7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In Los Angeles, a mysterious getaway driver becomes the latest assignment for a tenacious detective.
Starring: Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani, Ronee Blakley, Matt ClarkDrama | 100% |
Crime | 32% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080/50i
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Walter Hill's "The Driver" (1978) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label The Corporation/L'Atelier d'images. The supplemental features on the disc include an alternate opening; original trailer for the film; and featurette with rare footage from the shooting of the film. In English, with optional French subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
The Driver
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080/50i transfer, Walter Hill's The Driver arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label The Corporation/L'Atelier d'images.
I assume that the master that was used to produce this release is the same one StudioCanal worked with when they prepared their release last year. What is on the disc is the longer uncut version of the film, which features the additional footage with Isabelle Adjani and Ryan O'Neal that is cut from the American release. (StudioCanal's logo also appears on the cover of this upcoming release). However, here the film is encoded in 1008/50i and the total running time is 01.27.53 (88 minutes). I can only guess why the film isn't encoded in 1080p as the transfer is actually progressive -- there are progressive frames locked inside a 1080/50i encode and as a result there is no motion judder -- but it is clear that the film isn't running at the correct speed. Detail and clarity are excellent and the film looks very healthy. Also, there are no traces of compromising degraining or sharpening corrections. However, there are a couple of sequences where some light compression artifacts attempt to sneak in (see screencapture #3). Colors are stable, well balanced and healthy. Image stability is great. Finally, there are no large debris, cuts, stains, or torn frames. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional French subtitles are provided for the main feature.
There are a few sequences where where clarity and balance fluctuate a bit, but these fluctuations are part of the film's original sound design. A goo example is the train sequence where The Detective goes after the Exchange Man. Stability is very good. Lastly, there are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report in our review.
Walter Hill's The Driver is one of my all-time favorite films and I could not be happier when it finally transitioned to Blu-ray. This upcoming French release appears to have been sourced from the same master StudioCanal worked with when they prepared their release in 2014, but it has the film encoded in 1080/50i. I am unsure why because the transfer is actually progressive. This release also has some very rare footage from the shooting of The Driver with excellent technical descriptions by director Walter Hill and producer Larry Gordon. If you are a fan of the film and can find the release on sale, consider adding it to your collections. RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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