"Babette's Feast" on BLU RAY – A Review Of The 1987 Danish Film...

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"…Love Shall Unite Us…" – Babette's Feast on BLU RAY

It’s September 1871 in a remote part of Jutland in Denmark – and on a rain-sodden night - a young French woman dressed in hooded garb knocks on the door of elderly sisters Martine and Filippa. The serenely beautiful ladies live frugally and quietly in tiny houses high above the cliffs in a deeply Christian Community – generously feeding the elderly of the flock every single day with hot food culled from their basic cooking skills.

The woman is Babette Hersant – once a worshipped culinary chef in Café Anglais in Paris - and she bears a letter from an elderly French Opera Singer called Achille Papin. He has sent Babette to Denmark by boat to escape political rioting in the capitol city that has robbed her of everything including a husband. Papin visited the sisters when they were youthful beauties many decades back – and lost his heart to Filippa’s angelic voice (words from a duet they sing in a clinch together titles this review). But because of fear and entrenched Christian beliefs – Filippa could not bear what their burgeoning love was doing to her soul – so she had her Pastor father send him away (and silence his singing). But Papin remembered her kindness too – so he has sent the broken Babette into their care.

14 years pass and Babette has now worked her way into the hearts of the kindly sisters, the local grocer and even the fishermen who can’t pass off rancid meat or old fish on the food-knowledgeable Babette.  She even knows where the herbs are on the wild grass stretches that overlook the Sea.

Babette’s only link with France is a lottery ticket a kind relative keeps renewing for her year after year. And one day she gets a letter – she’s won 10,000 Francs. To their astonishment Babette doesn’t want to squander the money on clothes or fine things – but instead payback their kindness by cooking the austere community a proper French Dinner in honour of their Pastor Father whose anniversary is approaching. And Babette wants to do it her way. The sisters agree but have no idea of the opulence that is going to invade their linen-covered table and remain tearfully terrified of its corruptive nature. But great wine, champagne, real turtle soup, sumptuous cooking and divine food mellow the bickering and tetchy elderly community and bring about a deep healing – even a spiritual renaissance of sorts…

Released in the summer of 1987 and directed by Gabriel Axel (a Danish language movie with English subtitles) – the film is based on a story by Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen) and its full title is "Karen Blixen's Babette's Gaestebud". It was Denmark’s first Oscar Win for a foreign language film (also took the BAFTA).

Special mention should be made of the 'young' sisters whose back-story of 'lost love' gives the film its beating heart. A dashing Hussar called Lorens Lowenhielm is stationed in a Garrison Town living a life of tedium and gambling. His father feels he needs to be 'sent away' – so ships the blue-uniformed young man off to his aunt in Norre Vosburg in Jutland. One afternoon out of horseback he sees his redemption from creditor notes and parental lectures – the beautiful young Martine. He immediately tries to woe both her and the pious community who surrender her at every moment – but soon becomes painfully aware that his needs for luxury and easy living far outweigh his needs for Martine. So Lorens leaves and marries a countess with wealth and position. But he has of course made the mistake of a lifetime.

Now an old man but still a dashing officer – he is invited to the feast – and recognizes the extraordinary cooking skills from a past encounter in Paris (like a warm glow from the past). But more than that – he fills old Martine’s heart with joy by telling her that he has always loved her – and not even the physicality of years or body will keep them apart spiritually (his declaration of love to her at the end is one of the loveliest pieces of dialogue in cinema).

I wish I could say the Artificial Eye BLU RAY is a triumph – far from it. Despite its BFI logo – the print has specs of dirt on it, lines showing on occasion and a fair amount of natural fuzzy grain. It does look cleaned up in some places – beautiful even – but the BLU RAY improvement is slight. It’s defaulted to 1.85:1 so fills the entire screen but there’s no getting away from the fact that its good rather than great – which given the sumptuous nature of the feast – is so disappointing (docked a star for that).  As I say – it does look shockingly clean in places – but anyone expecting frame-by-frame clean up can look elsewhere.

