Images Blu-ray Review

Arrow Academy’s Blu-ray presentation of "Images" is a commendable release featuring an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The restoration process employed a 4K scan of the original 35mm negative via pin-registered Arriscan, with grading conducted on a Da Vinci Resolve system. Restoration involved meticulous digital techniques to address thousands of imperfections such as dirt, debris, and scratches, although certain segments required next-generation dupe materials, resulting in noticeable film grain and slight reductions in image quality. Despite these minor issues, the film mostly maintains a cohesive visual integrity.

The cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond is typically luminous, utilizing a dewy soft ambience that sometimes impacts fine detail, particularly in close-ups. This visual style may have been intentionally augmented using lens treatments to achieve an almost hallucinatory effect, occasionally compromising fine detail. The color palette leans slightly cool but remains fresh and well-balanced. Noteworthy are brief spikes in grain during the dupe material sections, yet these moments do not detract significantly from the overall organic look of the presentation.

Overall, this release effectively preserves the film’s visual and atmospheric intent. The attention to detail in restoration results in an absorbing viewing experience, with no significant compression artifacts compromising the integrity of Zsigmond's cinematography.

The audio presentation of "Images" on Blu Ray is commendable, featuring a clear and meticulously balanced LPCM Mono track. This track robustly supports John Williams' innovative score, interwoven with avant-garde segments from Stomu Yamashta, lending an ethereal quality to the film’s hallucinatory themes. The score seamlessly integrates with ambient environmental sound effects, enhancing the immersive experience. Despite the inherent limitations of a mono track, it effectively delivers a focused auditory experience without any noticeable damage or dropouts.

Dialogue maintains clarity throughout, ensuring that all spoken lines are easily discernible. The reproduction of environmental sounds is precise, contributing to the film's unique soundscape. Overall, the audio track, though narrow due to its mono nature, performs admirably in conveying the atmospheric tension and psychological nuances crucial to "Images."

The Blu-ray extras for "Images" offer an enriching mix of insightful content and detailed interviews that significantly enhance the viewing experience. The audio commentary by Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger provides in-depth analysis, complemented by Robert Altman's distinctive scene-select commentary. The "Imagining Images" featurette, presented in 1080i, delves into archival materials with enlightening Altman interviews. A fresh interview with actress Cathryn Harrison, clocking in just over six minutes, adds valuable perspectives. Stephen Thrower's "Appreciation" segment stands out with its thorough critique and musical insight. The disc also includes a well-presented theatrical trailer and a meticulously crafted booklet from Arrow. Collectively, these extras offer fans a comprehensive understanding of the film's production and legacy.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary by Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger: In-depth analysis of film.
• Scene Select Commentary by Robert Altman: Insightful commentary on selected scenes.
• Imagining Images: Archival piece with Robert Altman interviews.
• Interview with Cathryn Harrison: New interview with the actress.
• Appreciation by Stephen Thrower: Detailed critique and insights.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer.
• Insert Booklet: Nicely appointed supplemental booklet.

Robert Altman’s Images offers a complex exploration of mental instability, observing the dissolution of Cathryn's (Susannah York) psyche through both visual and auditory hallucinations. The minimalist plot centers on Cathryn, a children’s book author, who retreats to a secluded Irish cottage with her husband Hugh (René Auberjonois) after experiencing a series of harassing phone calls. Despite the tranquil setting, Cathryn's disturbances intensify, manifesting visions of former lovers and disquieting auditory snippets, which create an increasingly disjointed narrative. This disjunctive style is enhanced by unpredictable editing, such as transforming one character into another abruptly, thereby reflecting Cathryn’s fracturing mental state.

Images is notable for its meta narrative elements and implicit nods to Ingmar Bergman’s Persona. The careful interplay between actors and their roles—York as Cathryn, Renè as Hugh, etc.—suggests an intentional blurring of reality and performance that mirrors the psychological turmoil depicted on screen. Adding to this, Stephen Thrower's commentary highlights the recurring motif of photography, with lenses serving as a metaphor for fragmented perception. These layers of meta-references and symbolic imagery underscore the film’s surreal quality.

However, despite its atmospheric brilliance and York's captivating performance—marked by deliberate actorly tics—the film leaves audiences adrift in its ambiguous storytelling. Altman’s choice to forego coherent plot development for an improvisational approach results in a film that feels more like a series of experimental vignettes than a cohesive narrative. This stylistic decision may align with the theme of mental disorientation but also renders the film convoluted and inaccessible at times. Ultimately, Images challenges viewers to embrace its enigmatic nature, and for those intrigued by such cinematic puzzles, it offers a uniquely immersive experience.

Arrow Video's Blu-ray release of Robert Altman's "Images" delivers an impressive and meticulously crafted presentation of this enigmatic film. "Images," inspired by Ingmar Bergman's "Persona," is a deeply experimental work that flirts with incoherence yet manages to captivate and ensnare viewers through its ambiguity. Susannah York's performance, which earned her the Best Actress award at Cannes, is undoubtedly one of her most commanding and arresting roles, grounding the film in an unsettling reality.

The visual quality of the Blu-ray transfer is striking, highlighting the film's unique and often eerie cinematography. Arrow Video's restoration work ensures that the picture quality remains sharp and clear, crucial for a film that relies heavily on visual storytelling and psychological atmosphere. The audio elements have also been given meticulous attention, delivering an immersive sound experience that complements the film's disquieting mood.

In addition to the film itself, Arrow has compiled a comprehensive package of supplementary materials that delve into both the creation and thematic exploration of "Images." These extras provide valuable context and enrich the viewing experience, making them indispensable for both fans of Altman and those new to this beguiling director's work.

Images may not in fact mean anything in the final analysis, but it's a riveting viewing experience, perhaps ironically due in part to its very incoherence. York famously won the Best Actress award at Cannes for her work here, and it remains one of her most arresting performances. Technical merits are first rate, and as usual Arrow has assembled a nice package of supplements. Recommended.