"I'll Play The Blues For You" by ALBERT KING - October 1972 US Album on Stax Records - January 1973 in the UK (June 2012 UK Concord Music Group Inc/Universal Music Group 'Stax Remasters' Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Four Unreleased Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ill-Play-Blues-Albert-King/dp/B007R3B5PM?crid=2PJSE7D52D7RK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6JbqJYHe7sJa6oSgGYF70g.zDsXwvLz1BFBKGbU2dx9qJAjwHC4AGlp2pLQfJ7aOuI&dib_tag=se&keywords=888072337169&qid=1720891768&sprefix=888072337169%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=ab99d8f81f7b99b87dc1bf0248a1e314&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With 340 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2024 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00MTCDTWS&asins=B00MTCDTWS&linkId=f95dca2244c8856012cccc3c6c25fff6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"…Come On Over To The Place Where I Work…"

I'm loving these "Stax Remasters" CD Reissues even if they do seem to be a bit slow coming out (see list below). And any Albert King album from the period is nectar to my weary palate - so let's get with the details of the Blues-Soul...

Released Monday 4 June 2012 in the UK (22 May 2012 in the USA) - "I'll Play The Blues For You" by ALBERT KING on Concord Music Group, Inc/Universal Music Group/Stax 0888072337169 (Barcode 888072337169) is an 'Expanded Edition' and release number seven in the 2011/2012 'STAX REMASTERS' CD Series. It breaks down as follows (60:59 minutes):

1. I'll Play The Blues For You (Part 1 & 2) [Side 1]

2. Little Brother Make A Way

3. Breaking up Somebody's Home

4. High Cost Of Living

5. I'll Be Doggone [Side 2]

6. Answer To The Laundromat Blues

7. Don't Burn Down The Bridge ('Cause You Might Wanna Come Back Across)

8. Angel Of Mercy

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "I'll Play The Blues For You" - released October 1972 in the USA on Stax Records STS-3009 and January 1973 in the UK on Stax Records 2325 089 

BONUS TRACKS (All Previously Unreleased):

9. I'll Play The Blues For You (Alternate Version) (8:44 minutes) 

10. Don't Burn Down The Bridge ('Cause You Might Wanna Come Back Across) (Alternate Version) (5:13 minutes)

11. I Need A Love (4:29 minutes) [Album Outtake]

12. Albert's Stomp (2:18 minutes) [Album Outtake - Instrumental]

The new 12-page booklet has very knowledgeable and affectionate liner notes by BILL DAHL who did the exceptional liner notes on Bear Family's 1961-1970 "Sweet Soul Music" CDs (10 volumes) and their 1945-1960 "Blowing The Fuse" series on R'n'B music (16 volumes). I've reviewed nearly all of them. You also get the original artwork on the front and rear of the booklet, musician and session details and the LP's original liner notes etc. But once again the big news is the NEWLY REMASTERED SOUND...

I've reviewed all the other titles in the "Stax Remasters" series (see list below) and duly raved about the fabulous sound quality on them - especially after years of lacklustre reissues in jewel cases and repro digipaks. Well this is the same. 24-bit remastered from the first generation tapes at JOE TARANTINO Mastering in Berkeley, California - the audio quality is superbly warm - especially the drum and bass (so sweet). The groove of the keyboards and punchy brass fills are both lovely - full - yet not too forced. My only compliant here would be that the vocals are ever so slightly subdued on some tracks (the title song) - buried in the back of the mix - but the overall quality of the album and the shockingly good bonus material quickly nips that minor quibble in the bud. 

Style-wise this is not so much straight-up Blues - but Soul meets Funk with some Blues guitar licks over the top of the band (a genre I can't get enough of). We open for business with one of Albert's signature songs "I'll Play The Blues For You" (written originally by Shreveport guitarist Jerry Beach for Texas Soul singer Geater Davis). It's 7:19 minutes Part 1 and 2 was cut down to a 3:20 minute 'Part 1 Edit' and issued in advance of the album as a 7" single in June 1972 on Stax STS-0135 with The Bar Kays And The Movement credited as the backing band. The slinky sound quality hits you immediately as do the ever-so-slightly cheesy talking lyrics (title above). On that subject - one of the gems on here is Track 9 - a previously unreleased version of "I'll Play The Blues For You" that runs to an extended 8:44 minutes. It removes the talking and replaces it with a great Sax solo and then a lengthy guitar jam to the end. It's brilliantly recorded and a genuine blast for King fans. How has this remained in the vaults for 40 years! I played it in the shop the other day and it had customers asking at the counter after it...

"Breaking Up Somebody's Home" was a hit for Ann Peebles in February 1972 on Hi Records (written by Al Jackson (drummer with Booker T & The MG's) and Timothy Matthews). King's version is a fabulous 7:19 minute slink-fest sounding not unlike something off "Be Altitude" by The Staple Singers (again from 1972). It was issued as an edited 7" single in October 1972 along with the LP and it's a shame that cut isn't included on here as a bonus. "High Cost Of Loving" is excellent uptempo Blues/Soul too. The only real clinker for me is the opener of Side 2 - his cover of Marvin Gaye's old Motown hit "I'll Be Doggone" where live crowd voices are added to the mix. It probably sounded cool then - but it's terribly dated now. 

Things perk up considerably with the hilariously un-PC lyrics of "Answer To The Laundromat Blues" (great guitarwork and a sleazy backing rhythm) which are thankfully sung tongue-in-cheek. Perhaps you don't want to sing "We gonna buy you washer and dryers and put you in the basement..." to the ladies in your life any day soon! The album ends is real style though with a great double-whammy - the slow funky guitar-groove of "Don't Burn Down The Bridge..." and the money-worries of "Angel Of Mercy" where Albert pleads with real feeling "...Would you please look down on me...a little mercy is all I need." 