There is a short interview in French with Stephane Audran who is intensely proud of the ‘masterpiece’ and Subtitles are Danish, Swedish, French and English.

"Babette's Feast" is a gentle film – slow and even pious to a point of being farcical. But the good-humour and warmth will etch its way into your heart – and after you witness the feast – be prepared to raid the cookie jars in your kitchen with a passion.

As young Papin's heart soars and he tells young Filippa she has 'the voice of joy' – there are moments in "Babette's Feast" when you are in complete lip-smacking agreement with the rotund Frenchman. A beautiful life-affirming film and then some…

"Prisoners" on BLU RAY – A Review Of The 2013 Film…

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“…He Knows Where They Are!” – Prisoners on BLU RAY

Young parents Keller and Grace Dover walk over to the suburban home of Franklin and Nancy Birch in the November cold for a Thanksgiving Dinner involving neighbours, laughter and bad trumpet playing (Hugh Jackman, Maria Bello, Terence Howard and Viola Davis). Their respective daughters of 7 and 6 Anna and Eliza happily play upstairs with a pet while the adults below drink and reminisce. That is until both children go outside to play - and unaccompanied - addle up to the back of a muddied RV parked suspiciously by the kerb in broad daylight...

Although I thoroughly despise material that uses children being hurt as entertainment - "Prisoners" beats the pants off so many supposed thrillers because it reeks of intelligence (a fantastic and clever script) and has a cast that emotionally rivets you to the screen every second they're up there. It's also prepared to be silent - ordinary even - thereby making some scenes disturbingly close to how real life actually is. It's unnerving, creepy and stomach churning in places too (there are monsters out there).

In order for this to work you need major league actors - and lots of them - and right down to a repentant Paedophile Priest - even the small parts are perfectly cast. Hugh Jackman plays Keller Dover - a redecorator/builder and a 'prepare for the worst' deer-shooting survivalist - while his wife Grace believes she'll and her family will be 'safe' with him. Mild-mannered neighbours and friends Franklin and Nancy Birch have the opposite dynamic - the wife is the boss while her husband is more reflective.  But when a local simpleton Alex Jones is found singing in the front seat of the squalid RV and arrested but won't talk - both sets of parents have their patience and nerves tested. Frustrated by the cops lack of progress and working to the letter of the law - and with the days passing and time running out for their abducted daughters - Alpha Male Keller decides to take matters into his own hands...

Into this emotional cauldron comes Detective Loki who’s solved every case he's ever been given. He may at times seem too detached from the parent's pain and rage - but he's a man who spots things and sees through the lies in people (a mesmerizing Jake Gyllenhaal). Obsessive yet law-abiding - he instinctively feels that spaced out Alex Jones who can't say much but can still drive an RV easily - is lying - sickly concealing the whereabouts of the girls and enjoying the cat and mouse game too (an Oscar performance yet again from Paul Dano - the preacher in "There Will Be Blood"). But is he? And what about his heart-broken mother (subtle brilliance from Melissa Leo) who has defended this social outcast all her life - despite her religion-obsessed husband leaving years back and abandoning them both. Keller even goes after her. In the meantime Grace Dover (a ragged looking Maria Bello) simply breaks at the enormity of her child being lost - while the stoical Nancy folds her arms, grits her teeth and reconciles herself to what both fathers must do - go over demarcation lines you really shouldn't cross...

The genius of Aaron Guzikowski's script and Dennis Villeneuve's Direction is that one whole hour in - and you're absolutely none the wiser as to who is the bad guy and who isn't. And it has to be said that some of the violence is horrible and cringing. But what keeps you watching is the sheer visceral power of the actors. The dance between Jackman and Gyllenhaal is fantastic cinema - both men barely holding on to any humanity or faith as the frustration mounts and suspicions arise (exactly the sick kind of mental torture the abductor wants to inflict on them). And you also sit there questioning just how far a determined parent would go to get their child back (abusing a man who may or may not be an innocent).

