New York Stories Blu-ray Review

Mill Creek Home Entertainment's Blu-ray presentation of "New York Stories" delivers a commendable 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer, capturing the essence of New York City with a finesse that is both visually appealing and technically proficient. The transfer shines with its film-like quality, achieved through natural stability and the retention of a light grain texture, presenting every detail in a crisp, clear manner. The visuals of Lionel's eclectic art studio, the vibrant streets of New York, and the expressive faces of its inhabitants are rendered with precision, bringing a true-to-life clarity to the screen. The color palette, while slightly subdued in certain scenes, overall maintains a balanced and accurate look that enhances the cinematic atmosphere of the anthology.

The attention to detail extends to the exterior shots, where the bustling city's textures are showcased brilliantly. Special mention goes to the stunning outdoor sequences in "Zo�," and a particular scene outside a restaurant in "Wrecks," where the vividness of yellow flowers against the greenery stands out, contributing to the film's aesthetic value. These instances exemplify the transfer's ability to faithfully reproduce colors, adding depth and dimension to the storytelling.

Moreover, technical imperfections such as banding, blocking, print wear, and edge halos are negligible, ensuring an undistracted viewing experience. The overall presentation by Mill Creek is distinguished by its adherence to quality, preserving the films' original charm while presenting them in a format that meets modern standards. This Blu-ray edition of "New York Stories" thus serves as a testament to how classic films can be revitalized for contemporary audiences without sacrificing their inherent texture and visual integrity.

The audio presentation of "New York Stories" on its Blu Ray edition operates within the constraints of a DTS-HD MA 2.0 lossless soundtrack, which, despite its limitations, manages a passable delivery of the film's auditory aspects. The soundtrack occasionally falters in terms of clarity, with certain elements coming across as slightly muddled, particularly when it comes to reproducing the high-volume background music from Lionel's studio or aiming for a distinct sharpness in scenes requiring it. However, there are moments where the audio finds its footing, offering bursts of engagement through well-executed directional sounds. For instance, the stark rumble of a plane in the initial segment and Steve Buscemi's monologue demonstrate how effectively the front speakers are utilized, creating a level of immersion that sporadically elevates the overall auditory experience.

In the Zoë episode, the opening song benefits from a noticeable vigor, adding a welcome depth to the audio landscape. Meanwhile, Woody Allen's segment, characterized predominantly by dialogue and understated supporting audio elements, is handled with a degree of finesse, ensuring that spoken words are conveyed clearly and without unnecessary embellishment. This demonstrates a tailored approach to audio mixing that respects the narrative's demands, although it doesn't quite escape the fundamental blandness that pervades the entirety of the soundtrack's presentation.

Despite these shortcomings, Mill Creek's handling of the audio elements on this Blu Ray release is commendable given the material's inherent limitations. The soundtrack operates within a narrow bandwidth of expectation, seldom pushing the boundaries but consistently delivering an adequate, if unspectacular, audio experience. It’s clear that while the soundtrack won't be remembered for its dynamic range or auditory spectacle, it performs its role sufficiently, ensuring that the stories within "New York Stories" are heard, if not vividly experienced.

The extra section of the "New York Stories" Blu-ray edition might seem underwhelming at first glance, offering only the original theatrical trailer as its sole extra. However, this inclusion is a nod to the purists and cinephiles who appreciate having access to such archival materials. Presented in 480p and running for a concise 3 minutes and 13 seconds, the trailer provides a distilled essence of the film's atmosphere, setting expectations for new viewers while invoking nostalgia in those who have seen the movie upon its original release. Despite the simplicity of the extras menu, this singular feature serves as a bridge connecting the film's historical context with contemporary audiences, seamlessly blending the past with the present.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: Original trailer of "New York Stories".

New York Stories" is an anthology film that brings together the cinematic talents of Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola to deliver three distinct narratives, each capturing a unique essence of New York life. The film serves as a canvas, showcasing the vibrancy, complexity, and sheer dynamism of the city through stories that range from the profoundly personal to the whimsically absurd. Scorsese's "Life Lessons," starring Nick Nolte as a conflicted artist, delves into the turmoil and passion of the creative process, juxtaposing personal ambition against the need for connection. This segment is noted for its robust storytelling and compelling performances, particularly Nolte's portrayal of a man ensnared by his own desires and aspirations.

Coppola's "Life Without Zoë" offers a lighter, albeit less cohesive, journey through the eyes of a young sophisticate navigating the complexities of an affluent but fragmented existence. This segment, while visually engaging and peppered with charming moments, struggles to find its footing, offering a narrative that feels more exploratory than fully realized. It serves as an interesting diversion between its more impactful counterparts, providing a glimpse into the fantastical life of its titular character but failing to deliver the dramatic or emotional resonance found in the other stories.

The anthology concludes with Allen's "Oedipus Wrecks," a quintessentially Allen-esque exploration of neurosis, maternal relationships, and existential dread, all served with a side of comedic relief. The segment brilliantly captures the intricate dance between love, frustration, and resignation that characterizes familial bonds. Allen’s storytelling is at its peak here, masterfully blending humor with deeper philosophical inquiries into destiny and personal fulfillment. His ability to weave such complex themes into a narrative that is both light-hearted and deeply introspective speaks volumes of his craft as a filmmaker. Across these three segments, "New York Stories" stands as a testament to the city's endless capacity to inspire storytelling that is as diverse and multifaceted as New York itself.

The Blu-ray release of "New York Stories" brings together a trimvirate of directing titans – Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola – offering a cinematic tour de force that is as compelling as it is varied. For those seeking an entry point into the oeuvres of these renowned filmmakers, this anthology serves as a perfect appetizer. Particularly, the segment directed by Woody Allen stands out as quintessentially Allen, brimming with the neurotic charm and wit that define his body of work, making it indispensable for his aficionados. However, when it comes to the technical aspects of this release, the Blu-ray presentation delivers only a satisfactory performance. The visual and auditory quality is deemed fair, suggesting that while the filmic content is rich, there's a noticeable gap in delivering a home viewing experience that matches the directors' vision fully.

Moreover, the supplementary materials provided with this Blu-ray are sparse, with only a trailer included. This lack of additional content might be disappointing for those who crave deeper insights into the making of "New York Stories" or seek further engagement with the directors' creative processes. Nonetheless, the affordability of this collection – acquiring works by Allen, Scorsese, and Coppola at roughly $2-$3 per director – presents an unbeatable value that may well compensate for the bare-bones presentation.

In conclusion, while the Blu-ray release of "New York Stories" might not dazzinate in terms of video and audio quality, nor does it offer a rich array of extras, its intrinsic value lies in the accessibility and affordability of seminal works by three of Hollywood's most esteemed directors. It's an essential acquisition for cinephiles ready to delve into or expand their appreciation for Allen, Scorsese, and Coppola, despite its presentation limitations. Highly recommended for its content, if not for its form.