As if the album wasn't good enough - the excellence of the 4 extras are a shock. The first two are blistering 'Alternate Versions' of album tracks while the last two are LP outakes (all in fantastic sound quality). I've discussed "I'll Play The Blues For You" above - the 'Alternate' of "Don't Burn Down The House..." is a more attacking guitar version with a huge sound. Great stuff. You can hear why "I Need A Love" was left off the record - it's good - but it sounds too much like other better tracks. The only real letdown is that the fantastically funky "Albert's Stomp" is criminally cut short at 2:18 minutes - just when you were getting into it (sounds like Ike Turner meets Booker T meets Albert King). All in all - very impressive...

So there you have it - a cracking Blues/Funk album bolstered up with four tracks actually worthy of the description 'bonus' - and all of it topped off with great sound and a value-for-money price tag.Very tasty indeed...and highly recommended.

Titles in the "STAX REMASTERS" Series are (all reviewed): 

1. Green Onions - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'s (1962) 

2. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'s (1970)

3. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1975)

4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)

5. Born Under A Bad Sign - ALBERT KING (1967)

6. I'll Play The Blues For You - ALBERT KING (1972)

7. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)

8. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)

9. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1970)

PPS: Lovers of ATLANTIC, STAX and VOLT Records should note that as of October 2012 there is a massive reissue program of classic albums going on in Japan - 100+ titles to be exact (which includes Albert King). They feature Fifties Blues and R'n'B, Sixties and Seventies Soul, Funk & Fusion. All are budget price (£7.50 per disc) and feature 2012 DSD remastering. Many of these titles are familiar - but a huge number are new to CD. For a full detailed list of these Japanese reissues - see the 'comment' section attached to this review…

“The Importance Of Being Earnest”. A Review Of The 2002 Film Now Reissued On A 2012 BLU RAY.

"…Anyone Can Play Accurately…I Play With Wonderful Expression…"

As a long-time reviewer and fan of this new format - I am constantly yo-yoing between praise for BLU RAY reissues and damning them. Some films are massively enhanced by the format’s capacity to show more  - others are either made worse by it - or have suffered at the hands of a lazy and sloppy transfer.

Well I'm pleased to say that "The Importance Of Being Earnest" is in the former - because the print on this 2012 BLU RAY reissue is TRULY GORGEOUS - shockingly so even.

Set in 1890's British upper-class society - "The Importance Of Being Earnest" was a lavish 2002 Ealing Studios/Miramax production – so the BLU RAY should shine when it comes to 'detail' - and that's indeed what you get. Dandy clothing, ladies refinery, interiors of men's clubs, alleyways in London, carriages to the country, Stately homes and their gardens, cucumber sandwiches and tea on the lawn, vicars and language tutors – it all looks beautiful.

Throw in Wilde's clever jabbing at society and a cast thoroughly enjoying themselves with witty material (especially Rupert Everett as the good-for-nothing Algernon Moncrieff and Judy Dench as the matriarchal Lady Augusta) – and you're on a reissue winner. Americans Reese Witherspoon and Frances O'Connor show a deftness of touch too, while Colin Firth is as effortlessly charming as ever. I also particularly like Tom Wilkinson and Anna Massey as the elderly couple whose courtship goes unexpressed but is so deeply touching. And Edward Fox as Lane - Algernon's old butler – constantly evading Algernon's need for praise (dialogue above) with wily replies…shutting Algernon too up by mentioning vulgar things like 'wages'…

Director Oliver Parker shows a genuine empathy to the material and his adaptation of the play is superb. But more than anything – you feel the 'presence' of genius behind it all – the master - the immortal OSCAR WILDE. Every sentence and set scene is craftsmanship - and few have ever matched him.

Some would say that "The Importance Of Being Earnest" is very slight fare for a film – fluff even – and should remain in a local theatre with a local troupe. I disagree. This big-screen version is an absolute delight and made with real affection and pride.

To sum up - if you're a fan of this lovely film – then you need to own it on BLU RAY. 

Why it's like finding a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station – first class all the way…

"Them Changes" by BUDDY MILES (2003 Universal/Miracle Records 'Original Funk LP Series' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I'm Hung Up On Dreams I Never See…"

Working in a secondhand record shop in Central London you come across Soul and Funk LP rarities that have acquired an almost legendary status across the years - and "Them Changes" is one of them. US originals regularly cross the counter for £20+ while British copies are even harder to find. I mention this because Buddy Miles' third album is one of those semi-unknown nuggets that's worth the wonga and 'so' deserves a bigger audience on CD...

In fact checking on his catalogue for this review - I find that only 2 of his 6 albums on Mercury are available on CD anywhere in the world - a very pricey and now deleted Hip-O Select issue of "Expressway To Your Skull" (his US debut LP from 1968 produced by Jimi Hendrix) and this. Fans of Funk-Soul will also notice that of the 15 CD reissues in this 2003 series - most are now deleted and have garnished ludicrous price tags (ranging from £40 to as high as £90) - except this - which is still available at a paltry fiver.

1. Them Changes 

2. I Still Love You, Anyway

3. Heart's Delight

4. Dreams

5. Down By The River 

6. Memphis Train 

7. Paul B. Allen, Omaha, Nebraska 

8. Your Feeling Is Mine

The vinyl LP for "Them Changes" by BUDDY MILES was originally issued June 1970 in the USA on Mercury SR-61280 and October 1970 on Mercury 6338 016 in the UK (see Discography below). 

This May 2003 CD on Universal/Miracle Records 063 693-2 (Barcode 044006369327) is a straightforward 8-track reissue of that 1970 LP (33:46 minutes) issued under the banner of their "ORIGINAL FUNK LP SERIES” on CD (out of Europe). The card digipak reproduces the American gatefold sleeve artwork (inside and out) and provides an 8-page booklet too. 
Page 2 gives you a readable repro of the album credits in full and there's also a very knowledgeable and concise essay on the album by noted Soul writer DEAN RUDLAND - a name known to many collectors of reissues.

