Gummo 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Criterion's release of "Gummo" on 4K UHD Blu-ray offers a meticulously crafted visual experience, leveraging the original elements to deliver an impressively detailed presentation. Supervised by Harmony Korine, the restoration utilizes a native 4K transfer, supplemented with Dolby Vision HDR, which augments both contrast and color precision significantly. The film's varied visual formats, captured by Jean-Yves Escoffier on 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, and early digital video, are accurately represented. While the grain and texture in the higher formats are sharply defined with minimal noise, the inherent characteristics of lower-resolution formats are preserved, providing authenticity without unnecessary digital correction.

This release is particularly notable for its attention to image stability and color reproduction. With no problematic digital interventions, the outdoor scenes exhibit lush, natural visuals with rich details, while darker indoor scenes benefit from well-balanced shadow detail through the Dolby Vision enhancements. The film maintains a consistent bitrate between 75-90 Mbps, strategically managing encoding to accommodate various footage resolutions seamlessly. The presentation remains fluid and sharp across both the 4K and 1080p Blu-ray formats, although the 4K version presents enhanced delineation and depth for superior visual heft.

While some muted color palettes might surprise first-time viewers due to their intentional stylistic choices, they perfectly encapsulate the film’s desired atmosphere—a harmonious blend of grit and authenticity. Criterion's HEVC 1.85:1 transfer profoundly revitalizes "Gummo," offering a visual depth previously unseen in earlier editions. This edition ensures that even the most intricate textures, from cluttered interiors to sprawling outdoor vistas, are vividly realized, enabling viewers to essentially rediscover the film in its highest fidelity to date.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Gummo" features a single English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. This configuration, while basic by contemporary standards, achieves a coherent presentation of the film's eclectic soundtrack. Although the dynamic diversity isn't as pronounced as it could be with a more modern 5.1 mix, the track effectively balances a variety of organic sounds, noises, and music. Dialogue clarity is a strongpoint, with narration and exchanges distinctly audible and comfortably set against the background audio elements.

The stereo presentation suffices in capturing the essence of the film's soundtrack, with the music presented as richly as the format allows. Despite operating within the constraints of a 2.0 surround track, the sound effects are well handled, providing a solid portrayal. Where the audio does falter slightly is during segments captured on 8mm or digital video, leading to somewhat thinner audio output. However, this doesn't detract significantly from the overall experience.

The disc impresses with its well-balanced source material, maintaining clarity between music and dialogue without apparent encoding issues. Music needle drops arrive with crisp clarity, complementing the immersive ambient noise that gently envelops the listener through surround channels. Thus, while not reaching the fullness of multi-channel mixes, this presentation offers clean, crisp dialogue and a thoughtfully balanced audio experience. Overall, it delivers a commendable auditory rendition faithful to the film's original intent.

The 4K UHD release of "Gummo" offers a thoughtfully curated collection of extras that enrich understanding of Harmony Korine’s seminal work. While the 4K disc itself lacks extras, the accompanying Blu-ray disc compensates with informative and entertaining content. Highlights include a new 12-minute interview where Korine reflects on his Tennessee upbringing and its influence on the film, presented without subtitles. A noteworthy conversation featuring Werner Herzog, recorded post a Telluride screening in 1997, provides compelling insights from a leading film supporter. Additionally, a "Split Screen" episode features John Pierson’s engaging dialogue with Korine, offering further perspectives on his creative process. Complementing these video features is a tantalizing remastered trailer by Mark Romanek. An illustrated leaflet penned by film critic Carlos Aguilar, along with insights from Hype Williams, adds further depth to this enigmatic narrative.

Extras included in this disc:

• Harmony Korine on Gummo: New interview detailing Korine's debut and personal influences.
• Werner Herzog and Harmony Korine: 1997 conversation exploring Korine's directorial perspectives.
• Split Screen: Projections: Harmony Korine: A dive into filmmaking with John Pierson from 2000.
• Trailer: A remastered vintage trailer by Mark Romanek.
• Leaflet: Illustrations and essays by Carlos Aguilar and Hype Williams.

Harmony Korine's "Gummo" on the 4K UHD Blu-ray from Criterion stands as a polarizing cinematic experience, best described as an eccentric portrayal of dejected rural America. This 1997 film intricately weaves a tapestry of mundane chaos in Xenia, Ohio, post-tornado, with non-linear narratives and experimental vignettes that capture raw and honest human interactions amidst decay. The film’s disjointed storytelling, employing non-actors, immerses viewers in a tapestry where cat killing for cash by Solomon and Tummler is as commonplace as glue-sniffing. The film’s peculiar charm lies in capturing the essence of forgotten characters like these, embedded with moments of grim beauty and unorthodox humanity—lending a unique vibrancy amidst prevailing despair.

Korine’s film resonates more as an art installation than a traditional narrative film, evoking both revulsion and admiration from its viewers. While the absence of political undertones distinguishes it from works like Godard’s "Weekend," it thrives in its stark portrayal of odd realities. Gummo has polarized critics and audiences alike, with some viewing it as an ineffective exploitation film, while others perceive it as groundbreaking cinema. Its provocative nature is evident through unsettling scenes like two skinhead brothers boxing or girls placing duct tape on their nipples, challenging viewers' perceptions of reality and fiction in film. The soundtrack too offers a cacophonous blend of Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Madonna, and obscure black metal tracks—acting as an additional layer to its chaotic energy.

Overall, "Gummo" exists beyond conventional film categories; as a debut feature, it's both disturbing and engaging. It remains a testament to Korine’s capability to encapsulate humanism within his provocative styles and continues to thrive as an avant-garde piece of cinema—a compelling divergence from mainstream depictions. This release on 4K UHD meticulously preserves its visceral essence, offering both dedicated followers and casual observers a lens into Korine's vision of Americana in disarray.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Gummo" by The Criterion Collection is a significant achievement in film restoration, offering a pristine 2160p presentation that markedly enhances the viewing experience. Harmony Korine's film, infamous for its bizarre and provocative narrative, benefits immensely from this visual upgrade. The painstakingly done 4K makeover captures the gritty, surreal atmosphere of the film, allowing audiences to delve deeper into its eccentricities with newfound clarity and detail. The Criterion's offering is both technically impressive and essential for collectors and aficionados of 90s independent cinema.

This release does more than just restore the visual integrity of "Gummo"; it enriches the overall appreciation of Korine's work through well-curated supplementary materials. These extras offer valuable insights into the film's production context, shedding light on Korine's unique creative process and the bizarre yet captivating world he has crafted. While "Gummo" itself remains divisive due to its avant-garde nature and disconcerting scenes—such as Solomon's peculiar spaghetti bath—the supplements included help provide a better understanding and appreciation for this idiosyncratic piece of art.

In conclusion, The Criterion Collection's 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Gummo" is a commendable release, superbly revitalizing a film that was already a conversation piece upon its original release. It's not only a must-have for fans of Korine and the era's indie films but also a valuable addition for any cinemaphile interested in challenging, unconventional storytelling. Its stunning restoration, paired with insightful extras, makes it highly recommended for those ready to engage with Korine’s surreal vision in its most refined form yet.