![Broadcast News (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1987)](/wp_content/uploads/2011/02/51KEA17cq5L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Broadcast News (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1987)")
BROADCAST NEWS (1987, Blu-ray released January 25, 2011 – MSRP $39.95)
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Consider me blown away. Not only am I in awe of James L. Brooks‘ witty, wry Broadcast News but I’m utterly taken aback by the near-perfection of The Criterion Collection presentation of the film on Blu-ray. This is one hell of a disc!
- “This caustic inside look at the Washington news media stars Holly Hunter (Raising Arizona, The Piano), in her breakout role, as a feisty television producer torn between an ambitious yet dim anchorman (William Hurt) and her closest confidant, a cynical veteran reporter (Albert Brooks).“
Broadcast News is a film nearly beyond reproach. I say nearly because outside of a classic moment that I consider a touch over the top, relative to the style of the rest of the piece (Joan Cusack‘s gag-filled race through the station) and an ending that’s anything but satisfying, I can’t find a fault with it. And I don’t take weak endings lightly, so that should provide a sense of how wonderful the film is. Brooks knocks it out of the park with an intelligent script that eerily foretells the overwhelming cult of personality that would overcome the news media in the last twenty-years. It’s that rare smart, funny gem of a film that’s a sheer pleasure to watch from beginning to (very nearly the) end.
Criterion’s high-def presentation is completely beyond reproach. This is one of the finest catalogue transfers I’ve had the pleasure to witness! Colour is electric, detail is plentiful and contrast is spot-on. There’s a nice sheen of grain that punctuates a perfectly film-like image. From the liner notes:
- “Supervised and approved by director James L. Brooks and editor Richard Marks, this new high-definition digital transfer was created on a DFT SCANITY Film Scanner in 4k resolution from the original 35mm camera negative, and color corrected on a Baselight Eight in 2K resolution. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, jitter, and flicker were manually removed using MTI’s DRS system and Pixel Farm’s PFClean system.“
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is crisp, clean and well balanced, with a healthy dynamic range that allows Bill Conti‘s score to shine. From the liner notes:
- “The 2.0 surround soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the original 35mm Dolby A magnetic tracks. Clicks, thumps, hiss, and hum were manually removed using Pro Tools HD. Crackle was attenuated using AudioCube’s integrated audio workstation.“
Criterion provides an exceptional collection of newly created special features for Broadcast News‘ Blu-ray debut. The commentary track with Brooks and film editor Richard Marks is lively, informative and certainly worth a listen. Brooks also provides commentary on the Alternate Ending which would’ve allowed the film a more traditional (and potential satisfying) closing. “James L. Brooks – A Singular Voice” is a 37-minute documentary, broken into three parts and, if you ask me, the highlight of the extras. It’s a brief but comprehensive look at Brooks’ life and career, with interviews and comments from the likes of composer Hans Zimmer, critic Ken Tucker, writer/producer Al Jean, among many others.
The new Broadcast News Blu-ray disc from The Criterion Collection receives our highest possible recommendation!
Special Features:
- New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by director James L. Brooks and editor Richard Marks with DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- New audio commentary featuring Brooks and Marks
- New documentary on Brooks’s career in television and film, featuring actors Marilu Henner (Taxi) and Julie Kavner (Rhoda, The Simpsons) and several other of Brooks’s collaborators
- Deleted scenes and an alternate ending, with commentary by Brooks
- New video interview with veteran CBS news producer Susan Zirinsky, one of the models for actress Holly Hunter’s character and an associate producer on the film
- Featurette containing on-set footage and interviews with Brooks, Hunter, and actor Albert Brooks
- Original theatrical trailer
- PLUS: An 18-page booklet featuring an essay by film critic Carrie Rickey
Amazing movie, can not wait to watch it again in blu-ray
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