ROBIN McBRIDE and BUDDY MILES produced seven of its eight tracks - the exception being "Memphis Train" - which is produced by STEVE CROPPER of Booker T. & The M.G.'s. The album was mixed by top engineer BRUCE SWEDIEN who later worked with a number of Brunswick label artists (The Chi-Lites etc) and features on Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" and "Thriller". Other notable musicians are CHARLIE KARP and JIM McCARTY on Lead Guitar, ANDRE LEWIS on Keyboards and LEE ALLEN on Trumpet. Miles was of course the drummer with American Rock-Fusion band THE ELECTRIC FLAG and part-time participant of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys. As well as drumming he provides lead vocals on every track.

Three songs are BM originals "Them Changes", "Heart's Delight" and a co-write with Andre Lewis on "Paul B. Allen, Omaha, Nebraska" while the lovely "I Still Love You, Anyway" is written by band guitarist Charlie Karp. His cover versions are masterfully chosen and arguably the highlights of the album - a fantastically funky reinterpretation of "Dreams" by The Allman Brothers (lyrics above), "Memphis Train" by Rufus Thomas, "Your Feeling Is Mine" by Otis Redding and a truly brilliant and soulful version of "Down By The River" from Neil Young that never ceases to bring customers to the counter asking "Who is this!"

Like The Undisputed Truth CD in this series "Face To Face With The Truth" (see separate review) - it doesn't say who remastered the tapes or where it was done - but the sound is clear and funky (if not a little hissy in places) - and 'pre-production' appears to have something to do with 'Miracle Records' via Universal UMG out of Europe.

I love this album and recommend this CD version of it wholeheartedly.

If you want to get a lay of the land - try the opening 20 seconds of "Down By The River" - that should get you Buddy-hooked immediately...

PS: A Buddy Miles LP Discography (1968 to 1972):

1. Expressway To Your Skull (January 1969 (1968 USA) UK LP on Mercury 20137 SMCL) - USA Hip-O Select CD only, Gatefold Card Repro Sleeve, No'd to 5000.

2. Electric Church (October 1969 UK LP on Mercury 20163 SMCL)

3. Them Changes (October 1970 UK LP on Mercury 6338 016) - REVIEWED ABOVE

4. We Got To Live Together (January 1971 UK LP on Mercury 6338 028)

5. A Message To The People (June 1971 UK LP on Mercury 6338 048)

6. Live (February 1972 UK 2LP set on Mercury 6641 033)

[NOTE: 1 and 2 credited to BUDDY MILES EXPRESS, the others to BUDDY MILES. As of July 2012 - 2, 4, 5 and 6 are NOT ON CD]

PPS: The 15 Titles in the "Original FUNK LP Series" of CD Reissues/Remasters:

1. A Tear To A Smile - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY

(1975 US LP on Polydor, CD reissue is 065 620-2)

2. Propositions - BAR-KAYS

(1982 USA LP on Mercury, CD reissue is 822 885-2)

3. Summertime Groove - BOHANNON

(1978 USA LP on Mercury, CD reissue is 077 014-2)

4. Ugly Ego - CAMEO

(1978 USA LP On Chocolate City, CD reissue is 077 251-2)

5. Con Funk Shun 7 - CON FUNK SHUN

(1981 USA LP on Mercury, CD reissue is 063 699-2)

6. Nice And Soulful - CAROLINE CRAWFORD

(1979 USA LP on Mercury, CD reissue is 067 517-2)

7. The Gap Band - THE GAP BAND

(1979 USA LP on Mercury, CD reissue is 063 698-2)

8. Something Special - KOOL and THE GANG

(1981 LP on De-Lite, CD reissue is 063 695-2)

9. In Heat - LOVE UNLIMITED

(1974 LP on 20th Century, CD reissue is 063 625-2)

10. Just Outside Of Town - MANDRILL

(1973 LP on Polydor, CD reissue is 065 619-2)

11. Them Changes - BUDDY MILES [Drummer with The Electric Flag]

(1970 LP on Mercury, CD reissue is 063 693-2)

12. One Way featuring Al Hudson - ONE WAY featuring AL HUDSON

(1979 LP on MCA, CD reissue is 113 201-2)

13. What Am I Gonna Do - GLORIA SCOTT [Barry White production]

(1974 USA LP on Casablanca, CD reissue is 063 694-2)

14. Moving South - SOUTHSIDE MOVEMENT

(1975 USA LP on 20th Century, CD reissue is 063 691-2)

15. Face To Face With The Truth - THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH

(1972 LP on Gordy & Tamla Motown, CD reissue is 067 100-2) [see REVIEW]

“Training Day”. A Review Of The 2001 Film Now Reissued Onto BLU RAY.

                                   

"...In Order To Catch A Wolf...You Have To Think Like A Wolf..."

I remember seeing "Training Day" at the cinema in 2001 - the audience applauded at the end - and most left their seats with its gritty brilliance seared into their unconscious. I'm pleased to say that revisiting this urban drug story in 2012 finds that Antoine Fuqua's directorial debut hasn't lost one jot of its power - and better still – is now genuinely enhanced by its reissue on BLU RAY.

The picture quality is far better than I expected - a really crisp transfer. Its default aspect is 2.4:1 - so there are bars top and bottom of the screen - but even stretched to full frame - the print quality still holds up. A lot of the scenes are one-on-one dialogue pieces in the front of cars between the two male leads - but expertly filmed and edited - there's no real blocking. Side shots of their faces are startlingly clear - even the sequences towards the end in people's homes and out on the streets at night are very, very clean. It's a top-notch transfer...

