Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Fabulous Baker Boys Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 9, 2022

It may not be exactly like some world weary guy like Rick Blaine asking his favorite lounge pianist to "play it again", but The Fabulous Baker Boys is back for a reprise of sorts, after a now long ago Blu-ray release by Twilight Time. As I mentioned in our The Fabulous Baker Boys Blu-ray review of that version, I have more than a passing acquaintance with some of the situations depicted in this fun and surprisingly emotionally engaging outing, since my "other life" away from reviewing is working as a pianist in any variety of capacities, including lounges. You'd have to earn pretty significant tip money (so to speak) if you want to pick up the old Twilight Time release, which is going for (IMHO) ridiculous sums of money now, but MVD Visual's MVD Marquee Collection imprint has come to the veritable rescue by offering this new, more affordable, release which pretty much duplicates the Twilight Time release in terms of its technical presentation, and may arguably up the ante, if only slightly, in the supplements department.

For my thoughts on the film and the first Blu-ray release, please consult our The Fabulous Baker Boys Blu-ray review.

The Fabulous Baker Boys Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Fabulous Baker Boys is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of MVD Visual's MVD Marquee Collection imprint, with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. I think most videophiles would be hard pressed to cite any major differences between this presentation and the old one from Twilight Time, as a cursory comparison of screenshots may help to reveal (and which may be further reinforced, if only subliminally, by the shared 1.84:1 aspect ratio). Both the pluses and minuses I noted in my review of that previous release are still in evidence here, including an intermittently anemic looking palette which can then suddenly burst with surprising vividness, especially with regard to some of its trademark reds, as well as flirtations with crush in some of the darkest nightclub scenes. Detail levels are very much in line (I'd in fact argue pretty much identical) with the Twilight Time release, and there are a number of small but noticeable signs of age related wear and tear. The presentation is buoyed by a natural and organic appearance with a nicely resolved grain field.

The Fabulous Baker Boys Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Though this disc sports LPCM 2.0 audio in the place of the Twilight Time release's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, as with the video side of things, I think audiophiles would be hard pressed to cite any major differences between the presentations. There's more than capable support for the film's musical elements, which are appealingly full bodied and which feature nice accountings of the piano sounds which never tip into brashness. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Fabulous Baker Boys Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted Scenes (SD; 21:17)


• The Fabulous Baker Boys: 1989 Behind the Scenes Featurette (SD; 6:56)


• Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges: 1989 Behind the Scenes Featurette (SD; 3:15)


• Michelle Pfeiffer: 1989 Behind the Scenes Featurette (SD; 3:36)


• Isolated Music and Effects Track is presented in LPCM 2.0 and is accessible under the Setup Menu.


• Audio Commentaries can be accessed under the Setup Menu:

  Writer-Director Steve Kloves, hosted by Twilight Time's Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman

  Director of Photography Michael Ballhaus

• Trailers include the following, along with trailers for other releases from MVD:

  Original Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 2:47)

  
  

  TV Spots (SD; 00:32, 00:31)

Additionally packaging features a slipcover.

The Fabulous Baker Boys Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I shared a couple of (to me, anyway) hilarious anecdotes about my personal adventures at a piano in my review of the Twilight Time release, but I'll add a more recent one here to hopefully elucidate the wild and wacky world of what lounge musicians encounter in their work lives. I played a gig for Mother's Day this year, where families were feting their favorite women with a banquet and live music, and I had an incredibly well appointed woman who had to have been 80 if she was a day come up to me and request "Whip It" by Devo. Nothing quite like that happens in The Fabulous Baker Boys, but there's still an at least passing relationship with "reality" that it offers, and both of the Bridges and Pfeiffer are in top form. This release pretty much duplicates the old and now very pricey Twilight Time Blu-ray in its technical presentation, and it offers a few archival supplements that the Twilight Time release didn't. Highly recommended.