The Age of Innocence Blu-ray Review

Criterion brings Martin Scorsese's "The Age of Innocence" to UK Blu-ray with an exceptional 1080p/AVC-encoded High Definition video presentation, preserving the film’s original 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Sourced from a new 4K scan of the original 35mm negative and sanctioned by both Scorsese and editor Thelma Schoonmaker, the video transfer benefits tremendously from this meticulous remastering. The color grading, completed at Sony Colorworks, achieves a vibrant and authentic replication of the film's lavish visuals. This 4K restoration ensures impressive clarity while maintaining a natural, stable grain structure, resulting in an image clean of any debris or damage.

The highly detailed visuals ardently capture late 19th-century New York high society, producing staggering scenes teeming with intricate period decor. Rich mahogany browns and deep black levels dominate the color scheme, offering a lush visual experience. However, there are minor issues with black levels—the presentation occasionally exhibits crushed blacks, slightly diminishing nuanced details in certain scenes. Still, these instances are minimal and do not detract significantly from the overall image quality.

Grain is well-exposed and resolved, providing fluidity that enhances the viewing experience on larger screens. Rigorous digital restoration has virtually eliminated age-related imperfections, ensuring a stable image throughout the film. Overall, Criterion’s release sets a high standard in Blu-ray presentation, delivering a visual feast that remains true to Scorsese’s opulent period piece.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack for "The Age of Innocence" Blu-ray offers a robust aural experience, remastered from the original 6-track mix. The audio track is refined in accordance with period sensibilities, while also providing an energetic soundscape that aligns well with the director's dynamic style. Dialogue reproduction across the frontal array is finely tuned, ensuring clarity and precision. Sound effects, though minimal, effectively enhance scenes with lifelike audio elements such as horse clops and bustling streets, creating a welcoming ambient backdrop. The well-curated score, featuring classical and period-appropriate music, further accentuates the surround channels, offering a rich and immersive audio environment.

The Blu-ray release features only one audio option: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are available and appear within the image frame when activated. Importantly, there are no technical anomalies observed in this review. The audio presentation is exceptionally crisp, clear, and well-rounded. Despite its period setting, the original sound design of "The Age of Innocence" is notably impressive, maintaining dynamic nuances that are preserved seamlessly in the lossless track. The soundtrack boasts excellent balance, ample depth, range, and resonance, offering listeners a thoroughly engaging and authentic auditory experience.

The extras on the Blu-ray of "The Age of Innocence" by Criterion provide an in-depth look into the making of the film through a series of new and archival interviews with key crew members. The disc features a compelling new interview with director Martin Scorsese discussing his inspirations and influences, followed by screenwriter Jay Cocks elaborating on the adaptation process of Edith Wharton's novel. Production designer Dante Ferretti and costume designer Gabriella Pescucci provide insights into their design processes and collaborations with Scorsese. The package is rounded off with an archival documentary, "Innocence and Experience," showcasing behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews, as well as the original theatrical trailer and an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by Geoffrey O'Brien.

Extras included in this disc:

• Martin Scorsese: Discusses inspirations and production history.
• Jay Cocks: Talks about themes from the novel and adaptation process.
• Dante Ferretti: Describes the design process and collaboration.
• Gabriella Pescucci: Comments on costume design and production insights.
• Innocence and Experience: Archival documentary on film’s making.
• Trailer: Original U.S. trailer.
• Booklet: Illustrated leaflet with an essay by Geoffrey O'Brien.

In Martin Scorsese's 1993 adaptation of Edith Wharton’s "The Age of Innocence," the director transports audiences to the Gilded Age of New York, portraying an opulent and meticulously detailed high society. The film deftly captures the tragic love story between Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer), set against the rigid societal expectations of the time. Day-Lewis masterfully embodies the restrained nature of his character, whose life is convoluted by impossible societal desires and obligations. Pfeiffer shines as Olenska, exuding elegance and complexity, supported by Winona Ryder's purposefully vacuous portrayal of May Welland. This intricate depiction sets the stage for an emotionally charged narrative that marries personal turmoil with broader societal critique.

Scorsese’s faithful adaptation is enhanced by visual and narrative choices that lend a unique cinematic dimension to Wharton's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The director structures the film akin to a personal confession, imbuing it with a somber tone that underscores the doomed relationship at its core. The grandiosity and hypocrisy of New York’s elite are vividly portrayed, creating a poignant backdrop that amplifies the protagonists’ emotional struggles. The film is not just about personal heartbreak; it also encapsulates the broader tragedy of societal constraints and expectations.

The film’s technical accomplishments are commendable, particularly Gabriella Pescucci’s Oscar-winning costume design which meticulously captures the period's aesthetic. While the principal cast delivers stellar performances that deserved wider recognition, the film's editing occasionally falters, with some stage transitions and narration feeling less refined. Despite these minor shortcomings, "The Age of Innocence" stands as a lavish, compelling piece of cinema, reflective of Scorsese’s versatile directorial prowess.

Martin Scorsese's 1993 period drama, "The Age of Innocence," serves as a striking departure from his typically gritty oeuvre, delving into a richly detailed world of 19th-century opulence and societal constraints. Rooted in Scorsese's profound appreciation for classic European cinema, the film exudes an exquisite visual and narrative sophistication reminiscent of the works of Luchino Visconti and Max Ophüls. Now, the Criterion Collection's UK Blu-ray release enhances this masterpiece with a newly remastered 4K restoration, ensuring the film's lush cinematography and intricate period textures are beautifully preserved and presented in high-definition.

This Blu-ray edition is noteworthy not just for its meticulous restoration but also for its comprehensive array of supplementary materials. The selection includes new interviews with key crew members, providing deeper insights into the creative process behind this cinematic gem. Highlights include director Martin Scorsese's own reflections, which underline his devotion to the source material and his intent to evoke the grandiosity of classic period films. The audio quality benefits from similar attention to detail, offering a clear and immersive experience that complements the film’s story-telling prowess.

In conclusion, Criterion's UK Blu-ray release of "The Age of Innocence" is a quintessential acquisition for aficionados of the film. The excellent video and audio remastering, coupled with a rich trove of new interviews, make it an indispensable package. This release not only enhances the viewing experience but also provides a fuller appreciation of Scorsese's meticulous craftsmanship and the film's enduring charm. Highly recommended.