Written by DAVID AYER (a white man who grew up in the South Central projects of Los Angeles) and directed by ANTOINE FUQUA (a black man who did the same)- it's about a fresh-faced cop Jake Hoyt (played by Ethan Hawke) who is hooked up with legendary narcotics Detective Alonzo Harris (played by Denzel Washington) for one 'training day'. From dawn to dusk - it will be a baptism of fire.

And while the young rookie Hoyt seems to cut the mustard in the eagerness department, unfortunately he's also highly principled - and Alonzo feels that this Academy naivety will get him killed in the real world (dialogue above). So Hoyt struggles. At first Alonzo has the air of a man doing what he has to do to keep the river of drugs off the streets of Los Angeles. His methods may be brutal but the end justifies the means - doesn't it? Then things get gradually murkier...and even life-threatening...

Soon after a car bust - Jake is drawn into Alonzo's doped-up world and begins to feel like he's being played - but Alonzo keeps proffering believable reasons for his actions. Only a brave intervention (a young Latino girl being attacked by two lowlifes in a lane) saves Jake from the clutches of a double-barrelled bathroom death. Soon (bruised and battered) Jake is taking the game to Alonzo's neighbourhood - and on it goes to a brilliant but inevitably bloody ending...

Part of the reason why "Training Day" works is that there's an air of authenticity in the script that echoes The Wire and The Sopranos (both Author and Director have been there). The bad language and street talk is either vicious or impenetrable - and frequently both. A dance of fear and intimidation co-exists between the cops and the largely Black and Latino communities. 

No one is clean and few get away from it unaffected. Some areas of the city are even no-go zones - poverty and bad housing being a breeding ground. Gun law abounds and it's hard to tell the difference between Dictators - the drug-pusher or the police officer who protects the drug-pusher...

Denzel is truly magnificent in the part (a departure from his nice-guy roles) - he inhabits his gold-chained Alonzo with a power and ferocity that few actors could even get near. You feel this mouthy monster owning the areas he walks into and you understand why many of them smile as Alonzo approaches - but would gladly put several bullets in his back as he leaves. 

Ethan Hawke does well to keep up with such a tour-de-force - and at times - even matches him. 

It's not surprising that Washington took his 2nd Oscar for it ("Philadelphia" was his first).

The supporting cast too is exceptional - Snoopy Dogg and Dr. Dre as drug-dealing hoodies - Macy Gray as a crack wife - Eve Mendes as Alonzo's squeeze - Scott Glen as an old veteran - and the trio of corrupt officials - Tom Berenger, Raymond J. Barry and Harris Yulin (who feature in the 'Alternate Ending' in the Extras). And special mention should also go to the locals and the then unknown Latino cast - some of who are actually gang members. Fantastic stuff...and so impressive...

To sum up - a great film then - now made better by a format that allows it to shine.

This is precisely what a good BLU RAY reissue should be.

Recommended like a hard rock in the crack den at the back of 10 Downing Street...(yo David).

BLU RAY Specifications:

VIDEO: 1080p High Definition 2.4:1 Aspect Ratio

AUDIO: Dolby Digital English 5.1, French 5.1 and German 5.1

SUBTITLES: English, French and German

EXTRAS:

1. Feature-Length Commentary by Director Antoine Fuqua (Director)

2. Additional Scenes

3. Alternate Ending

4. HBO First Look: The Making Of Training Day

5. 2 Music Videos - "No.1" by NELLY and "Got You" by PHAROAHE MONCH

6. Theatrical Trailer

“Frida” on BLU RAY. A Review Of The 2002 Film Now Reissued On A 2012 BLU RAY.

 

                                        
 "…Radical And Courageous And Very Romantic…"
 

I had a feeling that this would be an exceptional BLU RAY reissue and I'm glad to be proven right.

The picture quality is uniformly gorgeous and highlights the vivid array of expertly researched detail the 150-strong production company filled every scene with - Mexican clothing, terracotta interiors, chaotic art studios and colonial South American buildings. Its default aspect is 1.78:1 - so it fills the entire screen without stretching or loss of clarity. You combine this with a sympathetically-written script, brilliant acting and a genuinely affecting and unfolding story (never mind the huge amount of EXTRAS transferred in full from the DVD - see list below) and the whole experience is a joy to re-watch and re-discover.

The first thing that strikes you about the print is that 'colour' is everywhere. It opens in Mexico in 1922 when Frida Kahlo is a precocious 15 year-old and able-bodied (before her horrific accident) and over the course of the movie progresses nearly 30 years hence - so lighting - textures - interiors - all have to be matched. The Blues, Reds, Yellows and Gold are full on and evoke a Mexico of the period (all beautifully done by Production Designer Felipe Fernandez - Oscar nominated for his work here).

The autobiographical nature of her art is captured in cleverly woven-in scenes and her painful injuries/nightmares are portrayed at times by grotesque animation peopled from her canvas creations. Frida suffered back pain all her life (an iron rod skewered her abdomen and uterus in the accident) and famously painted lying down with a mirror over her bed (she later had toes and a leg amputated due to her injuries). Yet she defied all expectations and after two years in casts managed to walk again. Taymor's movie fills the screen with this - her spirit, her driving need to matter and her bisexual lovelife and gender-bender dress sense. This is a world where politics and passion are seething in the streets - and boozy nights are spent discussing the first and engaging in the second...

The cast is large and seriously talented - and Frida is a role Salma Hayek openly admits she'd always wanted to play. The worst you could say about her performance is that her beauty and astonishing sensuality sometimes hinder believability. But she gives her all and her supporting cast are so well chosen that her film-star looks get quickly forgotten. Given the depth and difficulty of the part - her nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role is richly deserved.

