Slacker Blu-ray Review

Richard Linklater's "Slacker" makes its foray into the 4K UHD Blu-ray realm with a presentation that faithfully acknowledges its roots, presented in an unvarnished 1.33:1 aspect ratio and encoded with MPEG-4 AVC for a 1080p transfer. The integrity of its visual delivery has been diligently overseen by Linklater himself alongside cinematographer Lee Daniel, ensuring a harmonization of authentic representation and technical refinement. Originating from a 16mm interpositive, the transfer underwent meticulous restoration to eliminate thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, and other filmic blemishes using sophisticated restoration technologies like MTI's DRS, Pixel Farm's PFClean, and Image Systems' Phoenix. This effort yielded an image that remains true to its inherently gritty and texturally rich source material, demonstrating a balancing act between grain reduction and the preservation of the film's original atmospheric qualities.

Despite its commendable fidelity to the original film stock's appearance—featuring prominent film grain that oscillates in intensity corresponding with the 16mm (and occasionally 8mm) format's limitations—the Blu-ray presents an image that's both clear and vibrant, with colors that are solid yet show minor variations in stability. Light noise and occasional light banding do not detract significantly from the viewing experience, maintaining a level of rawness that suits the film’s aesthetic. However, scenes captured in differing formats, such as the pixelvision camera sequences and Super 8 footage, understandably diverge in quality, underscoring the film's eclectic visual texture. Blacks are described as strong though not entirely consistent, and while detail is adequate, there's an absence of sharpness that might have further accentuated textures.

The overall visual presentation marries the film’s intentionally varied visual styles with a level of technical proficiency that respects the source material’s essence and its historical context. While acknowledging minor imperfections such as flecks and slight inconsistencies in grain and black levels, these aspects are largely overshadowed by the transfer’s achievements. The colors, though slightly cooler than the original DVD release’s warmer palette, still effectively convey the essence of a hot Texas day, contributing to the film’s ambiance without undermining its narrative delivery. This Blu-ray transfer navigates the fine line between preserving the raw, organic qualities of "Slacker's" original presentation and offering a cleaned-up experience that respects modern viewing standards.

The audio presentation of "Slacker" on its 4K UHD Blu-ray release is encapsulated within a singular English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. This Criterion presentation benefits from a meticulous remastering process at 24-bit from the original soundtrack print, where manual efforts were taken to eliminate clicks, thumps, hiss, and hum with Pro Tools HD, while crackle was addressed through AudioCube's integrated workstation. Despite these restorative efforts and the absence of traditional stability issues such as background hiss or pops, the dynamic range remains notably constrained. This limitation is not entirely unexpected, given the film's guerrilla-style production and reliance on location sound recording within a constrained budget.

The audio track, though simplistic in its stereo setup, ensures clarity and stability in dialogue—a critical aspect considering "Slacker's" heavy reliance on conversational exchanges. Even against the backdrop of the film's 16mm (and occasional 8mm) visual grain, which introduces its own form of aesthetic noise, dialogues are crisp and easily intelligible. Music and ambient sounds operate within the narrow confines of the provided dynamics but are cleanly relayed, contributing appropriately to the film's atmosphere without overshadowing the verbal interactions. The remastering effort also showcases moments of subtle audial depth, such as nuanced sound effects that despite the overall limited dynamic intensity, enrich the auditory experience.

Optional English SDH subtitles are available, catering to a wider audience and ensuring inclusivity. While the audio track may not exhibit the expansive dynamic range typical of more lavishly produced features, it maintains a commendable clarity that supports the film's narrative flow. The efforts to preserve and present "Slacker" in its most authentic audible form are evident, reflecting a balance between technical limitations and artistic integrity.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray extras for "Slacker" present a comprehensive and immersive look into the making and legacy of Richard Linklater's seminal film. The array of special features provides a deep dive into its unconventional casting process, intriguing deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes content that captures the spirit of the era and the Austin, Texas setting. Notable is the inclusion of Linklater’s first feature film, offering an optional commentary that sheds light on his early creative process and connects directly to the themes explored in "Slacker." Furthermore, the original script gallery, anniversary screening footage, and trailers, including one for the documentary "Viva Les Amis," enrich the context around the film's production and its cultural impact. Overall, this collection serves not only as an archival treasure for cinephiles but also as a detailed educational resource on independent filmmaking techniques and the challenges of constructing a narrative outside the mainstream.

