Le Samouraï Blu-ray Review

Jean-Pierre Melville's "Le Samourai" on Blu-ray, presented by Criterion, showcases a valiant effort in digital restoration and transfer fidelity. Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the film's 1080p transfer, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, stems from a combination of the 35mm original camera negative and a 35mm interpositive. This meticulous restoration, facilitated by renowned entities including VDM Paris and supervised by Jean-Marc Moreau, aimed to rectify thousands of instances of damage through advanced digital tools such as MTI Film's DRS and Digital Vision's Phoenix, ensuring integrity in image clarity and stability. The restoration's commitment to preserving the film's authenticity is evident in the avoidance of the problematic French master from Pathe, favoring a more faithful, albeit challenging, approach to digital restoration.

The video quality of this Blu-ray edition is commendable but exhibits occasional variability in visual consistency. Daylight scenes reveal a satisfying clarity, vibrant colors, and nuanced details that momentarily immerse one into 1967 Paris. Contrastingly, nighttime scenes delineate a discernible graininess and variable depth levels, signaling potential room for improvement in future restorations. Despite these challenges, the overall absence of digital processing artifacts – such as edge halos or excessive noise reduction – contributes to a viewing experience that feels authentically cinematic, respecting Melville’s original vision while navigating the limitations of the source materials.

Criterion's effort on this release conveys a judicious balance between technological restoration and artistic preservation. While some may note the occasional fluctuation in image quality, particularly in scenes where grain and dim colors predominate, it's clear that an earnest endeavor was made to present "Le Samourai" in the best possible light without succumbing to overzealous digital correction. The mastery in color grading, avoidance of digital anomalies, and a steadfast commitment to providing an organic visual experience affirm Criterion's dedication to honoring the film’s aesthetic essence and historical significance.

The audio presentation of "Le Samouraï" on its Blu-ray release features an uncompressed French LPCM 1.0 track, accompanied by optional English subtitles for those who require them. This mono track, while seemingly modest by modern standards, proves itself to be exceptionally robust and nuanced, particularly for a film from the 1967 era. The lossless audio maintains a stable and clean output throughout the feature, handling the film's dynamic range—from its pronounced silences to the subtle ambient noises of the Parisian backdrop—with admirable precision. Notably, the clarity and fidelity of everyday sounds, such as the rumble of car engines, which provide a hearty bass, and the atmospheric bustle of city streets, are remarkably preserved, offering a layered auditory experience even within its single-channel limitation.

Dialogue and music, especially the jazz pieces emanating from the nightclub scenes, are rendered with great clarity, allowing the expressive performances of the French cast to shine through unfettered. Despite being a mono track, the sound mix is surprisingly lively and engaging, providing a depth to the audio that belies its single-channel origin. However, it's worth noting that gunshots within the film, though infrequent, come across as somewhat harsh—a minor critique that can be attributed to the technological limitations of the time rather than to the restoration process.

Overall, this LPCM 1.0 track does a commendable job at presenting "Le Samouraï" in a manner that's both authentic to its period and satisfying to contemporary audiences. The track's ability to convey a wide array of sounds with precision—from the whisper-quiet moments of tension to the more dynamic sequences filled with music and ambient city sounds—demonstrates a thoughtful balance of fidelity to the source material and the utilization of modern audio restoration techniques.

The Blu-ray release of "Le Samouraï" enriches the viewing experience with a selection of extras that delve deeply into the making of this iconic film, Jean-Pierre Melville's style, and his collaborations. Particularly insightful are the detailed archival interviews in "Authors on Melville," featuring critic Rui Nogueira and historian Ginette Vincendeau, which explore Melville's unique filmmaking techniques, influences, and his relationships with key actors like Alain Delon. The "The Lineup" segment offers a collection of interviews providing personal insights from Melville himself and his cast, while "Melville-Delon: d'honneur et de nuit" adds depth to the director-actor relationship and production anecdotes. Despite the relatively modest quantity of bonus material, each piece presents a significant exploration into Melville's method, the thematic undercurrents of isolation and existentialism in "Le Samouraï," and its influence on cinema. The package is rounded off with an engaging original trailer and a comprehensive booklet that includes scholarly essays and appreciations, making it essential for aficionados of French cinema and Melville's oeuvre.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: Original French trailer for Le Samourai, with optional English subtitles.
• Authors on Melville: Archival interviews with critics and historians discussing Jean-Pierre Melville's career, style, and "Le Samouraï."
• The Lineup: A collection of clips from interviews with Jean-Pierre Melville, Alain Delon, and others, discussing the film's production.
• Melville-Delon: d'honneur et de nuit: A documentary focusing on the professional relationship between Jean-Pierre Melville and Alain Delon.
• Booklet: A 30-page illustrated booklet with essays and appreciations.