And while Ashley Judd (her dialogue discussing their marriage titles this review), Geoffrey Rush, Edward Norton, Antonio Banderas, and Roger Rees all contribute their vignettes with heart and commitment - the film's real ace-in-the-hole is ALFRED MOLINA. He is simply astonishing as Diego Rivera - the Mexican murals painter who married Frida in 1929 at the age of 43 when she was only 22. Diego was a fat ugly man who became her mentor, lover and on/off husband for 25 years. Loveable one minute, loathsome the next - the film is so much better because he's in it (Salma sings his praises in the extras). A lecher, habitual womanizer and a serious-minded Communist - it's a ludicrously difficult part to nail - yet Molina is never anything less than brilliant. Charming at first when he's getting what he wants (wooing Frida in the alley outside his studio) - then to his wandering glassy eyes as infidelity creeps to the surface (watching her sing at a party, but eyeing the other women there) - he later crosses the line completely by sleeping with her sister (fathered a child by her too). The big question is - why did a woman as committed to loyalty as Frida countenance this boor for even a second? Friends gave their union 'two months' - her own mother described their marriage as being between "...an elephant and a dolphin..." The answer the film tells us is LOVE.

In interviews, Director Julie Taymor states that both she and Salma returned to Frida's diaries and found they were not about betrayal and men-as-pigs (as many feminists feel) - they were all about Diego and her. Frida really loved him - admired him - supported him. Of course she wanted to slit his throat on several occasions - and was ultimately broken by him (the scene where she cuts her hair is particularly powerful) - but she seemed to stick with his first wife's advice to accept the rough with the smooth because the overall gain was worth it ("...He's the best of friends and the worst of husbands."). It's an odd relationship in an oddball world. Yet both Hayek and Molina are so believable that when the film morphs from one of her paintings of the married couple standing in a room into the actors playing them - it's hard to tell the difference. Taymor (who devoted almost two years of her life to the project) does well to rescue Frida from self-pity and loathing - showing instead her courage and joie-de-vive - her fierce loyalty no matter what. Her partner Elliot Goldenthal also provided the film with a beautifully apt Latin guitar score (for which he won the Oscar).

To sum up - it was never going to be an easy task to film the life of this icon of Mexican art (Frida) and interpret her tumultuous lifelong relationship with another free soul (Diego) - yet both June Taymor and Salma Hayek pulled it off admirably. It was nominated for six Oscars and won two - Best Make Up and Best Original Music. You can't help but think it should have won more (especially for its two leads)...

A quality BLU RAY reissue then - and like a good political knees-up with Leon Trotsky - wholeheartedly recommended.

BLU RAY Specifications:

VIDEO: 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio [Full Screen]

AUDIO: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

SUBTITLES: English, English for the Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing, Spanish

EXTRAS:

1. (Feature Length) Audio Commentary by Julie Taymor (Director)

2. A Conversation With Salma Hayek - Lead Actress Playing Frida Kahlo (near-40 minute facing-camera interview covering all aspects of the shoot)

3. AFI (American Film Institute) Q&A with Julie Taymor conducted 2 Oct 2002 by Deszo Magyar (30 minutes)

4. Bill Moyers Interview With Julie Taymor (19 minutes)

5. Chavela Vargas Interview - A 93-year old Mexican Lady Singer who knew Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera (Subtitled, 15 Minutes)

6. The Voice Of Lila Downs - a Mexican Singer-Songwriter who sang some of the music for the soundtrack (5 minutes)

7. The Vision Of Frida with Rodrigo Prieto (Cinematographer) and Julie Taymor (6 minutes)

8. The Design of Frida with Felipe Fernandez (Production Designer) (near 3 minutes)

9. The Music of Frida with Elliot Goldenthal and Salma Hayek (5 mnutes)

10. Salma's Recording Session - she sings "La Bruja" (near 3 minutes)

11. Bringing Frida Kahlo's Life And Art To Film: A Walk Through The Real Locations.

Felipe Fernandez talks of his painters, designers and architects who recreated Frida and Diego's home "The Blue House".

They did the courtyard, the vivid wall colours, the cacti, her bed with the mirror above, framed Communist imagery.

Later in the film they recreate Diego's modernist home where the couple hosted Trotsky etc (near 6 minutes)

12. Portrait Of An Artist - clips from the film mixed with interviews with Julie Taymor, Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Ashley Judd and two Producers (14 minutes)

13. "Amoeba Proteus" - Visual FX Piece (near 10 minutes)

14. "The Brothers Quay" - Visual FX Piece (1 minute)

15. Bookmarks - allows you to bookmark portions of the film

"Brassed Off". A Review Of The 1996 Film - Now Reissued On A 2012 BLU RAY.

                                  

“…No Hope…Just Principals…”

Set in the fictional mining town of Grimley in North Yorkshire ten years after the calamitous miner's strike of '84 to '85 – "Brassed Off" is about a colliery band with a 100-year history facing dissolution should their coal pit be closed by a determined powers-that-be (the Tory party bent on destroying the Trade Unions). It's a small British movie about big British things and when it was released into cinemas in 1996 – it delivered its laughter and tears with a warmth and passion that disarmed many at the time.

In fact - re-watching it now on this superlatively clean and crisply rendered 2012 transfer to BLU RAY (the absolute best its ever looked) – I'm once again struck by its huge heart and the great performances from a committed cast – and that mass job losses devastating a community is still painfully relevant to this day.