Special mention has to be made of the picture quality of the BLU RAY. Defaulted to Full Aspect (which fills up the whole screen) - "Prisoners" is starkly gorgeous and truly beautiful throughout. Often without any music - the blunt and stainless steel cold angles ratchet up the tension to unbearable levels (fear of what is happening to the children). It's the Cinematography genius of ROGER DEAKINS ("The Shawshank Redemption" and "True Grit"). Scene after scene is filled with it: casing a house in the pouring rain at night - Jones walking his dog as Keller spies on him from a nearby truck - the decaying body tied to a chair in the basement of a suspect's house - Detective Loki interviewing a sex offender you can't see behind a filthy pane of glass - Loki's tired bulging eyes and unkempt stubble (hasn't slept for days) as he leans forward into a computer monitor scouring the screen for any detail that will help - closing in on the jagged bark of a tree... The framing of everything is the unsung hero of the movie - adding unbelievable depth and genuine unease that serves right up until the superb and clever ending.

There are two Extras - the short "Every Moment Counts" and the more extensive "Powerful Performers" which features enthusiastic interviews with all the principal actors, Director Dennis Villeneuve and Producers Kara Davis and Broderick Johnson. But don't watch "Powerful Performers" before you watch the movie - it rather clumsily gives away far too much in terms of the twisting plot.

The brilliant and unsettling "Prisoners" had my wife and I on the edge of our seats unable to press the pause button to desperately go to the loo. Now that's how you put the 'thrill' in thriller.

Job done I'd say...

"Collected" by STEELY DAN (2009 GERMAN Universal 3CD Compilation of Remasters from 1972 to 1980 with Rarities) A Review by Mark Barry…

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MORE THAN A FEELING 

1976

Your All-Genres Guide To 

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"...The Charmer Under Me..."

I suspect like many Steely Dan fans - anything that enhances our listening pleasure of this most brill of groups - is fair game. I say this because I've noticed a rather odd phenomenon that's taking place with Universal out of Europe (in this case I think it's Germany). Their compilations seem to be remastered when they don't say so - or just better mastered than those in the UK, USA and even (dare we say it) - Japan.

So I took a £10/$15 chance on this European 2009 "Collected" 3CD set by STEELY DAN (Universal 532 112-2 - Barcode 600753211229). And lo and behold - it sounds better. I swear to God! Anyway - here are the detailed pretzels combined with the sonic logic...

Disc 1 (67:17 minutes):

1. Do It Again

2. Dirty Work

3. Only A Fool Would Say That

4. Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)

5. Midnight Cruiser - tracks 1 to 5 are from their debut album "Can't Buy A Thrill" (1972)

6. My Old School - track 6 is from their 2nd album "Countdown To Ecstasy" (1973)

7. Pretzel Logic 

8. Rikki Don't Lose That Number - tracks 7 and 8 (see Note) are from their 3rd album "Pretzel Logic" (1974)

9. Rose Darling

10. Bad Sneakers 

11. Everyone’s Gone To The Movies - tracks 9, 10 and 11 are from their 4th album "Katy Lied" (1975)

12. The Fez - track 12 is from their 5th album "The Royal Scam" (1976)

13. Deacon Blues - track 13 is from their 6th album "Aja" (1977)

14. Hey Nineteen 

15. Babylon Sisters - tracks 14 and 15 are from their 7th album "Gaucho" (1980)

Note: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" loses its album intro and runs to 4:08

Disc 2 (67:04 minutes):

1. Reelin' In The Years 

2. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again - tracks 1 and 2 are from "Can't Buy A Thrill" (1972)

3. Night By Night

4. With A Gun

5. Any Major Dude Will Tell You - tracks 3, 4 and 5 are from "Pretzel Logic" (1974)

6. Black Friday

7. Doctor Wu

8. Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More

9. Any World (That I'm Welcome To)

10. Chain Lightning - tracks 6 to 10 are from "Katy Lied" (1975)

11. Green Earrings

12. Kid Charlemange - tracks 11 and 12 are from "The Royal Scam" (1976)

13. Here At The Western World - track 13 was an exclusive song on the 2LP set "Greatest Hits 1972-1978" (1978)

14. Peg

15. Josie - tracks 14 and 15 are from "Aja" (1977)

16. Time Out Of Mind

17. Third World Man - tracks 16 and 17 are from "Gaucho" (1980)

Disc 3 (71:28 minutes):

