For most, enduring the buffering and occasional data freezes are just pesky, necessary evils for the right to experience the power of cinema in the palm of your hand.
For me, I like watching movies at home on the biggest screen possible, in the best format available. And for my money, Blu-ray is the format of choice. With a Blu-ray, I know that the image and sound quality will always be top-notch and not susceptible to "outside influences." And being a cineaste, I get a nice keepsake for my favorite films, to boot.
Blu-ray your format of choice, too? Great, read on for my picks of the five best discs of the year.
1.Thief - Criterion Collection: Michael Mann's 1981 crime-noir debut got a long-overdue deluxe treatment from Criterion this year and the result was nothing short of amazing. Not only did we get a sparkling new 4K restoration with DTS audio, but some great new interviews with star James Caan and score composer Tangerine Dream as well. You even get a DVD copy for that old player and 4:3 TV in your bedroom. Overall, a very satisfying package for a highly underrated film.
2.Double Indemnity - Universal Home Video: Billy Wilder's 1944 classic film-noir of murder and double-cross remains one of my all-time favorites. For its 70th anniversary, Universal restored the film in 4K and the resulting image is about as silky smooth as one of Barbara Stanwyck's sheer stockings (she's in the movie, if you didn't know). You also get a pair of commentary tracks, a feature on 1940s Hollywood and a set of lobby cards and theatrical poster reproductions. Definitely worth upgrading your old DVD copy.
3.Steven Spielberg Director's Collection - Universal Home Video: Like they did for their impressive Alfred Hitchcock set in 2012, Universal released a glossy, nicely packaged 8-film collection of Steven Spielberg hits and misses this year, including new-to-Blu offerings of Duel, The Sugarland Express, 1941 and Always. Each new release looks great in high-def, especially the widescreen theatrical cut of Duel, which wonderfully adds even more unnerving menace to that oil-slicked tanker truck from hell.
4.Ace In the Hole - Criterion Collection: Here's another Billy Wilder gem that got the deluxe treatment in 2014. For this 1951 Kirk Douglas-starring tale of an unscrupulous reporter who manipulates a local story into a national sensation for his own benefit, Criterion struck a beautiful new 2K print that allows the gritty, deeply layered black-and white imagery to practically leap off the screen. Throw in a DVD copy and Criterion's usual array of fine extras and you've got a very engaging, top-notch release.
5.Sorcerer - Warner Home Video: I had always heard of but never had seen William Friedkin's poorly titled 1977 tale of desperate men tasked with transporting explosives across a South-American jungle hell. (Sorcerer is actually the name of one of the trucks the men use.) Largely dismissed by audiences and critics alike and quickly shuffled out of theaters to make room for Star Wars, the film gained a large cult following over the years and was recently afforded a new digital restoration by Warner Brothers. The film's not for everyone, but it does benefit greatly from Friedkin's unique documentary-like filmmaking style and features probably the most nerve-racking bridge-crossing sequence ever put on film.
Merry Christmas!
Dec. 31: Top 5 Films of the Year