Written and Directed by MARK HERMAN (who went on to do the equally good "Little Voice", "Purely Belter" and "The Boy In Stripped Pyjamas") - this is a working-class world where housewives have a fag and a cup of tea on the garden wall while their frayed padded-bras flutter on the clothesline in the morning breeze. People shop in Spar and Kwik Save and say "daft" and "bugger" all the time. Out-of-work fathers read the Daily Star in deckchairs in their concrete yards - and the Arkwright Tour Bus boasts an advert on its rear of trips to exotic places like Paris and New York - but mostly does trips from the local pub The Collier's Arms. Life is a struggle and money always a problem – and if the pit closes then there will literally be 'no future' for hundreds of men and women with families to support…

A lot of the movie's seething underbelly of anger and frustration is offset by self-deprecating jokes… When Danny the ailing conductor of the brass band (Pete Postlethwaite) gives his sappy but good-hearted son Phil a piggyback on his bicycle to band practice (a truly fantastic Stephen Tompkinson) – demented by four kids, a crippling mortgage and loan sharks – his had-enough wife Sandra (Melanie Hill) chucks plates at him as he leaves. Danny casually remarks as they cycle away - "...bit clumsy with the crockery your Sandra…". When local girl Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald) returns as a business sophisticate to do a feasibility study on the viability of the pit – she is fondly remembered by the pool-playing Andy (Ewan McGregor) for giving "top half only" when she was a teenager. Their rekindled romance is lovely and believably real.

Then when she sexily shimmies onto the tour bus in her tight skirt – two concerned wives (Sue Johnston and Mary Healey playing Vera and Ida) turn up at the door and tackle Danny who is doing a head count about the wayward men taking a shine to the gorgeous Gloria. Danny explains, "That girl blows a flugelhorn like a dream!" "Danny Ormondroyd!" Vera replies. "At your age!" Gloria then gets sandwiched by two older men at the back of the bus (Philip Jackson and Peter Martin playing Jim and Ernie) "I'm a quantity surveyor" she explains when asked about her job. "Wanna survey my quantity love?" Jim saucily suggests. She quickly counters, "You know what they say – no job too small!"

But sadness and frustration are never far away from the surface either. A husband and wife cross each other on the footpath in the morning as their shifts intertwine - too tired, too rushed and too beaten to speak (Jim Carter – now the Butler Mister Carson in "Downton Abbey"). When they do talk the 3rd time it happens she remarks – "You used to be full of fight…" He drops his head – it's true. 

Wives and mothers huddle around kettle-drum fires for warmth and sit in makeshift tents outside the colliery gates where their constant chant goes up as the scabs pass the picket line – "The miners united – will never be defeated". When of course they were…

Debt Collectors punch out a desperate father in front of his wife and kids – and a few days later coldly remove all their worldly goods from their home. A friend manning the cash register in a local supermarket slips a £10 note behind the receipt to a mortified mum who can’t afford 60p Orange Squash for her kids. And when the pit does finally close – the boys stand outside the gates with their instrument cases in hand knowing it’s all over – years of tradition wiped away by politics and bloody-mindedness. At least a form of redemption is offered to them by way of financing their entry into the National Finals held in London - which they proudly attend and win with a rousing performance of "Charge Of The Light Brigade". And it all ends with Pete Postlethwaite's rousing speech to the assembled - tearful stuff full of pathos and heartbreak.

PICTURE QUALITY/EXTRAS:

It opens with miners down a pit finishing their shift in the dimly lit caves - so there is some grain – but once they emerge into the yards from the lifts and from thereon in – this May 2012 Channel 4/Miramax release looks 'so' good it's positively disarming. Its default aspect is 1.85:1 so it fills the full screen (no bars top or bottom) and you have to ask - where has this picture quality been all these years? I don't recall it ever looking this special – even on the reissued DVD of a few years back?

The extras are disappointing though. The interviews with the principal four are short and enthusiastic – but hardly great and the 'Sub Plot Extra' merely cobbles together scenes of say Andy and Gloria's story – so you've seen them already and collated like this is pretty pointless and even irritating. 

The Biographies and Photo Galleries offer some info and images – but it's all terribly underwhelming and no real improvement on what went before. Still – there is that picture quality…

I honestly hadn't expected to be so 'moved' by "Brassed Off" this time around – yet the script got to me on several occasions. Stephen Tomkinson's character Phil dressed up and moonlighting as the clown Mr. Chuckles - when the injustice of his situation gets to him and he loses it at a children's party (his dialogue from earlier titles this review) - Pete Postlethwaite's character lying in a hospital bed with blood in his lungs and sadness in his heart – when the boys gather outside in the dark and begin playing "Danny Boy" in a Brass Band style. I'll tell you – it's a hard man indeed who doesn't shed a tear.

To sum up - at last "Brassed Off" is given the transfer it thoroughly deserves – and if you’ve any affection at all for this ballsy little film – then you need to own it on BLU RAY. And what a great way to remember Pete Postlethwaite - exuding that everyman humanity that engendered him to a whole nation.

Nowt wrong with that ye daft buggers…  

BLU RAY Specifications:

ASPECT: 1.85:1 ratio

SUBTITLES: None

EXTRAS:

1. Theatrical Trailer

2. Interviews: (a) Mark Herman (Writer & Director) (b) Ewan McGregor as Andy (c) Pete Postlethwaite as Danny (d) Tara Fitzgerald as Gloria

3. Sub Plots: Clips of the film edited together to give story arcs on say Gloria and Andy – father and son – Danny and Phil – and so on.

4. Biographies (Film, TV and Theatre): Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald and Ewan McGregor

5. Photo Libraries

“The Mask Of Zorro” on BLU RAY. A Review Of The 1998 Movie – Now Reissued In 2010 On BLU RAY.

                                  
“…Ruggedly Handsome…”

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2010 BLU RAY/DVD COMBO ***

Back in the day I had a Superbit DVD of this beautifully filmed and hugely entertaining hero-of-the-people movie - and along with "Vertical Limit" - it was a virtual benchmark for how good the DVD format could look. The Superbit Series to DVDs were like gold audiophiles to CDs - dedicated to giving you the best quality possible.

So it's not surprising to find that Martin Campbell's skilfully filmed "The Mask Of Zorro" on BLU RAY is a proper 'looker' – gorgeous - and then some.

