7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.4 |
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: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Music: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A lot of Baby Boomers and later generations assume that political activism started with them, but of course every generation has had its “activists” —including our Founding Fathers (and Mothers), it should be stated. The 1930s and early 1940s were an especially potent time for political foment, with so-called radical movements like American Communism becoming quite popular. Something about having experienced the Depression seemed to bring out a yearning for “social justice” in a lot of people which tended to manifest in left leaning ideals and, in some cases at least, outright Marxism. Many of these idealists later found out that the pendulum tends to swing both ways, and by the time reactionary elements began branding people as traitors to our nation, people who had been for the most part youthful adherents to a hoped for Utopia rather than folks more acutely political in the strictest sense, that first blush of youthful optimism had soured to discord and in some cases fear. As the 21st century rolls along, memories fade and we seem further and further removed from some of the epochal sociopolitical movements of the mid-20th century, but some of us experienced these changes, albeit vicariously, through what our parents and other relatives went through. But in fact The Way We Were itself mixes nostalgia with a more caustic glance backward, essaying a trip through memories as is so eloquently alluded to in the famous theme from the film. And remember we must, for any number of reasons. My own Uncle was a card carrying American Communist in the 1930s who was later called before the HUAC and the Dies Committee in the 1950s (Martin Dies called my Uncle, who was a union organizer, “The baby-faced Pinko of New York City’s docks”, a description my Uncle cherished until the day he died). These anecdotal reminiscences are hopefully useful to indicate that there was always a ripple effect outward from those devotedly following any tenet to those who were in some cases only tangentially involved with them. It must only be magnified when those “involved” are involved, if you catch my drift. That’s the general setup of The Way We Were, an improbable romance between a rabble rouser played by Barbra Streisand and her straitlaced paramour portrayed by Robert Redford. The Way We Were is one of the most fondly remembered films of its era, one which has maintained a high level of popularity not only due to its intrinsic content but also due to its immensely popular and Academy Award winning theme song by Marvin Hamlisch and Marilyn and Alan Bergman.
The Way We Were features typically stellar work from Sony-Columbia, delivered via an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.40:1. The film's palette is beautifully reproduced on this Blu-ray, with an array of bright primaries (check out the red "berries" on Streisand's blouse in the first screenshot) and cooler hues accurately and sumptuously filling the screen. Fine detail is superb, highlighting the fine work of costume designer Dorothy Jeakins. Pollack utilizes a lot of location work, and nice aerial shots of sailboating offer some great depth of field. The image is stable and damage free, with excellent clarity and contrast. A very natural looking layer of fine grain is also completely in evidence, but never overly obtrusive.
The Way We Were's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is really rather surprisingly immersive quite a bit of the time. Katie's big moment in front of the microphone on her college campus has a nice sense of space (and there's excellent use of side and rear channels for the crowd noises), and later when she and Hubble are surrounded by reporters during the HUAC hearings, there's a palpable sense of sonic claustrophobia. Scenes by the ocean also sound great, with a nice sense of spaciousness. Hamlisch's music is very expressive and spills into the surrounds (even though it tends to be mixed very low quite a bit of the time). And of course Streisand's inimitable rendition of the legendary theme sounds fantastic. Dialogue is very cleanly presented and while this isn't an overly showy track, it's much more generally immersive than most romantic dramas tend to be.
The Way We Were has always struck me as a bit too pat for its own good. Katie is too much of a one note activist, and Hubbell is too much of a bland sort of "go along to get along" guy for the characters to really take hold. I recognize I'm probably in the minority with this viewpoint, but as I mentioned above, even I can't deny the film's emotional power and the beauty of the lead performances. Hamlisch's music is simply icing on the cake. So even though the cynic in me may be weeping silently over the next few days, despite my passing qualms with some of Laurents' conceits, the technical merits of this Blu-ray make this an easy Highly recommended.
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
1974
2019
1999
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1955
1985