| Reviews & Columns |
|
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
 DVD Talk Forum |
|
|
| Resources |
|
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
|
Columns
  
 
|
|
|
Cotton Club
List Price: Unknown [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
Francis Ford Coppola's 1984 period piece stars Richard Gere as cornet player Dixie Dwyer (Richard Gere who played his own cornet). As the film opens, Dwyer saves the life of criminal Dutch Schultz, who, in turn, gives Dixie and his brother (Nicholas Cage) work. Dixie is introduced to Vera (Diane Lane) who is asked to accompany him singing while he plays the piano for a "special party" he's asked to play for. Unfortunately, Vera's the girlfriend of Dutch and Dixie begins to fall for her.
Meanwhile, in another subplot, Sandman and Clay Williams (Gregory and Maurice Hines) have landed a job at the Cotton Club and Sandman (Gregory Hines) falls in love with Rose Oliver (Lonette McKee), but their relationship unfortunately has some obstacles. Also part of the tale are the Cotton Club's owner Owney Madden (Bob Hoskins) and his assistant Frenchie Demange (Fred Gwynne), who are trying to keep the situation in the area civil. Eventually, Dixie goes out to Hollywood and becomes Owney's contact on the West Coast, but while he's gone, things go South, especially in regards to Dixie's brother.
"Cotton Club" is a generally very good; some parts and pieces of it do not work as well as others, but there's so many things going on that something more engaging might be moments away. The romance between Gere and Lane is unfortunately one of the lesser elements of the picture - the two don't exactly have the best chemistry with one another. Although their separate performances aren't bad, their piece of the puzzle isn't quite as good as it should be. Supporting performances from both Hoskins and Gwyne are excellent, as are some other supporting roles. The way that the movie goes back and forth between characters and stories isn't always smooth, but most of the actors do a fine job at filling out their characters and making the most of the moments (well, except for Gere, who can't play tough very well). Ford Coppola's sense of period is terrific, as the locations, clothes, cars, looks - every last detail is superbly accurate. The music is also wonderful.
I don't know if I would consider it a classic, but it's often an entertaining and usually well-acted picture that's worth a look.
The DVD
VIDEO: "Cotton Club" is presented in a new 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer that, for the most part, looks great - a suprise from the usually underwhelming presentations that the studio produces. Although it would seem likely that credit and praise would go to MGM, I would think that director Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope production studio are the ones who likely handled this project. Stephen Goldblatt ("Batman and Robin")'s cinematography is often gorgeous and beautifully presented here. Sharpness and detail is often impressive, although there are scenes in the club that look a little bit soft, partially due to the smoky atmosphere.
The picture remained solid and well-defined throughout, with no pixelation and only a few slight instances of edge enhancement. Print flaws also seemed to be largely absent - there were a few small marks here and there as well as a couple of minor speckles (and a tiny bit of grain now and then), but the picture remained largely clean and natural. Colors looked terrific throughout the picture, with the warm tones of the interiors coming through beautifully and the natural look of the city streets also superb looking. Black level is solid and flesh-tones are natural as well. Whether MGM or American Zoetrope was responsible, this is a fine effort that looks excellent.
SOUND: "Cotton Club" is presented with a new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, but all it does it slightly open up the proceedings and provide a very slightly more immersive feel for the music, but nothing much more than that. Surround use is minimal throughout, mainly just for the music.
MENUS:: The menus are about as basic as it gets, simply re-using the front cover.
EXTRAS: Trailer. The deleted scenes that were reportedly on the disc are not included.
Final Thoughts: Although I would have loved to hear a commentary by director Ford Coppola (who has contributed terrific ones to a few of his films now), this disc is not a special edition, nor does it contain really any supplements of note. The price is low, though - and audio/video quality is unusually good for an MGM catalog release. Recommended.
Francis Ford Coppola's 1984 period piece stars Richard Gere as cornet player Dixie Dwyer (Richard Gere who played his own cornet). As the film opens, Dwyer saves the life of criminal Dutch Schultz, who, in turn, gives Dixie and his brother (Nicholas Cage) work. Dixie is introduced to Vera (Diane Lane) who is asked to accompany him singing while he plays the piano for a "special party" he's asked to play for. Unfortunately, Vera's the girlfriend of Dutch and Dixie begins to fall for her.
Meanwhile, in another subplot, Sandman and Clay Williams (Gregory and Maurice Hines) have landed a job at the Cotton Club and Sandman (Gregory Hines) falls in love with Rose Oliver (Lonette McKee), but their relationship unfortunately has some obstacles. Also part of the tale are the Cotton Club's owner Owney Madden (Bob Hoskins) and his assistant Frenchie Demange (Fred Gwynne), who are trying to keep the situation in the area civil. Eventually, Dixie goes out to Hollywood and becomes Owney's contact on the West Coast, but while he's gone, things go South, especially in regards to Dixie's brother.
"Cotton Club" is a generally very good; some parts and pieces of it do not work as well as others, but there's so many things going on that something more engaging might be moments away. The romance between Gere and Lane is unfortunately one of the lesser elements of the picture - the two don't exactly have the best chemistry with one another. Although their separate performances aren't bad, their piece of the puzzle isn't quite as good as it should be. Supporting performances from both Hoskins and Gwyne are excellent, as are some other supporting roles. The way that the movie goes back and forth between characters and stories isn't always smooth, but most of the actors do a fine job at filling out their characters and making the most of the moments (well, except for Gere, who can't play tough very well). Ford Coppola's sense of period is terrific, as the locations, clothes, cars, looks - every last detail is superbly accurate. The music is also wonderful.
I don't know if I would consider it a classic, but it's often an entertaining and usually well-acted picture that's worth a look.
The DVD
VIDEO: "Cotton Club" is presented in a new 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer that, for the most part, looks great - a suprise from the usually underwhelming presentations that the studio produces. Although it would seem likely that credit and praise would go to MGM, I would think that director Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope production studio are the ones who likely handled this project. Stephen Goldblatt ("Batman and Robin")'s cinematography is often gorgeous and beautifully presented here. Sharpness and detail is often impressive, although there are scenes in the club that look a little bit soft, partially due to the smoky atmosphere.
The picture remained solid and well-defined throughout, with no pixelation and only a few slight instances of edge enhancement. Print flaws also seemed to be largely absent - there were a few small marks here and there as well as a couple of minor speckles (and a tiny bit of grain now and then), but the picture remained largely clean and natural. Colors looked terrific throughout the picture, with the warm tones of the interiors coming through beautifully and the natural look of the city streets also superb looking. Black level is solid and flesh-tones are natural as well. Whether MGM or American Zoetrope was responsible, this is a fine effort that looks excellent.
SOUND: "Cotton Club" is presented with a new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, but all it does it slightly open up the proceedings and provide a very slightly more immersive feel for the music, but nothing much more than that. Surround use is minimal throughout, mainly just for the music.
MENUS:: The menus are about as basic as it gets, simply re-using the front cover.
EXTRAS: Trailer. The deleted scenes that were reportedly on the disc are not included.
Final Thoughts: Although I would have loved to hear a commentary by director Ford Coppola (who has contributed terrific ones to a few of his films now), this disc is not a special edition, nor does it contain really any supplements of note. The price is low, though - and audio/video quality is unusually good for an MGM catalog release. Recommended.
|
| Popular Reviews |
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
|
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices 
| |||||||