Extras included in this disc:

• No Longer/Not Yet: Digital images of original script pages.
• Showing Life: Includes a text-format statement from the casting director and cast interviews.
• Taco and a Half After Ten: Behind-the-scenes footage with Richard Linklater and crew.
• Ain't No Film in That Shit: Collection of deleted scenes and alternate takes.
• Trailer: Original Orion Classics trailer.
• ...End of Interview!: Footage from the ten-year anniversary screening.
• Viva Les Amis Trailer: Trailer for a documentary on a legendary Austin cafe.
• Woodshock: A 16mm short film by Linklater and Lee Daniel.
• It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books: Linklater’s first feature film, with optional audio commentary.
• Audio Commentary: Three separate commentaries featuring director, cast, and crew perspectives.

Richard Linklater's "Slacker," a seminal piece in the independent film movement of the early 1990s alongside classics like "Sex, Lies, and Videotape," "Clerks," and "Reservoir Dogs," emerges in a pristine 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation by Criterion. This significant film, shot on a modest budget of $23,000 and originally released in 1991, embraces an unconventional narrative structure that eschews traditional storytelling for a more fluid, vignette-based exploration of characters and ideas. Set over a single day in Austin, Texas, "Slacker" captures the essence of a generation, offering a collage of approximately 100 individuals whose lives briefly intersect. Linklater’s own appearance as the initial character sets the tone for a film that is as much an exploration of philosophical meanderings and existential musings as it is a portrait of a diverse community rejecting societal norms. The decision to present these characters, identified not by names but by descriptors, underscores the film’s thematic focus on societal disconnection and the search for meaning amidst chaos.

The technical aspects of "Slacker's" 4K UHD Blu-ray release are noteworthy. Shot on 16mm to capture the raw, unfiltered essence of Austin's eclectic community, cinematographer Lee Daniel ensures that each frame feels both immediate and intimate, a testament to the film's grassroots production ethos. This Criterion release thoughtfully preserves the film's visual and auditory integrity, ensuring that the transition from film to digital maintains the original aesthetic. Interestingly, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2012, affirming its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance—a milestone that this release honors with its supplemental features, including deleted scenes, alternate takes, and insightful commentaries that provide further depth to Linklater's vision.

"Slacker" not only showcases Linklater’s pioneering indie spirit but also the vibrant counterculture of early-'90s Austin—a milieu of dreamers, rebels, and eccentrics. The film’s structural innovation—a series of interconnected vignettes that shift focus from one character to another as paths cross—is both its most distinctive feature and, for some, its most divisive. While this narrative approach may challenge traditional cinematic expectations, it profoundly captures the zeitgeist of Generation X. However, it’s worth noting that the authenticity and realistic portrayal of this societal microcosm sometimes come at the cost of engagement; not all conversations resonate beyond their immediate context. Despite this, Criterion's Blu-ray incarnation of "Slacker" serves as a critical archival document, ensuring that this pivotal work continues to inspire and provoke discussion among cinephiles and filmmakers alike.

Richard Linklater's "Slacker" captures the essence of a bygone era in Austin, TX, presenting an evocative exploration of its culture and locations, such as the now-legendary Les Amis café. This film is a must-watch for those not familiar with Linklater's early work, offering a unique style and narrative approach that stands out in the realm of indie cinema. The Criterion Collection’s 4K UHD Blu-ray edition encapsulates this spirit beautifully, though it does come with certain considerations regarding special features. Despite the high recommendation for the film itself and the quality of the presentation, there's a notable omission of several original DVD extras including "The Roadmap" with its deleted scenes and alternate takes, a stills gallery, a culture essay by Linklater, and information about the Austin Film Society.

On the technical front, the transfer to 4K UHD Blu-ray has been handled with care, ensuring that "Slacker" presents as impressively today as it did upon its original release. Fans might be disappointed by the absence of certain DVD features, attributed possibly to keeping the release to a single disc for economic reasons. However, the main video-based extras that have been included are comprehensive, offering valuable insights into the film and its production. This strategic selection targets maintaining a balance between new potential fans and those looking to revisit the film with a fresh perspective through high-definition clarity.

In conclusion, while "Slacker" may not appeal universally due to its unconventional narrative structure, it remains an essential piece of cinematic history for enthusiasts of non-traditional storytelling and admirers of Richard Linklater's work. The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-ray serves as a worthy upgrade or introduction to this iconic film, despite some missing elements from previous editions. Its presentation quality and inclusion of significant extras furnish a compelling reason for dedicated fans and newcomers alike to add this release to their collections.