6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The American Soldier (originally "Der Amerikanische Soldat") was the third of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "gangster trilogy." The film stars Karl Scheid as a German/American Vietnam veteran who takes a job as a hired assassin on behalf of the Munich crime lords. Scheid works both sides of the fence when three policemen engage him to knock off some awkward malcontents. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Starring: Hark Bohm, Margarethe von Trotta, Ulli Lommel, Katrin SchaakeForeign | 100% |
Drama | 67% |
Psychological thriller | 2% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
German: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (A, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of Arrow's The Rainer Werner Fassbinder Collection: Volume 3.
Arrow has been curating interesting collections of Rainer Werner Fassbinder films courtesy of both The Rainer Werner Fassbinder Collection: Volume 1 and The Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Collection: Volume 2, and now with this latest third volume. The first two editions offered some of Fassbinder's better known efforts like The Marriage of Maria Braun and The Merchant of Four
Seasons, and while this third collection offers titles that will no doubt be known by Fassbinder aficionados, it might present more "cult"-ish
productions.
The American Soldier is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.33:1. Arrow's insert booklet groups the films together in its informational verbiage about the restorations, as follows:
All films are presented in their original aspect ratios of 1.37:1* with mono sound. The restorations for The American Soldier, Gods of the Plague, Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven and Satan's Brew were produced and provided by the Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation from original 35mm camera negatives scanned on an Arriscan film scanner at Arri Media GmbH in Munich. The Niklahausen Journey, Rio das Mortes and Fear of Fear were originally made for television, with restorations produced and provided by the Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation from original 16mm camera negatives, and are presented in standard definition.*See individual reviews, since not all aspect ratios are actually 1.37:1.
The American Soldier features an LPCM Mono track in the original German. This is a nicely energetic track that delivers a glut of ambient environmental effects quite well, including some unexpected aspects courtesy of some unusual props that show up in some scenes. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
Arrow has packaged The Niklashausen Journey and The American Soldier together on one disc, with the following supplements:
- Commentary by critic Olaf Möller on The Niklashausen Journey
- Commentary by critic Tony Rayns on The American Soldier
There are parts of The American Soldier which are remarkably straightforward (at least for a "typical" Fassbinder film), but then there can be downright gonzo interstitials that make both the story and its visual presentation decidedly weirder. Technical merits are solid and the supplements very enjoyable.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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