7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Two desperate people have a wonderful romance, but their political views and convictions drive them apart.
Starring: Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford, Bradford Dillman, Lois Chiles, Patrick O'Neal (I)Romance | 100% |
Drama | 52% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Czech: Dolby Digital 2.0
English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Take a moment and scan the American Film Institute's list of 100 Greatest Love Stories. The Way We Were ranks sixth, behind the likes of Casablanca and Gone with the Wind, narrowly edging out Doctor Zhivago. Its titular song, sung by lead actress Barbara Streisand, sits at number eight on AFI's Greatest Movie Songs. Suffice to say, The Way We Were boasts real cinematic clout. That much is undeniable. But let's step away from the film itself and ask a larger, perhaps more pertinent question: how much should a film's longevity or universality -- its ability to speak to modern audiences years after its initial release -- factor into its 21st century value? TWWW is, from every angle, a product of yesteryear; a movie that may have delighted in the '70s but has aged less than spectacularly. Its pacing has become sluggish in the ensuing decades. Its romance less of a star-crossed saga and more of a descent into the inevitability of sociopolitical separation. Is it still relevant? In a world of MAGA vs. Wokism, sure. But even in that context the film barely scratches the surface of the things that disrupt relationships and hinder love. What remains is a somewhat saccharine glimpse into the past, when movies were slower, stories were simpler, and principles were more easily defined.
Regardless of whether you choose to watch the 118-minute theatrical cut or 123-minute extended version of The Way We Were (both are
available on a single 100GB UHD disc via seamless branching), one thing will become immediately clear: Sony has produced a remarkable remastering
of the film, presenting both cuts with a terrific 2160p 4K video presentation that honors director Sydney Pollack's intentions and cinematographer Harry
Stradling Jr.'s vibrant photography. A fine veneer of filmic, largely consistent and natural grain graces the image, rarely interfering with detail. Edges are
clean and textures are exacting as well, with only a handful of scenes that exhibit notable softness (most of which appears to trace back to the source
rather than a fault of the encode). Keep in mind, though, this is an early '70s production, shot without the benefit of digital cameras, so that's all to be
expected. Thankfully there isn't much in the way of garish tinkering or artificial sharpening... at least not of the noticeable variety, because all the
wizardry of a modern remaster has certainly been put to work here. Colors are striking, and it might surprise newcomers to see just how punchy the
primaries can be. This is no lush, golden-hour romance. The palette is more convincing and lifelike, as are skintones (minus a few outlier shots where
faces struck me as a touch too warm). And HDR bolsters the image as advertised, with richer hues and more remarkably vivid contrast. It only helps
that artifacting, banding and other anomalies are nowhere to be found. Sony continues to properly honor and restore their catalog classics,
reinvigorating most titles rather than simply tossing a film on a 4K disc for an easy upscale.
(Note: some members have reported a distracting and extended "hitch" and/or shudder in the image, apparently around the time when the 100GB disc
transitions to its third layer. I didn't detect any such issue, but I felt it was wise to still mention it.)
There's not as much to get excited about when it comes to the two lossless audio tracks available for The Way We Were: a decent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track with the extended edition of the film and a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono mix with the theatrical cut. Both are quite faithful to the original sound design and, thank God, the 5.1 track doesn't try to overstay its welcome. The addition of rear speaker activity and low-end output are tastefully done, and much more subtle than not. It does create a slightly more immersive soundscape, though there's an air of artificiality to it all (like so many in this vein) that never quite won me over. I much preferred the lossless presentation of the original mono audio, despite the fact that more modern film fans may find its flatness and relative thinness to be a hinderance to their enjoyment. Whichever you choose, dialogue is clear and well-prioritized, with the usual 70s-era quirks and shortcomings, albeit none that rise to the level of a problem. Music is neatly threaded into each track as well and doesn't overwhelm conversations or drop too low for its own good. All told, there's nothing really to complain about here. If you love 1970s cinema, you probably already know exactly what each of the film's audio tracks will sound like. And I won't fault Sony's 4K release or remastering efforts for that.
I had a bit of a hard time with The Way We Were. It's not exactly my cup of tea, nor has it aged as gracefully as I'd hoped. Still, it has its charms and it certainly has its fans, so perhaps take my take with a grain of salt. That said, there's very little to complain about when it comes to Sony's 4K Blu-ray release. An excellent remaster, a strong video presentation, solid lossless audio mixes, both the theatrical and extended cuts, and a nice complement of special features makes this one an easy one to recommend to anyone who appreciates the film.
2015
2015
Includes "Him", "Her", and "Them" Cuts
2014
2015
Fox Studio Classics
1947
2014
2014
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1956
2007
Warner Archive Collection / Includes German-Language Alternate Version
1930
Limited Edition to 3000
1960
Young Man of Music / Warner Archive Collection
1950
2009
Warner Archive Collection
1945
1990
2019
1999
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1955
1985
1957