Straight Time Blu-ray Review

Warner Archive's Blu-ray release of "Straight Time" wonderfully preserves the unique aesthetic of 1970s cinema with a top-notch 1080p transfer, likely sourced from at least a 2K scan of original film elements. The presentation upholds the film's natural color palette, featuring deep black levels and excellent contrast without edge enhancement or filtering. The original 1.85:1 aspect ratio maintains the director of photography Owen Roizman’s visual intent, showcasing a remarkable depth of field both in urban exteriors and interior scenes, such as apartments and offices.

Utilizing MPEG-4 AVC encoding on a BD-50, "Straight Time" offers captivating clarity and detail. The film's distinctive grain structure contributes to a sense of depth, with details sharply delineated in facial textures, clothing, and environment-specific elements like cluttered parole office desks and canning factory machinery. Natural skin tones vary among characters, such as Denbo’s ruddy complexion contrasted with Russell’s smooth skin, highlighting the excellent rendering of stubble, pores, and other minute details.

The color reproduction remains faithful to the era's subtle, muted tones while enabling certain elements to pop vividly against period-accurate backdrops. Despite some muted palettes in office environments, settings such as the pool area of Harry Dean Stanton’s house exhibit vibrant color saturation. The overall transfer is pristine, free from noise or artifacts, allowing viewers to appreciate an authentic 70s cinematic experience. Whether observing fine textures or the broader scale of city exteriors, this Blu-ray presentation is a commendable upgrade and a must-have for enthusiasts seeking to relive the visual flair of "Straight Time."

The audio presentation of the "Straight Time" Blu-ray is driven by a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track, providing a compelling and enriched listening experience. The dialogue delivers distinct and crisp clarity, ensuring every line is easily understood, albeit with occasional murmurs by Hoffman. David Shire's jazz-infused score is particularly effective in augmenting the film’s atmosphere, notably enhancing the intensity of robbery sequences and creating a captivating mood during the opening credits.

While the soundtrack occasionally falls short of delivering the robust low-end punch contemporary audiences might expect, it compensates with well-prioritized action sound effects such as shattering glass and police sirens that are dynamically integrated across the mix. These elements collectively ensure that the auditory experience remains immersive throughout, devoid of hiss, distortion, drop-outs, or sync issues.

Additionally, the mono theatrical mix retains its original charm in a lossless format. There is a subtle analog hiss underlying each scene, inherent to its source, yet it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment. The balance between vocals, sound effects, and music is executed with precision, allowing each component to shine without overshadowing others. English SDH subtitles provide an optional layer for accessibility, ensuring that the narrative’s nuances are preserved for all listeners.

The Blu-ray release of "Straight Time" may be sparse in quantity of extras, yet delivers quality content that would entice both avid fans and curious newcomers. The centerpiece, a detailed audio commentary, features star Dustin Hoffman and director Ulu Grosbard sharing profound insights into adapting the novel into a film. Commentators cover diverse topics including the film’s title evolution, their collaborative dynamic, casting challenges, and the intricacies of directing. Despite being recorded separately leading to occasional gaps, the commentary remains engaging and informative. Unfortunately, a potentially intriguing vintage featurette mentioned on the packaging does not appear on the disc, leaving viewers with some unfulfilled anticipation.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Informative scene-specific commentary by Dustin Hoffman and Ulu Grosbard on multiple production aspects.
• Theatrical Trailer: A brief promotional trailer showcasing the film's stars and title.

"Straight Time," directed by Ulu Grosbard, is a rare gem from the gritty cinematic landscape of the 1970s, featuring a standout performance by Dustin Hoffman as Max Dembo, a career criminal striving—yet failing—to escape his past after a six-year prison stint. This tense crime drama, based on Edward Bunker's novel "No Beast So Fierce," navigates Dembo's attempts at rehabilitation under the watchful eye of his sadistic parole officer, Earl Frank, played with palpable disdain by M. Emmet Walsh. The film deeply explores themes of recidivism and desperation, as Dembo's genuine efforts at normalcy are thwarted by both his own compulsions and the toxic influences of old associates like Gary Busey's Willy Darin. Hoffman's portrayal is both explosive and subtle, capturing Dembo's internal conflict with raw authenticity that contrasts starkly against his idyllic love interest, Jenny Mercer, played by Theresa Russell.

The narrative arc is characterized by a descent fueled by deteriorating relationships and poor decisions leading to inevitable chaos—each scene layered with tension that echoes the sensibilities of crime epics like "Thief" by Michael Mann, who contributed an uncredited rewrite. Cinematic suspense is meticulously crafted through realistic heists and chases that reflect the period's hard-boiled aesthetic. Supporting performances enhance the rich tapestry of desperation and futility, with characters like the incorrigibly opportunistic Jerry Shue (Harry Dean Stanton) and even Dusty Hoffman’s own directorial aspirations interweaved into the narrative fabric before he stepped down as director.

This latest Blu-ray iteration provides a pristine 1080p transfer, expertly capturing Owen Roizman's stunning cinematography known for iconic films like "The French Connection." Supplementary material includes a compelling audio commentary from Hoffman and Grosbard that enriches the viewer's understanding of this unrelenting character study—adding immense value for collectors and new viewers alike.

Warner Archive's Blu-ray release of "Straight Time" stands out as a noteworthy addition to their catalog, particularly appealing to aficionados of crime dramas from the late 70s. This Blu-ray boasts a pristine 1080p transfer that does justice to the film's understated yet evocative cinematography, delivering a visual experience that is both authentic and enriching for viewers. The disc is further complemented by a lossless audio mix, ensuring that every subtle nuance of Dustin Hoffman's commanding performance is captured with clarity.

The film itself offers a gripping character study centered around the complexities faced by an ex-convict reintegrating into society. Directed by Ulu Grosbard, "Straight Time" eschews the glamorization of crime, opting instead for a portrayal that is alternately unsettling, humorous, and poignant, but always rooted in realism. Hoffman's portrayal anchors the narrative, effectively conveying the psychological torment and societal frustrations inherent in his character's post-incarceration existence.

While the Blu-ray package could disappoint some due to the absence of the advertised vintage featurette, it compensates with valuable legacy bonus features, including a comprehensive audio commentary featuring insights from Hoffman and Grosbard. This addition enriches the viewing experience, providing context and depth to the film's themes and production. Overall, this release is a compelling must-have for collectors and film enthusiasts seeking an unvarnished exploration of crime and redemption.