Love Letters From Teralba Road - presented here is a filmed introduction to The Love Letters From Teralba Road by its creator, director Stephen Wallace. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• The Love Letters From Teralba Road (1977) - Stephen Wallace's directorial debut was also the first feature film that Bryan Brown appeared in. In it, Brown again plays a violent man who attempts to reconnect with his girlfriend. In English, not subtitled. (51 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a fully restored original trailer for Stir. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

Stir Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Stir is a biased film because it immediately chooses a side and stays with it until the very end. However, this allows it to insert itself deep into an ugly prison reality that an unbiased film will have a difficult time exploring and recreating. It is also a special time capsule with distinct Australian roots, so it is quite easy to declare that it is in a category of its own. Bryan Brown gives a sensational performance in it, which may very well be his best. Severin's release introduces a wonderful new 2K restoration of Stir with a terrific selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features. It is also Region-Free. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.