Hullabaloo: Saturday Night at the Movies by Dennis Hartley --- Blue Christmas: Best Blu-rays of 2014 (slight return)

Back in August, I offered my picks for the best Blu-ray reissues (so far) for 2014. Since you still have a window to send packages in time for Christmas delivery (through December 15th for standard, 20th for first class/priority and 23rd for express, according to the USPS), I thought I’d toss out some gift ideas, with some more 2014 releases of note. This time out, I'm expanding my parameters to include a non-theatrical concert video and a couple European region B-only releases (as it's getting easier to find all-region players). But first, a gentle reminder. Any time of year you click an Amazon link from this feature to purchase any item, you'll help your favorite starving bloggers keep the creditors at bay. So without any further ado, here are my picks, in alphabetical order:

All That Jazz - “It’s show time, folks!” From its exhilarating opening montage of a brutal chorus line casting call, fast-cut in perfect synch to George Benson’s pulsing cover of “On Broadway”, to its jaw-dropping finale, a Busby Berkeley-on-acid song and dance number with the Angel of Death presiding, writer-director Bob Fosse’s semi-autobiographical tale of a fast-living, dexy-dropping, chain-smoking, hotshot choreographer (Roy Scheider) is the best (and most audacious) film ever made regarding this business we call “show”. Scheider is riveting, and Ann Reinking and Ben Vereen are in top form as well. Wholly entertaining, but not for the faint of heart (and definitely not for the whole family…this ain’t exactly Singin’ in the Rain). Criterion’s Blu-ray edition features a new 4K transfer, and extras include fascinating archival interviews with Fosse.

The Day The Earth Caught Fire- Written and directed by Val Guest, this cerebral mix of conspiracy a-go-go and sci-fi (from 1961) has always been a personal favorite of mine. Simultaneous nuclear testing by the U.S. and Soviets triggers an alarmingly rapid shift in the Earth’s climate. As London’s weather turns more tropical by the hour, a Daily Express reporter (Peter Stenning) begins to suspect that the British government is not being 100% forthcoming on the possible fate of the world. Along the way, Stenning has some steamy scenes with his love interest (sexy Janet Munro). The film is more noteworthy for its smart, snappy patter than its run-of-the-mill f/x, but still delivers a compelling narrative. Co-starring the great Leo McKern (who steals every scene he’s in). This is one of two region “B” releases on my list; both are from BFI, a UK-based reissue outfit that employs the same grade of high standards that Criterion has become known for here in the U.S., with meticulously restored prints and extras geared toward the film buff.

The Essential Jacques Demy- Criterion has outdone itself with the release of this box set, featuring lovely hi-definition transfers of 6 selections from the iconoclastic French director’s catalog, including, Lola, Bay of Angels, The Young Girls of Rochefort, Une Chambre en Ville, and Donkey Skin. I’ll admit the main attraction for me was the inclusion of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, one of the few musicals I can watch over and over. Extras are plentiful; including 4 Demy shorts and 2 documentaries by Agnes Varda.

Jeff Beck Live In Tokyo- Who’s the coolest 70 year-old on the planet? My vote is for guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck, who just keeps improving with age. I’ve been playing guitar for over 40 years, and no matter how closely I study the man’s fingers, I am absolutely stymied as to how he wrestles those sounds from his axe. It’s some kind of alchemy that is beyond my ken. Eagle Vision’s Blu-ray captures a dynamic performance at the Tokyo Dome City Hall from April 2014. Beck glides effortlessly between genres, proving equally adept at blues, metal, fusion, jazz and funk (sometimes all within the same number). He also shows off his newest band, all chops players (as you would expect). It’s interesting to see him playing off a second guitarist (classical-leaning Nicolas Meier), which he hasn’t done in some time. Highlights include “A Day in the Life”, “Stratus”, and the achingly beautiful “Where Were You”. The disc has exemplary image and sound.

