| 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
  
 
|
|
|
Obsession
List Price: Unknown [Buy now and save at Amazon]
| You are an obsession You're my obsession Who do you want me to be To make you sleep with me You are an obsession You're my obsession Who do you want me to be To make you sleep with me |
| "Obsession" -Animation |
A couple of months from now, I'm probably going to stumble upon this review and wonder what would possibly motivate me to quote one of my favorite '80s pop songs in this review of Columbia/Tri-Star's DVD release of Brian De Palma's thriller of the same name. I need to start coming up with better hooks for my reviews, and the sooner, the better...
Cliff Robertson stars as Michael Courtland, a successful businessman who, despite the years that have passed, is still reeling from the loss of his wife and young daughter. Shortly after a lavish celebration on the anniversary of their tenth year of marriage, his wife and daughter disappear, with a peculiar ransom note demanding $500,000 in their place. Although Michael is fully prepared to give over the demanded amount of money, an experienced officer convinces him that cornered criminals are less dangerous without the ransom. A rescue attempt fails miserably, and Michael is devastated, blaming himself for their tragic end. While on a business trip in Italy a quarter-century later, he stumbles across Sandra Portinari, a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to his dear, departed Elizabeth, in the church where he and his wife had first met. A whirlwind courtship ensues, but on the night before they are to be joined in marriage, Sandra disappears, with a familiar ransom note taped to his daughter's old four-post bed...
Paul Schrader ("Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull", "American Gigalo") and Brian De Palma ("Scarface", "Carrie", "The Untouchables") team up to pay homage to the suspenseful thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock, and it's hardly surprising given their amazing filmographies that the end result is wildly successful. Graphic on-screen violence can rarely compare to the imagery in a viewer's mind, and as was the case with much of the work of Hitchcock, the minimal amount of violence to be had traditionally takes place off-screen or is obscured in some way. "Obsession" is brilliant in every possible way -- the story is enthralling, the dialogue is excellent, the acting is first-rate, and the direction is eye-catching but doesn't call attention to itself unnecessarily. This isn't some sort of proto-"I Know What You Did Last Summer" -- there aren't numerous red-herrings, a huge body count, or a slew of chases by a masked killer. With so few characters involved, it doesn't take long to predict who the real culprits are, but since "Obsession" isn't a whodunnit, that's hardly a drawback. "Obsession" is an incredible film that would make an excellent addition to any collection of thrillers, and a great audio/video presentation coupled with an incredible documentary make "Obsession" an easy DVD to recommend as a purchase.
Video: I'm told that the film grain present throughout "Obsession" is intentional. I'm not sure if this is entirely the case, as the grain fluctuates from shot to shot, lacking the sort of tightness and consistency generally seen with intentionally grainy films. The print used for this transfer is in great shape, and flaws are minimal. Small specks are present, though no more than typically seen in films of this age, and the muted color palette seems to be an accurate reproduction. Detail and clarity varies wildly, depending on the amount of grain in a particular shot. Blacks seem a little lacking, though rarely to any disappointing sort of level. "Obsession" doesn't have a sharp, glossy appearance, but from what I understand, such a presentation would not be true to De Palma's original intentions. This DVD release of "Obsession" has an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and is enhanced for widescreen televisions.
Audio: Audio purists will be pleased that both the original English and French mono tracks are included on this disc, along with both a Dolby stereo surround mix and brand-spankin'-new 6-channel audio. The English mono track is in good shape and should please those who have a distaste for those sorts of mono->5.1 remixes. This 5.1 is accurate to the original, lacking the gimmicky surround effects often present when a mono film is given this type of treatment. The score by Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Hermann is the star of the 5.1 mix, roaring from every speaker, and the ambiance and assorted sounds from the rears never for a moment seem unnatural. Dialogue is always discernable, but as is often the case with 6-channel remixes of a mono source, the front-and-center dialogue feels a little dated, paling in comparison to nearly every other aspect of the audio. Still, a wonderful job overall, and Columbia/Tri-Star deserves a big thumbs-up for including so many different audio options.
Supplements: "Obsession Revisited" is a fairly lengthy documentary, running over half an hour and covering every possible facet of production. Although film clips are incorporated into the piece, it's such a refreshing change from the vapid extended-trailer featurettes cluttering most DVDs nowadays. "Obsession Revisited" is every bit as entertaining and intelligent as the feature itself. The ubiquitous trailer and biographies are included as well, of course.
Conclusion: "Obsession" is an excellent homage to Hitchcock and his tense thrillers, unlike far too many of the mindless knock-offs that have flooded theaters and video stores since his initial rise to prominence. Both the film and its presentation on DVD are top-notch. Highly 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 
| |||||||