Female Trouble Blu-ray Review

Criterion's Blu-ray release of John Waters' "Female Trouble" is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1 with a 1080p transfer encoded using MPEG-4 AVC. This release features a meticulous restoration from the original 16mm reversal film, stored in a climate-controlled vault, and scanned at 16-bit 4K resolution using a Lasergraphics Director scanner. The transfer process included extensive manual cleaning to remove dirt, debris, scratches, splices, and warps, managed by MTI Film's DRS and Digital Vision's Phoenix for jitter, flicker, small dirt, grain, and noise. The color grading by Lee Kline at Criterion Post ensures an excellent range of solid primaries and nuanced tones that reflect the film’s period authenticity. Notably, the image stability is outstanding with no visible degraining or sharpening artifacts.

The transfer maintains the film’s distinct visual style, characterized by lighting inconsistencies and focus issues inherent to the original shoot's guerrilla filmmaking techniques. The 4K restoration effectively captures the authentic "trashy" aesthetic while revealing impressive detail in Divine's elaborate scar tissue makeup and intricate costume designs. Despite inherent grain and noise from the film stock, the colors are vibrant and vivid, particularly the bold primary hues. Black levels and contrast are generally strong, providing a three-dimensional effect where shot conditions allow. Overall, Criterion has delivered a beautifully restored visual presentation that respects the film’s original rough-hewn charm, free from age-related deterioration like splits, scratches, or speckling.

Overall, Criterion’s video presentation of "Female Trouble" is a testament to modern restoration techniques, offering an optimal balance between preserving the film’s gritty authenticity and enhancing its visual clarity. With fully removed debris and damage marks, viewers can appreciate the film’s unique visual narrative in a manner that remains true to John Waters’ original vision. This Blu-ray release not only meets but exceeds expectations for a film that was never designed to look pristine, making it a must-have for aficionados of Waters' transgressive cinema.

Criterion's Blu-ray debut of "Female Trouble" features a robust English LPCM 1.0 audio track, capturing the raw, unfiltered essence of John Waters' original sound design. This track preserves the authenticity of the film’s organic sounds and character interactions, with dialogue always remaining discernable despite the occasional dynamic fluctuations typical of lower-budget productions. The lack of post-production ADR work enhances the film's gritty charm, producing a naturalistic soundstage that reflects on-location audio capture quality. Importantly, the restoration process has eradicated any hiss, pops, or digital distortions, ensuring a clean listening experience.

The audio mix aligns perfectly with the visual clarity of the new 4K restoration from the film’s original 16mm A/B reversal negative. This aspect is crucial, as it maintains an enveloping auditory atmosphere enhanced by impeccable image quality. Every cacophony and musical selection carries a certain heft and remains sharply defined within its mono confines, making even distant shouts and chaotic sequences distinctly clear. The absence of audio dropouts and imperfections allows the original soundscape to shine, maintaining the film’s raw, unpolished spirit while benefiting from modern restoration techniques, thus delivering an engaging and authentic experience.

Criterion has curated an impressive array of extras for the Blu-ray release of "Female Trouble," ensuring a comprehensive dive into John Waters' cult classic. The bonus material spans from unseen trims and cut scenes to detailed interviews and rare on-set footage, delivering an extensive behind-the-scenes experience for aficionados. Noteworthy features include archival interviews and commentaries, providing rich historical context and insights into Waters' unique filmmaking process. Highlights like the animated commentary by Waters himself, along with new discussions delving into the film’s production and cultural impact, solidify this collection as indispensable for fans.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trims and Cuts Scenes: A compilation of various work prints and cut scenes unearthed from John Waters' attic.
• John Waters and Dennis Lim: A deep dive into "Female Trouble" and its legacy via a 2018 interview.
• Dreamlanders: Little Taffy: John Waters and Hilary Taylor discuss their experiences on set.
• Dreamlanders: Moran, Pearce, and Smith: Archival interviews from 1974 focusing on Waters’ working methods.
• Dreamlanders: Van Smith: An audio interview with the notable costume designer and makeup artist.
• On-Set Footage: Rare raw footage with commentary by John Waters.
• Crime and Beauty: Outtakes from "I Am Divine" featuring cast and crew discussions.
• Lady Divine: A 1975 archival roundtable with John Waters, Divine, Mink Stole, and David Lochary.
• Audio Commentary: Engaging track with John Waters from 2004 discussing various unique aspects of the film.
• Leaflet: An illustrated essay by film critic Ed Halter.

John Waters' "Female Trouble" (1974) is quintessentially grotesque, embodying the very essence of Waters' renowned Shock Comedy oeuvre. Featuring one of Divine's most notorious performances, Female Trouble unfolds as a ludicrously satirical crime drama that deconstructs female-driven melodramas. Waters' narrative technique relies heavily on his unorthodox cast, which includes Dreamlanders regulars like David Lochary, Mink Stole, and Edith Massey. The bizarre plot centers around Dawn Davenport (Divine), a rebellious teenager who descends into a life of crime and mayhem under the influence of demented fashion photographers who promise her stardom.

Technically speaking, Criterion's Blu-ray release is sourced from a new 4K restoration supervised by Waters himself, ensuring that the film's gritty visuals are presented with utmost fidelity. Despite an anarchic script reminiscent of a series of improvisational segments, the production maintains a coherent albeit chaotic structure. The high-definition transfer accentuates the raw, unpolished aesthetic that John Waters is known for, making the obscure antics and absurd scenes even more impactful.

For aficionados of Waters' unique style, Female Trouble may not be his most refined work, but it remains an engaging piece of underground cinema. Divine's performance — oscillating between hilarious and disturbing — commands each scene, elevating the film’s shock value. Supporting roles by Mink Stole and others inject additional layers of dark comedy, making this twisted morality play compelling for those with a taste for transgressive cinema. Whether revisiting or discovering it for the first time, Criterion’s meticulously restored edition ensures that "Female Trouble" continues to shock, amuse, and offend in pristine quality.

Criterion's Blu-ray release of John Waters' "Female Trouble" stands as an exemplary model of how cult classics should be treated in high-definition. Sourced from a stunning new 4K restoration supervised by Waters himself, this edition captures the film's wild, grotesque essence with unprecedented clarity and detail. The restoration enhances Divine’s tour-de-force performance, making the satire of 50s morality more vivid and impactful than ever before. Accompanied by a robust collection of both new and archival bonus features, this release offers fans and collectors an expansive look into the chaotic world of Waters.

While "Female Trouble" may not offer mainstream appeal, its controlled lunacy and biting social commentary ensure it remains essential viewing for aficionados of the bizarre and unconventional. Waters' brand of shock humor is evident throughout, which might divide viewers: it’s not a film designed for the casual watcher but rather for those who appreciate subversive cinema. The humor here is crass and raw, but it's also rich with satirical undertones that critique societal norms. Divine's audacious performance solidifies the film as a wickedly entertaining piece for those with specific cinematic tastes.

In conclusion, Criterion has delivered yet another impressive release that will undoubtedly satisfy Waters' dedicated fanbase. However, it’s crucial to note that this brand of humor is an acquired taste—casual viewers are strongly urged to rent first to gauge compatibility. For those already in tune with Waters’ outrageous filmmaking style, this Blu-ray is a must-own gem, showcasing "Female Trouble" in its most gloriously offensive form yet. Highly recommended for fans; newcomers should tread carefully by renting.