Right from the opening shot of canvas being slit by the two young boys hoping to get a glimpse of Zorro (Anthony Hopkins) - through to the confessional scenes between Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones where she explains her passion for a bandit (dialogue above) - indoors or out - "The Mask Of Zorro" is a treat to look at. You see their costumes - the sweating skin – the heat of the desert and the dust of the towns - even the deliberate sepia-tint that surrounds the face of Zeta-Jones at times – it's all cleanly rendered.

And while the film's natural default is 2.40:1 (which means bars at the top and the bottom of the screen) - even switched to FULL SCREEN - there's only minor stretching and very little loss of definition. The sound too is magnificent – horses hooves, blades clashing, gunpowder shots, wood splintering, buildings exploding – all brought to the fore by a storming 5.1 mix. 

The cast is spot-on too – Stuart Wilson as the dastardly and arrogant Don Rafael – Matt Letscher as the cold-blooded killer Captain Harrison (in the employ of Don Rafael) - and of course the trio of lead stars – Hopkins as the wronged older Zorro, Banderas as his hot-headed protégé and Zeta-Jones as the daughter stolen away from Zorro 20 years earlier along with his beloved wife. They have a ball donning capes, dropping onto moving horses and pitting steel-against-steel on tables, in barns and around goldmines.

And while Banderas is perfect for the part (sexy, witty, charming) and had great chemistry with his leading lady – it's the ethereally beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones who steals the show. She had a star quality about her at the time that was almost palatable - part Liz Taylor part Joan Collins – she was all-woman and a match for any wannabe bandito wanting to compromise her virtue. All in all – a wildly entertaining ride that stills stands the test of time (it even comes with a DVD and copious extras too).

"The Mask Of Zorro" is a cinematic blast on BLU RAY – a film that likes itself – and has every good reason to.

Recommended like a drunken canter with Tonto…

BLU RAY Specifications:

ASPECT; 1080DP High Definition 2.40:1

AUDIO: English, Italian and Spanish 5.1 DTS-HD MA

SUBTITLES:  English, English for Hard f Hearing, Danish, Finnish, Hindi, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish

EXTRAS:

1. Blu Ray Exclusive – Movie IQ BD-LIVE connects you to access real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while you’re watching the movie

2. Director’s Commentary

3. Exclusive Documentary: Unmasking Zorro

4. Deleted Scenes

5. "The Legend Of Zorro" - Behind The Scenes Sneak Peek

6. Music Video by Marc Anthony and Tina Arena

7. Exclusive scene from "The Legend Of Zorro"

“The Sting Collector’s Series” on BLU RAY. A Review Of The 1973 Film Now Fully Restored And Reissued In A ‘Limited Edition BLU RAY Book Pack’ As Part Of Universal’s 100th Anniversary Celebrations.

                                       


“…The Quill…”

In April 2012 Universal Studios was 100 years old - and to celebrate that movie-making centenary - they've had 13 of their most-celebrated films fully restored for BLU RAY. But it doesn't stop there. As many as 80 other titles will be given US re-launches across the year each featuring distinctive "100th Anniversary" gatefold card-wrap packaging - and in some cases a host of new features. 1973's "The Sting" is one of the thirteen singled out for full restoration (see list below) - and like the other BLU RAYS in this series so far - is very tastefully done.

UK released Monday 11 June 2012 - "The Sting Collector's Series" comes in a gorgeous limited edition 40-page 'Book Pack' (Barcode 5050582893151). The outer hardback holder has an awkward card wrapped around it which is attached at the front with a flimsy circular sticker - not the most eloquent of objects it has to be said and it contains info that isn't on the back sleeve of the book pack - so you don't want to lose it. It's hard to keep in place without damage - so I put the whole shebang in a plastic sleeve for protection. It's also worth noting that most of the AMERICAN issues are 'two-disc' sets containing the BLU RAY, the DVD and also means to obtain a Digital Copy via download. It appears that the UK issues will contain ONLY the BLU RAY in the Book Pack. However, if you want say "Out Of Africa" or "Buck Privates" (which have yet to be given UK releases) - then the US issues will do because their non-region coding will allow them play in all machines.

PICTURE QUALITY:

Digitally remastered and Fully Restored from Original Film Elements - Universal are reputed to have stumped-up over $300,000 for the restoration - and the results are wonderful for about to 90 to 95% of the time. The opening four minutes will worry fans because the definition is slightly hazy - but once past that - there is a steady stream of moments that are truly breathtaking throughout the duration. Filmed largely on sets on the Universal lot - the quality lighting is consistent throughout even in those difficult and darkly lit night sequences. There is (it has to be said) slight blocking and grain at some points - but mostly you're enjoying the overall sparkle of the print too much to notice.

And because it's uber clean - it accentuates so much. We finally get to see the immaculate costumes and suits of the legendary EDITH HEAD (ties, shirts, hats, overcoats). Then there's the awesome sparkle of Paul Newman's famous blue eyes and Robert Redford looking so handsome in every shot that you just want to hit him! The clarity continues right through the plot cards to the closing credits - which are so clean it could have been done yesterday. The transfer is not all perfect by any means - but at times - this is as beautiful and as filmic as I've ever seen. The audio is crisp and clear too.

FILM ITSELF:

You also forget why it received 10 Oscar nominations and won seven - including Best Picture. Everything about "The Sting" works - the charisma of the three principal leads - Paul Newman as Henry Gondorff the master of the 'big con', Robert Redford as the reckless and wild small-time hustler Johnny Hooker and Robert Shaw as the vicious and egotistical Chicago mobster Doyle Lonnegan. Then there's the fantastic ensemble cast - Charles Durning as the corrupt Lt. Snyder, Eileen Brennan as the madam Billie who runs a bordello over an amusement arcade and Harold Gould as the dapper Kid Twist who hires the crew that will bring down Lonnegan on a racetrack scam (he wants the crew to be "The Quill..." which is Grifter-speak for the best). Aiding Gondorff in this endeavour is Jack Kehoe as Eric The Kid - a small-time Grifter who wants revenge for a friend's death at the hands of the mobster Donegan, Ray Walston as J.J. Singleton who helps in the poker game scam and reads out the wire in the bogus betting parlour, John Heffernan who quits his dreary bank job in a heartbeat to join Gondorff's crew as a teller and Dana Elcar as the supposed FBI agent. You may even recognize the dulcet tones of Robert Earl Jones as Harvey the Grifter at the beginning of the movie who gets killed - his son is James Earl Jones - the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars. The other big ingredient of course is the superlative and evocative film score by Marvin Hamlisch that brilliantly reintroduced Scott Joplin's ragtime music to the world.  

