A few words about...™ Mildred Pierce (HBO) -- in Blu-ray

Frustrating.

That's the best word for HBO's Mildred Pierce mini-series.  Based upon the same book by James M. Cain that was the basis for the classic 1945 Joan Crawford, Warner Bros. version as directed by Michael Curtiz.

Actually, that's the first question that a rep from Oppo asked me when I called.  "You're having problems playing a six year old standard def disc..."

This approximately 300 minute (5 episode) production, as directed by Todd Haynes has arrived via HBO on Blu-ray, and I've spent far too much time with it.

The basics:

Generally, HBO does superb work, from image capture to packaging, but this one takes the cake.

I didn't realize when ordering, that it was four discs, representing both standard definition as well as Blu-ray -- and I'm not really sure who needs that-- and not 300 minutes spread across four discs.  My error.

Apparently charging $35 for two discs might be considered a bit high, so they've included the same thing in standard def.  This has always made sense to me when the Disney organization does it, as a standard def DVD player might be "handed down" and end up in a kid's room.  That allows for the exhibition of the Blu-ray in a family's home theater, and if a child wants to take it to bed, they can play it on their smaller set in SD.  Great idea, really.

Probably over-tired, I loaded the first disc, and was unimpressed with the image quality.

Now, understand...

This was shot, quite nicely in 16mm, and went through a 2k DI to the final product.  But what I was seeing was not at all impressive.  Soft and with EE around titles.  Not a good situation.  Then I checked to make certain that I was running 1080p, and sure enough, I was not.

After a long day, thinking that this was a four disc set, I had put the first disc an Oppo 83 and hit play, and the results...

Once I realized that this package, which is actually oversize for what it might be, had two formats, I went for the Blu-ray, ready to be amazed.

I wasn't.

My player groaned a bit, and then locked on 0000-00 and bricked.

Hit open tray.

Nada.

Once I shut down the player, I was finally able to extract the disc and go back to the SD version.

From what I've seen thus far in SD, Kate Winslet does a wonderful job in the lead role.  Melissa Leo is superb, as always.  But I really want to see this in high def.

I checked the disc on another Oppo, and it plays, after some grief and a long load time, but I didn't wish to review on a large screen.

After a couple of calls to Oppo -- I do love that company, and their products -- it came down to a problem in either authoring or piracy prevention, although a defective disc could also be the culprit.  They're going to get a copy of the disc and see if they can figure it out and come up with a solution.

Issue turns out to be a defective disc.  

NOTE:  Please see Post 17, as this discussion continues.

RAH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig S 

 

Ditto. Plays on my PS3, looks pretty good.

 

RAH, is it possible you just got a bad (damaged) disc? Have you tried the 2nd Blu-ray?

 

FWIW, I hear you on the added DVDs in the set. Seems completely unnecessary for this type of release, other than as an excuse to jack the price up.

Disc One BD plays on an Oppo 95, but starts fitfully, losing and gaining sync or handshake.

Disc Two BD plays on Oppo 83 without problem.

The fact that this was shot 16mm seems quite irrelevant, as image quality in HD is very nice.

Packaging is extremely wasteful of space, although nothing even close to where WB occasionally goes.  There is no viable reason that a box would be standard def size and need to be greater than the thickness of two normal Blu-ray packs, unless there isn an attempt to market it as something far larger than it is.

This is a fine production, the packaging of which bears the legend The Collector's Edition.  What would have been nicer, at a far lower price, might have been a NON-Collector's Edition.  A simple Blu-ray pack of the two BD discs.

The marketing and pricing in this case is very odd.

Amazon lists the standard definition 2-disc set at a list of $40, street is $29.

Upgrade to Blu-ray, and the list goes to $50, with a street of $35.  A difference of $6 for a Blu-ray set with additional "Collector's" content.

Price point in normal nice Blu-ray packaging could easily have been a $30 list, with a street price around $22.

My point being that the extra cost and useless oversize box works against the product.

I've been a long time fan of HBO packaging, especially where a large number of discs need to be packaged in an elegant and protective fashion.  And they have proven that they have the capability to do this superbly.

Take a look at Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and most recently Deadwood -- all beautifully done.  Keep in mind that complete Deadwood is 13 discs in a nominally sized, high quality book-like package that currently streets at $110.  That's approximately $8.50 per disc.

Compare to Mildred at $17.50 per disc for Blu-ray.

Or to be more current, compare to HBO's Boardwalk Empire, in a smaller (Blu-ray sized) package, albeit more of a cardboard folding affair within a box, which works out to $35 for seven discs, or $5 per disc.

Once I get Disc One functioning, I'm certain that the mini-series will prove its mettle, but pricing on this release tends to relegate the Blu-ray at $35 to the rental category, whereas at $20 or a bit more, it would be worthwhile to have around for additional future viewings.

What is not needed is bloated, and overpriced packaging of what is essentially a two disc set.  Had they truly wanted to create something using a "Collector's" moniker, they might have taken the Joan Crawford original to Blu-ray and added that as an additional disc.  And that would have hit their current price point.