1. Bodhisattva

2. Show Biz Kids

3. Pearl Of The Quarter - tracks 1 to 3 are from "Countdown To Ecstasy" (1973)

4. Parker's Band 

5. Barrytown - tracks 4 and 5 are from "Pretzel Logic" (1974)

6. Throw Back The Little Ones - track 6 is from "Katy Lied" (1975)

7. Don't Take Me Alive

8. Haitian Divorce

9. Sign In Stranger - tracks 7, 8 and 9 are from "The Royal Scam" (1976)

10. Black Cow

11. Aja

12. Home At Last - tracks 10, 11 and 12 are from "Aja" (1978)

13. FM (No Static At All) - track 13 was exclusive to the 2LP Soundtrack "FM" (1978)

(It's what's known as the "Saxophone" version - the album also has "A Guitar And Strings Version" and "Reprise")

14. Gaucho - track 14 from "Gaucho" (1980)

15. Everybody's Gone To The Movies (Demo) - track 15 first appeared as a Previously Unreleased track on the 1993 "Citizen Dan" 4CD Box Set

The 3-way foldout card digipak houses an inlay in the left wallet with the 3 CDs spread across the other flaps. It doesn't say who wrote the liner notes in the rather tasteful 8-page mini booklet and the only reference to sound is "Mastering: QS Sound Lab". And even though each song is exactly the same length as the 1998 versions - my reason for the review is the SOUND...

I've A/B played many of the songs against the 1998 Remasters and the three 2008 Japanese SHM-CDs I own (I also have an SACD of "Gaucho"). And I'd swear the sound is inexplicably better on many tracks. It doesn't sound ramped up for the sake of it - just clearer - more revealing somehow. "Do It Again" is a song I've heard a thousand times over 40 years - yet here its end section is detailed in rhythmic ways that I've not heard before.

If I was to single out a few -"Rose Darling" and "Bad Sneakers" on Disc 1 sound gloriously detailed all of a sudden - "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" and the gorgeously musical "Greatest Hits" loner "Here At The Western World" has extra oomph that it's frankly always needed. The funky wallop off "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More" and "Green Earrings" is now huge as is the fabulous "Josie" with it's chugging guitar over on the right. "Third World Man" sounds stupendous - but then it always did (wow city goes to Larry Carlton's perfect guitar solo). "Bodhisattva" and "Sign In Stranger" on Disc 3 are punchy as is the wonderful "Home At Last" for the magisterial "Aja".

Fans will also notice that the set is 'not' chronologically lined-up and I'd argue that it’s so much the better for it. All 3 discs cleverly start at 1972 and end at 1980 - so they feel like mini compilations in themselves - each complete with its own genius running-order. The only clunker on here is the terrible Demo of "Everyone's Gone To The Movies" which ends Disc 3 in a disjointed and unseemly way. Might have been better to include a better sounding "The Caves Of Altamira" - or better still - their rare debut 7" on Probe Records "Dallas" b/w "Sail The Waterway" - neither track being remastered for CD anywhere in the world.

If you wanted a cheaper option the "Show Biz Kids" 2CD set is dirt-cheap now - but I'd say the extra few bob is money well spent here. And if ever a band deserved your hard earned - then the incomparable Steely Dan is that group.

PS: Other artists in this Universal Euro Series are:

The Allman Brother, The Band, J.J. Cale, The Carpenters, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fairport Convention, Golden Earring, John Hiatt, The Moody Blues, Shocking Blue, Stealers Wheel featuring Gerry Rafferty and The Humblebums, Cat Stevens, 10cc., Thin Lizzy and Gino Vannelli. I've bought the 10cc set which just sounds like the 1997 remasters and is filled out with a lot of crap solo stuff  - but I hear the J.J. Cale triple has great sound...

"The Bucket List" on BLU RAY – A Review Of The 2007 Rob Reiner Film...

