|
|
 |
Body Heat
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Warner Home Video Review written by and copyright: Pat Pilon (16th November 2008). |
|
The Film
 In a hot, hazy fold of Florida, sleazy lawyer Ned Racine (William Hurt) meets lonely housewife Matty Walker (Kathleen Turner). They see each other, they talk like people did in 1940's film noirs, and they're attracted to each other, despite the game they're playing. They have sweaty, sweaty sex, fall for each other and talk of an unwholesome plan. As the plan unfolds and plays out, the cunning pair have to be careful, lest everything falls apart. Given the genre and style of the movie, as the audience, we're always wondering if these characters are honest, and whether they trust each other. Do Matty and Ned mean what they say, or are they trying to play one another for something? If they are playing on the level with each other, will everything go right for them? Writer/director Lawrence Kasdan drenches his stunning directorial debut in smoke, sweat and hazy lighting. It sets the perfect atmosphere for the crooked, desperate characters. The cinematography by Richard Cline is very soft, giving everything the look of old film noir movies. The score is longing and languorous, stretching moments into minutes. The movie's feel is definitely one of a 1940s film noir, right down to the plot elements – an everyman, a femme fatale, a murder and a boatload of money. The plot moves from scene to scene like a snake slipping through tall grass. The heat and slow, easy flow of events is transmitted very well through pacing, and character interactions are very slyly done. There are a few twists, which, for fans of the genre, are nothing new, but the chemistry between William Hurt and Kathleen Turner is quite steamy and makes one forget these problems. Mrs. Turner plays the sultry, sexy blonde to perfection and William Hurt is smartly cast as the intelligent but somewhat smarmy lawyer. Their scenes together sizzle, creating a terrific intensity and tension as the movie goes on. Lawrence Kasdan is more known for use of ensemble cast to great effect, but this movie is quite intimate, having only the two main actors in many scenes. Their sex and plans are explored and exposed in time, surprising and seducing you into the movie. Sure, you see the likes of Ted Danson and Mickey Rourke, but these are not the reason to watch the movie. It's a steamy, sexy movie with turns and twists, sure to entwine you in its cracks. That's why you see this movie.
Video
1.78:1 widescreen, using the VC-1 codec. The cinematography is special in this movie, in that the director and director of photography emulated film noir style. During the day, sunlight blooms into the frame, and there is a lot of soft-focus photography, especially during close-ups of Mrs. Turner. The intention is kept pretty nicely, though I found the picture to be way too clean. There seems to be grain missing in scenes, creating a very flat picture, free of any texture, which is what this movie keeps striving for. Colours, however, are very accurate, with skin tones and shadow detail being very strong.
Audio
There’s an English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track, along with English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 1.0, German Dolby Digital 1.0, Japanese Dolby 1.0 and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo tracks. I heard the lossless track, but the difference between it and the standard Dolby track is pretty minimal. Whatever track you choose, the movie is low-key and sounds fine. The dialogue will always be clear and audible. It's always centered and clean. The side and rear speakers have little use, except for perhaps the occasional piece of score. As far as mixing jobs go, this is very good, keeping the spirit of the original mix, while filling in where filling in needed to be done. There are English (HoH), French, German (HoH), Japanese and Spanish subtitles.
Extras
As has been said in every other review, the extras from the 2006 Deluxe Edition DVD are ported over. First up is a three-part documentary, discussing The Plan (17:06), The Production <16:16> and The Post-Production (10:37). This is a pretty thorough documentary, full of information and anecdotes. Anybody that has enjoyed the movie in any kind of way needs to see this. There are plenty of stories, such as the genesis of the project and the chilliness on set, told by all the major cast and crew members. However, nothing will beat Ted Danson's story about William Hurt's 'training'. Some 1981 Interviews with Kathleen Turner and William Hurt (12:36) are also here. These were created for the EPK, no doubt, though praise isn't given needlessly. Mrs. Turner answers questions about her casting, working with the director and William Hurt, and creating her character. Mr. Hurt answers more or less the same questions, though more geared toward his experience and character. A few Lifted Scenes are also here. These scenes don’t add too much to the movie. They only lengthen the movie with moments that don't add up to much in the end. They mostly concentrate on Ned and Matty's plan. Their exclusion doesn't take away from the movie, but they do add in a few character moments, especially 'After the Attempt', which really shows Matty's sly cunning. The scenes are 'In the Backseat' (1:03), 'Stewardess' (1:01), 'Practice Run' (2:05), 'First Murder Attempt' (1:11) and 'After the Attempt' (4:08). Lastly is the Theatrical Trailer (1:34). The marketing for the film seemed pretty interesting at the time, and, though probably not the best possible trailer for the movie, would sure get me interested in watching the movie.
Overall
|
|||||
|