7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Distraught over her recent breakup with her lover, Pepa prepares to overdose on a blend of gazpacho laced with sleeping pills. She is diverted from her suicide, however, by her friend Candela, a fugitive from justice seeking a place to stay. Soon, Pepa finds her life and the lives of those around her spiraling out of control.
Starring: Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Julieta Serrano, María Barranco, Rossy de PalmaForeign | 100% |
Drama | 88% |
Dark humor | 1% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Nominated for Oscar Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Pedro Almodovar's " Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" a.k.a. "Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios" (1988) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the disc include a filmed introduction by critic Jose Arroyo and featurette with cast and crew interviews. In Spanish, with imposed English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
Rejected
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Pedro Almodovar's
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal.
The film has been recently restored in 2K by French label TF1. Currently, it appears in this box set together with five additional films.
I did a few direct comparisons with the R1 DVD release of the film from Sony's Viva Pedro: The Almodóvar Collection box set and can categorically state that the new presentation is vastly superior. Indeed, there are dramatic improvements that allow one to experience the film in an entirely new way. While definition and clarity are indeed excellent, I think that the biggest improvements are in the area of color depth and saturation. Almodovar's work with José Luis Alcaine has very unique qualities and now the types of nuances and balances (specifically the arrangement and treatment of colors and light) that define it finally feel legit. Grain is nicely exposed and resolved, never appearing smeared or frozen. Also, there are absolutely no traces of problematic sharpening adjustments. Image stability is outstanding. Debris, cuts, damage marks, stains, warps, and all other age-related imperfections have also been effectively eliminated. (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: Spanish LPCM 2.0 and Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Imposed English subtitles are provided for the main feature.
I viewed the film with the LPCM 2.0 track. Right from the opening credits it becomes very obvious that the audio has been fully remastered. I don't have any technical details to share, but clarity and depth are simply outstanding. Balance enhancements must have been performed as well because the sporadic unevenness that is present in the mid- register on the R1 DVD release is gone. There are no pops, cracks, audio dropouts, or digital distortions to report.
Pedro Almodovar's international career began with this irresistibly funny film about a group of women who suddenly realize that they have been left to self-destruct. The film has been recently restored in 2K by French label TF1 and I am happy to report that it looks absolutely magnificent in high-definition. Currently, it appears in this Blu-ray box set from StudioCanal, which also includes five additional early films from the Spanish helmer. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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