BOOKLET:

The 40-page booklet is pure eye candy as you can imagine. It opens with a 2-page appreciation by film-critic and historian Leonard Maltin, a pictorial actor/character "The Players" list, 2-page spreads on Newman, Redford, Shaw and George Roy Hill, reproductions of the script, Edith Head's design drawings, Advert campaigns, a piece on the composer Marvin Hamlisch and the music, Oscar nominations, telegrams of congratulations etc. Lovely to look at...

EXTRAS:

Having directed Redford and Newman in "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid" - GEORGE ROY HILL was the Director of choice for "The Sting". His almost army-like style is discussed in the pleasingly long and detailed principal extra "The Art Of The Sting" which is divided into 3-parts. He was clearly admired by the actors who trusted his vision (he won the Oscar for Best Director) - it's just such a shame there's no interview with him to illuminate the proceedings. It's also clear that both Redford and Newman who mention each other in the present tense were filmed just prior to Newman's sad passing in 2010. Charles Durning and newcomer Dimitra Arliss give telling and superb recollections of the shoot (how Shaw got his limp) - and both speak highly of the three principals - and the sheer 'fun' it was making the film. They also quite rightly keep referring to David Ward's almost 'perfect' script - which he'd worked on for a whole year. 

To sum up - I've loved re-watching this timeless caper movie in such top-notch quality. And it's heartening to see Universal Studios finally throw some proper money at the preservation of their movie legacy - and be proud about doing so too. I'm collecting the whole series - and live in hope that other studios respect their past in the same glorious way.

In 2013 "The Sting" will be 40 years old and has (not surprisingly) stood the test of time.

This 2012 BLU RAY is a lovely reissue of it - and for fans of this glorious Americana piece - a must buy.

BLU RAY Specifications:

EXTRAS:

1. The Art Of The Sting - A 3-Part Documentary. Features interviews with Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Charles Durning, Ray Walston, Eileen Brennan, Dimitra Arliss, Marvin Hamlisch (Music) and David S Ward (Script) (55 minutes)

2. 100 Years Of Universal: Restoring The Classics. A look at the intricate process of fixing the fading negatives (scratches, tears, colour loss, grain) and audio (overbearing hiss) by the experts involved (10 minutes)

3. 100 Years Of Universal: The 70's. A look at the iconic films and moviemakers of that time - Spielberg, Landis etc (11 minutes)

4. 100 Years Of Universal: The Lot. A behind-the-scenes look at what was done on the famous Universal Studios lot (10 minutes)

5. Theatrical Trailer

VIDEO: 1080p High-Definition Widescreen 1.85:1

AUDIO: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French, Italian, German, Spanish DTS Mono 2.0 and Japanese DTS 5.1

SUBTITLES: English SDH, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Icelandic, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish and Traditional Mandarin

PS: The 13 Restored Titles in this Limited Edition Book Pack 'Collector's Series' are:

1. All Quiet On The Western Front (1930)

Released 13 Feb 2012 in the UK. Restored, Remastered and comes in a beautiful 40-page Book Pack. SEE DETAILED REVIEW.

2. The Birds (1963)

Release date to be advised...

NOTE: the UK 23 April 2012 'DVD' with Universal 100th Anniversary packaging does NOT contain a restored print - it will be in the BLU RAY book pack later in the year.

3. (Abbott And Costello in) Buck Privates (1941)

Released 17 April 2012 in the USA (will play on UK machines). A 2-disc Book Pack with Blu Ray, DVD and Digital Copy. It's fully restored and digitally remastered.

4. Dracula (1931)

Release date to be advised. Will contain both Spanish versions. NOTE: the UK 23 April 2012 `DVD' with Universal 100th Anniversary packaging does NOT contain a restored print - it will be in the BLU RAY book pack later in the year.

5. E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial (1982)

Release date to be advised...

6. Frankenstein (1931)

Release date to be advised...

7. The Bride Of Frankenstein (1935)

Release date to be advised...

8. Jaws (1975)

Released August 2012 in the USA/September 2012 in the UK. BLU RAY Book Pack. Fully restored print with Spielberg's involvement - new extras.

9. Out Of Africa (1985)

Released 6 March 2012 in the USA (will play on UK machines).

Early reports say the BLU RAY is 'beautifully restored' - no UK release as yet. 

10. Pillow Talk (1959)

7 May 2012 UK release. BLU RAY in a 48-page hardback Book Pack. Fully restored print and remastered sound. SEE DETAILED REVIEW.

11. Schindler's List  (1993)

Release date to be advised...

12. The Sting (1973)

Released 11 June 2012 in the UK. BLU RAY in a 40-page Book Pack. Fully Restored Print/Remastered Audio.

NOTE: there's an American 'card-wrap' version of this also - so check which issue you're buying.

The card wrap is B007N31ZLA. The 'Book Pack Collector's Series' is B007UOWM6E (SEE DETAILED REVIEW).

13.  To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)

Released 10 January 2012. BLU RAY with 44-page Book Pack. SEE DETAILED REVIEW.

PPS: For a list of the 60 or so titles in the "100th Anniversary" series to date (June 2012) see the 'comment' section attached to this review