Just a thought.

Lastly, as far as playability issues are concerned, this may be isolated to Oppo.  In the meantime, I'll try another set and see if it plays any better.

RAH

There is a huge difference between shooting in 16mm and printing in 16, or blowing up to 35...

and scanning an original 16mm negative in 2k, toward a DI.

Modern 16mm Kodak stocks, especially when exposed for S16, can yield rather miraculous results.

The HBO Mildred Pierce, on Blu-ray, is technically a beautifully crafted presentation.

RAH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon 

Another example of why they still make both chocolate and vanilla ice cream. 

 

I never understood why people liked those BOB & The Pacific packages (DVD & Blu).  Those accordion style fold-outs...with plastic trays glued to cardboard are--to my mind--cumbersome, awkward, and extremely inconvenient.  I'm not exaggerating to say there were a couple of instances where discs popped off the spindle and fell to the floor while I was trying to get out a different disc.

 

 

The first thing I did when I got my DVD copy of BOB (and, later, when I upgraded to Blu), was find me some custom covers and purchased some 2-disc Blu cases:

 

 

Makes me wonder what I'd think of the Mildred Pierce packaging...

 

Most elegant IMHO is Deadwood.

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry rivadue 

A bit off topic, but MILDRED PIERCE was largely filmed on Long Island, NY, and it was a kick to see CGI mountains added, and palm trees placed to suggest the Los Angeles area.

Parts were shot in Peekskill, NY, where I was involved in the shoot of a low budget sci-epic back in 1987 or thereabouts.

Now that I've had a chance to view the final two episodes in Blu-ray format, I've come away rather bemused at how poor the film looks in standard definition.  But in Blu-ray, it shines.  I had mentioned the fact that it was shot on 16mm.  I had read some negative comments about the look and feel on another website, but I've come away with precisely the opposite opinion.  Those who read the first post in this thread will be aware that I mistakenly loaded the SD version of the film, and after watching a minute or so stopped to double check as I felt something was amiss.  I'm almost wondering if the reviewer from the other site might have done the same thing, but had continued, as I'm seeing none of the problems that site related.

I'm finding grain never a problem, and looking quite normal (and nominal) at all times.  Black levels, shadow detail and color are all exemplary.

I found Edward Lachman's cinematography absolutely stunning.  Actually, some of the most beautiful work that I recall in the past few years.  Making the move from episode 4 to 5, one hits the late 1930s, and Mr. Lachman's palette takes on the glory of the sort of three-strip Technicolor that one might have seen in an original nitrate print of Leave Her to Heaven (1945) as shot by the great Leon Shamroy.

At 250 minutes in, knowing that it was going to end in less than an hour, I was actually dreading coming to the end of the film.

Blu-ray technical issues, packaging, and price aside, HBO's Mildred Pierce via Todd Haynes is an extraordinary production.  It takes a different turn from the 1945 original, following the James M. Cain novel more closely.

Superb entertainment.

We'll find the answer to the Blu-ray disc one question, as I've purchased a second copy which should arrive shortly.

Whether it turns out to be a defective disc or some anomaly affecting the player based upon copy protection, that part of the situation will work its way out.  At present it seems to only affect Oppo 83, and no others of which I'm aware.

I still would have preferred a simple two disc Blu-ray set in a more space sensitive box at a more reasonable price, but in the end this is a series that will stand up to multiple viewings.  Those who do view multiple times may come upon a shot used twice (two different takes) during the real estate search, as the car passes the same house twice, with a Rolls coupe sitting in the driveway.  Worthwhile, as the car is a beauty, as are the majority of the cars selected for the shoot.  I especially like Monty's Cord roadster.

Mildred Pierce comes Very Highly Recommended on Blu-ray.  In standard definition, I'd give it a pass.

Now I'll have to try to re-visit the first three episodes in Blu-ray, and view it properly.

RAH

When viewing in HD, one cannot help but note the use of foreground elements, some transparent/translucent, some not, that divide image.  Also, very interesting use of dust on vehicles, glass, etc.  Apparently, as explained in excellent production shot, is based upon work of a still photographer. 

The epic continues:

I received another copy of Mildred Pierce, and Blu-ray disc on this one function properly.  Possibly a defective disc.  However, the second disc was coded 030001 on both layers, while the defective was 010001 and 040001, which could point to a problem in production with a specific stamper or mold.

But then I sampled a bit of Disc One, and found something else that was mildly, not horribly, disturbing.  There seem to be problems with the compression or encode.  Some shots do look grainy, but almost more noisy than just grain.  But if one goes frame by frame, it becomes obvious that this disc does not represent the true look of film.  Move through frames, and what appears to be grain suddenly disappears and takes on a totally DNR'd look.

Wonderful film.  Superbly photographed.  I just wish that the final Blu-ray was a better representation of film.

RAH