The Ernie Game Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Ernie Game Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 9, 2022

A darker Canadian way of life is replicated in 1967’s “The Ernie Game,” which follows the eponymous character (played by Alexis Kanner) as he moves out of a psychiatric hospital and attempts to survive in the city, managing the interests of Donna (Judith Gault) and Gail (Jackie Burroughs) while dealing with his tightly guarded issues. It’s an offering of character and urban exploration from director Don Owen, who does away with traditional narrative interests, electing to make a character study with an elusive personality, highlighting all the behavioral choices involved in these struggling relationships.

“The Ernie Game” is a study of a lonely man trying to connect to others, but can’t get past his own issues. He has a big personality, putting on a show for others to attract attention, but limited impulse control and clarity of thought, and the film follows his experiences with others, dealing with two women in his life as time passes and awareness of what’s happening slowly sinks in. There’s an interesting sense of Montreal in the picture, and performances are engaged, following Owen’s design to make something approaching experimental theater with “The Ernie Game,” indulging many cinematic interests of the decade. And there’s an appearance by Leonard Cohen, who offers a performance for the endeavor.

The Ernie Game Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Ernie Game" is sourced from a 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive. While a modest production, color is welcomed by the production, with appreciable hues emerging with Ernie's street tours, which provide a chiller sense of weather and city life. Warmer hues are found in living spaces, and brighter primaries are found on period outfits and room decoration. Skintones are natural. Detail registers on the soft side, with filtering present. Skin particulars aren't sharp, but a sense of age and self-care is present. City tours are satisfactory, offering a look at Montreal locations. Delineation is acceptable. Source is in good condition. Mild artifacting is periodic.

The Ernie Game Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a basic understanding of dialogue exchanges, with performances clear enough to follow, including quieter emotional moments. Music supports with a gentler sound, with changing moods appreciable, and performances, including a song from Leonard Cohen, register pleasingly, with decent acoustic instrumentation.

The Ernie Game Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) includes an essay by Steve Gravestock.

• Short Films (HD) include 1965's "High Steel" (13:54), 1965's "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Leonard Cohen" (44:14), 1966's "Notes for a Film about Donna & Gail" (48:44), 1966's "A Further Glimpse of Joey" (28:01), and 1968's "Cosmic Zoom" (8:01).

The Ernie Game Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Ernie Game" has moods and a growing sense of depression, with the character's manic episodes emerging throughout the feature. It's not always a riveting understanding of mental illness, but it offers an evocative setting and a loose rhythm of emotion and conflict that captures a burgeoning, and realistic, sense of madness.