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Blu-ray Review Black Widow (1987) Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

Matt Hough

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Black Widow (1987) Blu-ray Review

Bob Rafelson’s brooding 1987 thriller Black Widow paired two evocative actresses playing off each other to perfection in one of the decade’s most alluring and appealing neo-noirs. While the film doesn’t quite match the decade’s most masterful use of the femme fatale (Body Heat), it’s nevertheless a craftily plotted and professionally directed study of duplicity with the two leading ladies stringing along a handful of well known (but strangely barely used) actors with the focus clearly on seeing which of the pair will inevitably gain the upper hand.



Studio: Fox

Distributed By: Twilight Time

Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HDMA

Subtitles: English SDH

Rating: R

Run Time: 1 Hr. 42 Min.

Package Includes: Blu-ray

clear keep case

Disc Type: BD50 (dual layer)

Region: All

Release Date: 10/13/2015

MSRP: $29.95




The Production Rating: 4/5

Noticing a striking similarity between the widows of two recently deceased millionaires (from the same atypical affliction), a Department of Justice researcher (Debra Winger) decides to investigate her six potential suspects until she finally arrives at her target (Theresa Russell)’s identity in Seattle on the eve of yet another mysterious millionaire’s death. Cashing out her net worth in order to follow the suspected killer to Hawaii since the department won’t fund her investigation, Alexandra maneuvers a meeting with the killer and becomes a close acquaintance as she tries to collect enough evidence on her prey who is busily going after yet another wealthy man (Sami Frey). Calling herself Catharine now, she lucks into seeing Alex chatting with an island private detective (James Hong) and begins to do some poking around on her own to find out the identity of this woman who has suddenly become so chummy with her.

 

Ronald Bass has written an intriguing screenplay that almost defiantly doesn’t provide motivation for the black widow character (after the three millionaire murders she commits on screen in the early going – and who knows how many others she had pulled off before the movie starts – she continues to collect wealthy husbands in order to murder them; even she doesn’t seem to know when it will be that she has enough money) and yet doesn’t quite paint her as an unfeeling monster either. There seem to be genuine emotions tied to some of the murders she commits, and she unquestionably develops feelings for her adversary, possibly more her respect that she’s the first one who’s been able to come close to unmasking her. The film takes two accomplished actors – Dennis Hopper and Nicol Williamson – and makes them quick and easy victims of Catharine’s scams barely scratching the surface of the performances the men might have brought to the film in more developed roles, but it’s clear the focus of the film is on the two women who at first are shown in counterpoint sequences each doing her own thing as part of the movie puzzle until fifty-two minutes in when they’re finally thrown together in a scuba diving class. From then on, Bass’ script and Bob Rafelson’s accomplished direction keep the two either together or in close proximity as each is busy setting up the other for a fall. There are some sequences of great beauty and tremendous allure: among them are an oddly galvanizing scene between Catharine and her next mark Paul with an erupting volcano in the distance (tons of symbolism in that scene) and an underwater sequence between the two women where what appears to be an attempt on Alex’s life is actually something else entirely. A later seduction scene between Catharine and Paul is moodily shot in a shadowy pool with both actors seemingly nude, and Rafelson and his Oscar-winning cinematographer Conrad Hall use shadows expertly throughout. Rafelson’s very canny and cagey about showing just enough of sequences so the film’s twist ending won’t be given away too obviously, and the ending if possibly telegraphed for some still works quite satisfactorily.

 

Both Debra Winger and Theresa Russell give stupendous performances. Russell’s is the showier, more difficult part as she changes personas with each new man she seduces and kills and then later shows genuine fear and anger that her carefully thought-out plans have been uncovered but yet doesn’t fall apart but instead switches gears to turn the twists to her advantage. Debra Winger’s enigmatic character seems fairly uninterested in an emotional life apart from her job (numerous men show obvious interest in her, but they’re just pals to her with the exception of Paul), but that makes her relationship with Russell’s character all the more fascinating, and screenwriter Bass keeps the cards very close to his vest about what each of the two women is actually feeling for one another. Of the male victims, Nicol Williamson gives the most affecting performance playing a rather mousey, reserved intellectual who gets swept up by love and is the most pitiable of the victims. Sami Frey has the largest male role in the film, but he’s the film’s least accomplished actor and seems much less interesting than either of his female co-stars. The always excellent Terry O'Quinn plays Alex’s boss with conviction and some warmth, and D.W. Moffett as one of Alex’s co-workers in whom she shows no romantic interest is also quite appealing. James Hong scores some good laughs as the private eye who’s not quite on top of things as he thinks, while Lois Smith and Diane Ladd play relatives of Catharine’s former victims who are completely taken in by her machinations. Yes, that’s playwright/director David Mamet as one of the poker players in an amusing cameo.



Video Rating: 4.5/5  3D Rating: NA

Framed at its theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the 1080p transfer (AVC codec) is a mostly beautiful rendering of a film that’s been mostly forgotten. Sharpness is generally very good (there are a couple of scenes where focus seems not to be quite exact), and color is strong with the Hawaiian section of the movie offering vivid hues and genuinely accurate skin tones. Contrast has been expertly rendered throughout while black levels are quite impressive. There are stray dust specks here and there, but their presence is quite fleeting. The movie has been divided into 24 chapters.



Audio Rating: 4.5/5

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo sound mix is very impressive (certainly quite a leap forward from the underwhelming theatrical audio experience I originally had with the film) with dialogue always clearly and cleanly presented, and the Michael Small music and numerous atmospheric effects (erupting volcano, waves) spot-on. The music may occasionally be a trifle overpowering, but it’s a momentary lapse in an otherwise first-rate audio track.



Special Features Rating: 3.5/5

Audio Commentary: film historians Nick Redman and Julie Kirgo have another scintillating and informative dialogue about the film, its cast and crew, and its place in the Hollywood of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Another must listen!

 

Isolated Score Track: Michael Small’s score is presented in very effective DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo.

 

TV Spots (1:35, SD): three TV spot ads are presented in montage form.

 

Theatrical Trailer (2:00, SD)

 

Six-Page Booklet: contains a superb collection of color stills, original poster art on the back cover, and film historian Julie Kirgo’s entertaining and enlightening essay on the film.



Overall Rating: 4/5

Black Widow is one of those forgotten films from the 1980s that deserves a rediscovery. It’s a finely crafted, surprisingly subtle thriller with some beautiful cinematography which is being offered up in a sparkling Blu-ray edition by Twilight Time. There are only 3,000 copies of this Blu-ray available. Those interested should go to www.screenarchives.com to see if product is still in stock. Information about the movie can also be found via their website at www.twilighttimemovies.com or via Facebook at www.facebook.com/twilighttimemovies.


Reviewed By: Matt Hough


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Ruz-El

Fake Shemp
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Deadmonton
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Russell
Great film, I'll wait to see if it gets a re-release. TT is way to expensive to import for this Canadian.
 

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