The Long Goodbye- If there is something vaguely familiar about the shambolic anti-hero of Robert Altman’s 1973 L.A. noir, it’s because he was clearly the inspiration for the protagonist in the Coen Brothers’ 1998 film, The Big Lebowski (at least that’s my theory). Granted, the “Dude” is a purely circumstantial “detective” who becomes embroiled in a complex mystery, and Philip Marlowe (Elliott Gould) is an actual private dick…who becomes embroiled in a complex mystery. But both characters are wiseasses, which tends to land them in hot water. Yet both also share a kind of Zen philosophy that helps them land on their feet. Gould’s Marlowe slouches his way through Altman’s slyly arch reinvention of the stock Raymond Chandler milieu with a bemused detachment, denoted by a shrug and a mumbled catchphrase that he repeats throughout the film (“It’s OK with me.”). Leigh Brackett’s screenplay is rich in characterization; which is a good thing, because the plot is byzantine to the point of self-parody (which I’m sure was the intent). The great supporting cast includes Sterling Hayden, Nina van Pallandt and Henry Gibson. Director Mark Rydell (Cinderella Liberty, The Reivers, On Golden Pond) makes a rare acting appearance (and steals all his scenes) as a sadistic gangster. Kino Video’s Blu-ray transfer, while on the grainy side, is still a marked improvement over MGM’s DVD. Extras include a session with Altman and Gould recalling the making of the film, and an interesting segment with the great cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond.

Princess Mononoke- I think it’s fair to say that anime master Hayao Miyazaki and his cohorts at Studio Ghibli have consistently raised the bar on the art form over the past several decades (that’s why I’m a little sad that Miazaki-san recently announced his retirement from directing). Disney studios have been s-l-o-w-l-y reissuing the Miyazaki catalog on Blu-ray (where’s Spirited Away, dammit?!). This 1997 Ghibli production is a welcome addition to high-def, as it is one of their most visually resplendent offerings. Perhaps not as “kid-friendly” as per usual, but most of the patented Miyazaki themes are present: humanism, white magic, beneficent forest gods, female empowerment, and pacifist angst in a ubiquitously violent world. The beautiful score is by frequent Miyazaki collaborator Joe Hisaishi. Also new to Blu-ray this year from the Ghibli catalog (and highly recommended) is the delightful Kiki's Delivery Service (really great for the kids).

Red River- John Wayne and Montgomery Clift couldn’t have been more disparate in their respective approaches to acting, but it is precisely this “oil and water” dynamic that makes the relationship between their characters so compelling in Howard Hawks’ classic western. Wayne is perfect as a hard ass cattle rancher at loggerheads with his adopted son (Clift), who he feels is too “soft” and high-minded to be worthy of his legacy. It all comes to a head during a grueling, “make it or break it” cattle drive from Texas to Missouri, which turns into a sort of epic, land-locked version of Mutiny on the Bounty. Outstanding direction, a smart script (by Borden Chase and Charles Schnee) and fabulous supporting performances from Walter Brennan, Coleen Gray and John Ireland (Ireland and Clift share a classic scene fraught with a surprising degree of homoeroticism, especially considering that this was 1948). Criterion’s Blu-ray edition features the rarely seen original theatrical release (Hawks’ preferred cut). Oddly enough, it turns out that the version we’ve seen on home video and cable all these years was the preview version (also included), which runs several minutes longer due to sporadic intertitles, which are replaced by Walter Brennan’s narration in the theatrical cut. The image quality is superb.

That Sinking Feeling - his relatively obscure, low-budget 1979 wonder marked the debut for quirky Scottish writer-director Bill Forsyth (Gregory’s Girl, Local Hero). Sort of a Glaswegian version of Big Deal on Madonna Street, it’s the story of an impoverished teenager, tired of eating cornflakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, who comes up with a scheme to make him and his underemployed pals rich beyond their wildest dreams-knocking over a plumbing supply warehouse full of stainless steel sinks. Funny as hell, imbued with the director’s unique brand of low-key anarchy and a poignant undercurrent of working class Weltschmerz. BFI’s region “B” Blu-ray is packed with extras, and sports the cleanest transfer I’ve seen of this previously hard-to-find gem.