"…Joy To Others…" - The Bucket List on BLU RAY

Car mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) is at the garage tinkering with a Chevrolet Camaro – cigarette in his gob like it always has been for 45 years. He smiles as his younger co-worker quizzes him on five former American Presidents whose surnames begin with H (Carter has a thing for accumulating knowledge). He of course gets their names right. But then mid explanation on the next question (which man actually invented the radio) - his Doctor phones with test results - and the cigarette that was placed between Carter’s fingers to take the call falls to the greasy floor…

Meanwhile in a courtroom far away – four-times married multi-millionaire Edward Penniman Cole (Jack Nicholson) is assimilating hospital number 16 into his privatized portfolio. Sipping his Indonesian Kopi Luwak (the most expensive coffee in the world) from a Gold mobile dispenser - he asks his puppet assistant to give the panel of trustees "the spiel…" Their financially failing Hospital needs him and no matter what their 'moral posturing' maybe - in his moneymaking medical palaces there are two beds to every room for patients (no exceptions). But in the middle of another crass speech about how he’s running a hospital and not a health spa - Edward suddenly starts to cough something into his handkerchief that isn’t phlegm…

Next both wildly different men find themselves lumped together in the same room of a Hospital Edward Cole owns. But because of bad PR – the grouchy Cole can’t get a private room to be away from “the living dead over there”. Gradually across chemo, operations, puking and diarrhoea - they become reluctant buddies of sorts. One day Edward finds a yellow jotter page on the floor on which Carter has written "The Bucket List". It’s what his former college tutor told him to write as a young man – things you want to do before you 'kick the bucket'…

Recovered momentarily and now with a diagnosis of 6 months and one year respectively – Edward persuades Carter not to go home to his Nurse wife Veronica and his three kids to be swallowed by pity and grief – but to take a shot at all the things he’s wanted to do. After all money is not a problem. And despite his wife’s misgivings – Carter knows Edward is right. It’s now or never. So they skydive, get a tattoo, drive a Mustang Shelby 360, laugh until they cry, kiss the most beautiful woman in the world, witness something majestic…and so on.

Part of the joy of "The Bucket List" is watching two acting giants given great material - let rip with it – and that’s what you get here. The chemistry and obvious respect between Freeman and Nicholson leaps off every frame and Director Rob Reiner never interferes – even when the film is being silly and a little preposterous. In fact in the first 30 or 40 minutes as they navigate the physical and mental agonies of terminal illness in a Hospital – “The Bucket List” is truly touching movie-making - with a razor-sharp script and life observations that don’t feel obvious nor too cutesy.

Even in the second-half where the story demands they do their comedy party pieces – the conversations between them on Cole’s private jet and in a luxurious hotel bathtub are filled with classy one-liners and power delivery (beautifully scripted by Justin Zackham). And it’s funny too (most of which is provided by the incomparable Jack Nicholson). By the time it gets to The Shawshank Redemption Morgan Freeman voiceover end - when a Chock-Full-Of-Nuts tin is being carried up a mountain - you’re a willing convert.

This is major Hollywood movie and the picture quality on the BLU RAY is simply glorious. Defaulted to 1.85:1 Full Aspect – the frame fills the entire screen and there isn’t a shot that doesn’t look immaculate and impressive. Even the CGI of the chat about his daughter Emily on top of the Pyramids is convincing (title above) - as is the motorbike ride on the Great Wall of China and their walks around the Taj Mahal. Audio is Dolby Digital English, French and Spanish 5.1 for each - while the Subtitles offered are English, French and Spanish.

The Extras are delightful – interviews with both leads, Director Ron Reiner, the Screenwriter, a Making of and John Mayer’s gorgeous acoustic balled "Say".

As he treks through snow keeping a promise to a man he first despised but then grew to love - Carter Chambers says of Edward Cole - "When he died…his eyes were shut...and his heart was open…"

"The Bucket List" has been a joy to re-watch on BLU RAY. Do yourself a solid – and open your bruised ticker to this modern-day nugget...