A Few Words About A few words about...™ The Grifters -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Stephen Frears' first production in the Colonies, The Grifters (1990), arrives on Blu-ray here (it's been out in the UK for a while) from Echo Bridge's Miramax collection, in decent form. Derived from an IP, this bright, sunlit, anti-noir noir, has nicely rendered textures for a Blu-ray, while not being perfect. While I've complained about some of the Olive releases for needed a bit of digital cleaning, The Grifters, could use at least a bit. Occasional emulsions scratches could have easily been cleaned up to achieve a more cohesive image. Emulsion scratches do not count towards a cinema-like look. I love the characters in this film, and the way that they're played with precision. Stephen Tobolowsky and Henry Jones are stand-outs in the supporting cast. A very nice film, and a decent Blu-ray. Image - 3.5 Audio - 4 (2.0 stereo, presumably Dolby encoded and the basis of the SVA track) RAH

 

[TravisR]

Stephen Tobolowsky...

That guy is one of my all time favorite character actors. So many great scene stealing roles in Seinfeld, Memento, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Deadwood, etc.

 

[Jon Hertzberg]

That guy is one of my all time favorite character actors. So many great scene stealing roles in Seinfeld, Memento, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Deadwood, etc.

For the Tobolowsky fans in the NYC area, the actor / writer will be in the house, literally, next week at 92Y Tribeca for a screening of GROUNDHOG DAY.

 

[Powell&Pressburger]

Robert do you own the region locked UK BLU?if so how does it compare?

 

[Mike Frezon]

Originally Posted by Jon Hertzberg
For the Tobolowsky fans in the NYC area, the actor / writer will be in the house, literally, next week at 92Y Tribeca for a screening of GROUNDHOG DAY.

That...would...be...so...cool.

 

[Matt Hough]

When I saw The Grifters in the theater, the projectionist didn't matte it correctly, and I frequently saw the boom mic over the heads of the actors. Talk about taking one out of the realm of the movie. Years later seeing it on video, I felt like I was seeing it for the first time. Terrific movie!

 

[Robert Harris]

Originally Posted by MattH.
When I saw The Grifters in the theater, the projectionist didn't matte it correctly, and I frequently saw the boom mic over the heads of the actors. Talk about taking one out of the realm of the movie. Years later seeing it on video, I felt like I was seeing it for the first time. Terrific movie!

MUST be matted 1.85. Strangely, the main is 1.66. Wondering if theatrically, some projectionists would do a quick aperture swap after MT?
Odd.
RAH

 

[Moe Dickstein]

Were there any other typographic misadventures beyond the alternate spelling of Mr. "Painter"?

 

[Trentrunner]

In case the message isn't clear, The Grifters is a fantastic movie, especially if you like noir, neo-noir, superb acting, razor-sharp storytelling, ruthless survivors, sympathetic rubes, and Anjelica Huston as the warmest, most loving mother a boy could hope for.

 

[Bryan^H]

Anjelica Huston as the warmest, most loving mother a boy could hope for.

Isn't she though? I love this film. It was a fixture on HBO back when, and I watched it many times. I can't wait to see it on Blu-Ray.

 

[Bill McCamy]

Is the Image Quality significantly better than that of the late '90s DVD? While the BD is very cheap, is it worth replacing the original DVD?

 

[Steve Tannehill]

Amazon finally has this in stock for $4.99.

 

[Robert Harris]

Is the Image Quality significantly better than that of the late '90s DVD? While the BD is very cheap, is it worth replacing the original DVD?

I'd save the money, and spend it on something else. That $5 can be used toward a Blu-ray that hasn't been on DVD.

Not into double, triple dipping.

RAH

 

[JohnS]

Amazon is finally shipping this to me with my preorder price of $4.99But they are now charging $13.49 for it.I haven't seen this movie since it's laserdisc days.

 

[JoshZ]

Finally had an excuse to watch this tonight. Great credits.

 

[JoshZ]

Unfortunately, I think RAH's 3.5 score for video is pretty generous. I wouldn't go above 2.5. Detail is fairly decent, but (as he noted) there are a lot of dirt and scratches on the source, and the image is plagued by bad scanner noise and compression problems.

I'm glad I only paid $5 for it, because it looks like a $5 disc. Poor treatment for a great movie.

I'd be curious to find out if the Region B edition from Studio Canal is any better.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Grifters-Blu-ray-John-Cusack/dp/B002BD9DP2

 

[Tom Logan]

Anyone know anything about this apparently new release of The Grifters?

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Anyone know anything about this apparently new release of The Grifters?

That's the one I have. Pretty sure it is the same as the older one except this time put out through Lionsgate with a digital copy included.

 

[chas speed]

This movie deserves a much better transfer then it has been given in the past, but I'm afraid were in for more of the same.

 

[Tom Logan]

At $10, I'm tempted to buy, but what's the expert opinion here of the likelihood that this is a different/better transfer than the previous blu-ray release (which I already own)?