HTF REVIEW: "Klute" (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Klute

If I was a teacher who taught film class,
Klute would be one of the films I'd
show my students as an example of brilliant
artistic filmmaking.
The story is about a family man who suddenly
disappears. Small-town detective John Klute
(Donald Sutherland) is brought to the city to
question his only lead, a prostitute named Bree
(Jane Fonda) who is thought to have been involved
with the man's disappearance, until Klute discovers
someone is stalking her.
I had never seen this film until I viewed
the DVD this evening. I found myself captivated
by Alan J. Pakula's direction and Gordon Willis's
photography. Originally filmed in Panavision,
Pakula makes great use of the film's spacial
dimensions. It's almost as if every shot was
meticulously planned with characters placed in
scenes like chess pieces. These scenes are often
filmed behind shoulders, chairs or fences. Pakula
uses lighting and shadows to skillfully show us
things we should see and things we should not.
There's these wonderful long shots of Bree
undressing from afar as she walks in and out of
dark shadows. I have never seen such clever use
of a camera photographing scenes from above an
elevator shaft or down a long, dark alleyway. The
film is as artistic as it is hauntingly beautiful.
How is the transfer?
The anamorphic (2.35:1) DVD transfer looks
excellent for a film of this age. The print
has been thoroughly cleaned and contains very
few blemishes. The picture has an amazing clarity,
although colors are on the pale side giving the
film a very warm look. At some points of the
transfer picture looks a bit too soft and unfocused,
but overall, I was impressed that it looked this good.
The film is presented in MONO, and sounds
generally good, with just the slightest hint
of hiss in the background. The sounds is not as
robust as other digital soundtrack remasters I
have heard from this period.
Extra Features
Klute In New York: A background for suspense
is a very interesting production documentary produced
in 1971. It follows Fonda and Sutherland as they
come to New York, talk about their feelings of
being in the city, and their experience of working
with Director Alan Pakula. This 8-minute documentary
shows many of the film's key sequences being shot
on the streets and in an abandoned church. Pakula
talks about how the city dictated the shape of the
script, adding much needed intensity to the film.
A Filmography of the Cast & Crew is included
as well as the film's original Theatrical Trailer.
Final Thoughts
Klute is a brilliant thriller that
effectively showcases the talents of Sutherland
and Fonda. In fact, I would say that this was
the role of her career. The film is a true
study of artistic filmmaking that still has as
much impact upon the viewer today as it did over
30 years ago.
Release Date: February 5, 2002

 

[Robert Crawford]

Ronbo,
Great choice for a review of a film classic! This role won Jane Fonda her first Best Actress AA and she was a real hottie in this film. Good performances all around with Fonda, Sutherland, Roy Scheider, and Charles Cioffi. One of the best thrillers from the 1970's.
Crawdaddy

 

[Michael Reuben]

One of the best thrillers from the 1970's.

I'd agree and go one better: one of the best filmsfrom the 70s, period, because it's so much more than just a thriller. It's also a remarkable character study of two very different individuals. People always notice Fonda's performance (how could you miss it?), but I think the film has some of Sutherland's best work. Except for this and Ordinary People, he's made a career out of playing individuals who are odd, off-kilter, machiavellian, evil or just plain nuts. In Klute he has relatively few lines, yet he creates a rich portrayal of a fundamentally decent man just by his reactions to the people and events around him.

I'm very much looking forward to this disc, and I'm delighted to hear that Warner has done it right.

M.

 

[Ted Todorov]

Indeed, this is one of the best movies of the '70s and the best movie Jane Fonda ever made. I've probably seen it a dozen times (including finally a nice new print a couple of years ago), but I am totally thrilled that a good DVD of Klute is here! That way the next dozen viewings can span a lot less time than 25 years...
Alan J. Packula is really underrated as he was responsible for three of the great movies of the '70s: Klute, All The President's Men & The Parallax View. As much as I like the other two though, Klute is really the best one.

Except for this and Ordinary People, he's made a career out of playing individuals who are odd, off-kilter, machiavellian, evil or just plain nuts.

Hey, English professors everywhere resent that! Just because Sutherland was teaching Milton in Animal House didn't make him evil or nuts . Not to mention parts like Hawkeye in M*A*S*H, Casanova in Casanova, Sutherland was one busy guy in the '70s and his range extended well beyond wierdos.
Ted

 

[Michael Reuben]

Hawkeye in M*A*S*H, Casanova in Casanova

Sure, Ted, those were the most ordinary, everyday guys you could possibly imagine.
M.

 

[Ted Todorov]

Sure, Ted, those were the most ordinary, everyday guys you could possibly imagine.

I think every man out there wishes they were Casanova or at least Hawkeye, so in that sense, totally ordinary, yes.
OK, I do concede that all professors are mad as hatters -- maybe that's why his Animal House character was off-kilter -- he was all together too normal.
Ted

 

[Dharmesh C]

Not many people interested in Klute? Top film, guys!

 

[PatrickL]

Indeed. A very unique movie, one of the best films of the 70s, the role of Jane Fonda's career, and now a solid dvd that I've watched several times already.

Thanks for the review, Ron.

 

[Steve Clark]

If you are a fan of Jane Fonda's acting, this is a "must see" movie. One of the great (powerful) female performances of that decade. It is also one of Sutherland's best performances because of his role being understated for a change. I must admit that after watching this movie in the 1970s, I had a crush on Fonda for a long time.

 

[Dave Barth]

I saw Klute for the first time this month, but I saw it on 35 mm. It's an good film with interesting direction and a memorable performance by Ms. Fonda.
Like The Conversation, it's at least as much a character study as it is a mystery. I'm looking forward to seeing Pakula's other famous conspiracy films from this era, All the President's Men and The Parallax View.