Jean-Pierre Melville's "Le Samouraï," a film that cements its place in the annals of gangster cinema, has received a Blu-ray presentation that not only dignifies its legacy but also accentuates the quintessence of its cool austerity. This Criterion release is embedded with substantial features that enrich the viewing experience, notably a cache of archival interviews and a comprehensive illustrated booklet that offers insights from celebrated personalities like John Woo and film scholar David Thomson. The film's technical presentation honors its stylistic finesse, with impeccable French audio and optional English subtitles ensuring accessibility for a global audience.

At the core of "Le Samouraï's" allure is Alain Delon's portrayal of Jef Costello, a consummate professional whose methodical precision and stoic elegance render him a singular figure in the genre landscape. The film meticulously crafts its narrative, favoring a deliberate pace over verbose exposition, thereby endowing its protagonist with an enigmatic aura. Melville's direction eschews conventional gangster tropes, opting instead for a narrative steeped in existential solitude and an unwavering adherence to a personal code of conduct. This narrative choice extends to the visual storytelling, as the film utilizes the Parisian milieu to contrast the isolation of Costello's existence against the city's vibrant energy.

"Le Samouraï" stands as a deconstruction of genre archetypes, drawing inspiration from classic film noir and Japanese cinema, filtered through Melville's distinct perspective. Its influence permeates the fabric of subsequent crime thrillers, leaving an indelible mark on the genre. The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray edition serves as a testament to the film's enduring impact, offering a meticulously curated package that both venerates its stylistic accomplishments and provides comprehensive insights into its creation. Through this release, "Le Samouraï" not only retains its celebrated status among cinephiles but also continues to engage audiences with its timeless exploration of honor, isolation, and the inexorable march towards one's destiny.

Jean-Pierre Melville's "Le Samouraï," starring the iconic Alain Delon, is a cornerstone of French cinema that has, fortunately, been preserved and presented in a manner befitting its status, thanks to the Criterion Collection. While a previous 4K restoration by StudioCanal of Delon's "Purple Noon" had been less than satisfactory, Criterion has once again stepped up to ensure that another of Melville’s classics received the treatment it deserved. Despite the availability of a disappointing restoration by Pathe in France, Criterion's release has proven to be a beacon of hope, offering an exceptional viewing experience that might have otherwise been compromised. It is clear that the ideal version of "Le Samouraï" would have benefited from a proper 4K restoration. However, given the circumstances, this release feels like a significant boon for film aficionados and stands as a testament to Criterion's commitment to film preservation.

The Blu-ray edition released to commemorate the film’s 50th anniversary not only affirms the movie's enduring impact on the crime genre but also showcases Criterion's high standards for video and audio quality. The inclusion of intriguing bonus features further enriches the overall package, making this release an indispensable addition to any film collector's library. The technical aspects have been handled with care, ensuring that every frame of Melville’s meticulously crafted noir masterpiece is presented with the clarity and depth it commands.

In conclusion, Criterion’s Blu-ray release of "Le Samouraï" is a pivotal achievement in film preservation and presentation. While the lack of a new 4K restoration is noted, the quality of the transfer and the curated extras included make this edition a must-have. It serves as both a tribute to Melville's genius and a gift to cinema lovers, preserving the film’s legacy for future generations to appreciate. Fans of Alain Delon and French cinema, as well as connoisseurs of the crime genre, will find this release to be very highly recommended, embodying Criterion’s usual blend of high-quality restoration and respect for cinematic history.