The Player Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray edition of "The Player" offers a moderately faithful 1080p/VC-1 transfer that preserves Jean Lépine's evocative and occasionally hazy cinematography. The film's sun-bleached exteriors, dimly lit interiors, and smoky LA nights are captured to authentically reflect the director’s intentions. Primaries don't necessarily pop, and the shadows are staunch and unforgiving, mirroring Altman's vision. Detail varies, largely hinging on the specific shots; some exhibit soft, diffuse edges while others provide clearer fine texture and definition.

However, tethered to an older master, the transfer is plagued by issues such as unsightly crush, mediocre delineation, minor ringing, telecine wobble, spiking noise, and occasional artifacting. Print blemishes are noticeable throughout, making it a somewhat unremarkable catalog presentation despite being respectable in effort. The 16:9 image—opened up slightly from the original 1.85:1 theatrical ratio—is bright and sunny, featuring fair detail and color accuracy reflective of early '90s aesthetics. The light film grain present sometimes appears noisy, though digital filtering seems minimal. Contrast levels appear tweaked, leading to minor black crush but not enough to significantly detract.

Overall, while "The Player" Blu-ray may not reach the high standards of Warner's other esteemed restorations, it remains a decent representation of Altman’s unique stylistic choices with acceptable overall video quality.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "The Player" relies on a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that inherits much from Robert Altman's original Ultra Stereo sound design. Overall, the mix demonstrates a subdued nature fitting the style and subject matter of the film. Dialogue, crucial in any Altman film, has variable quality, ranging from crisp and clear to hollow and tinny within the span of a scene, often marred by hiss and environmental noise, possibly more by artistic intention than technical flaw.

The soundfield remains predominantly front-heavy and somewhat two-dimensional, with Thomas Newman's score making sporadic use of the rear speakers for some musical envelopment. LFE output is inconsistent, ranging from weak to cumbersome. Although directionality and separation are at best adequate, this presentation marks an improvement over the previous 1997 DVD's murkier mix. The overall experience, while not without its shortcomings, retains the intricate sound layering characteristic of Altman’s work, albeit with limited enhancements in surround and bass fidelity.

The Blu-ray of "The Player" boasts a commendable array of special features from the original 1997 Platinum Series DVD. The highlight is a rigorously detailed audio commentary by director Robert Altman and writer Michael Tolkin, covering every scene with insights into the workings of Hollywood, screenplay development, and casting intricacies. Complementing this is the "One on One with Robert Altman" featurette, a slightly dated but informative interview focusing on the film's production aspects, including Altman's vision and stylistic choices. Additionally, the disc includes five unfinished deleted scenes featuring notable actor cameos and an amusing, narration-driven theatrical trailer. While some redundancy does exist between the commentary and interview segments, the extras provide a rich exploration of the film’s creative process.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: In-depth discussion by Robert Altman and Michael Tolkin.
• One on One with Robert Altman: EPK interview discussing film structure, casting, and scenes.
• Deleted Scenes: Five scenes highlighting additional celebrity cameos.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original trailer narrated by a well-known voice artist.

"The Player," Robert Altman’s 1992 return to the studio fray, offers a satirical dive into Hollywood's duality: the clash of artistic integrity versus the relentless pursuit of profit. Tim Robbins stars as Griffin Mill, a second-tier producer drowning in the deluge of screenplay pitches, finding his reign threatened by an ambitious rival, Larry Levy (Peter Gallagher). This unease is compounded by anonymous death threats from a scorned writer, leading Mill to murder the wrong man in his desperation. Mill's ensuing scramble to protect his career and stay ahead of the law, while ironically falling for his victim’s girlfriend, provides a darkly humorous exploration of Hollywood’s seedy underbelly.

Elevated by Michael Tolkin’s screenplay adapted from his 1988 novel, "The Player" thrives on its rich tapestry of cameos and industry references. Altman infuses the film with voyeuristic energy, blending reality and fantasy through a meticulously crafted eight-minute tracking shot and a series of single-camera guerrilla-style sequences. The film’s strength lies in its meta-narrative, where the trivialization of art in pursuit of commercial success becomes a character in itself. With razor-sharp jabs at Hollywood conventions, Altman paints a vivid portrayal of an industry obsessed with itself, depicting a culture where every conversation pivots around potential movie pitches. Cameos by luminaries like John Cusack and Burt Reynolds add layers of authenticity and playfulness to the film's narrative fabric.

Despite its significant contributions to cinema, "The Player" does exhibit some age. Its '90s sensibilities and the performances occasionally feel dated, lacking the punch that contemporary audiences might expect. Additionally, while its cynicism and clever dialogue shine, the thriller elements—such as the unconvincing red herring involving Lyle Lovett and the implausible romantic subplot—fall short. Nevertheless, with its layered satire and homage to filmmaking, "The Player" remains a compelling view into Hollywood's world, reflecting both timeless universal vices and specific industry insights from a pre-internet era.

Robert Altman's "The Player" continues to savvy satirical commentary on Hollywood's inner workings, delivering a compelling plot interwoven with dark comedy. However, this Blu-ray release leaves much to be desired from an audio-visual perspective. The video transfer, while a step up from the DVD version, does little to enhance the film's visual elements. It delivers a competent but unremarkable presentation, lacking the vibrancy or clarity one might expect from a contemporary Blu-ray disc. Additionally, the DTS-HD Master Audio track underwhelms, not capturing the full range of nuances that Altman’s film might demand.

On the extras front, the Blu-ray offers a modest package. While any added content is always appreciated by enthusiasts, there is nothing groundbreaking or previously unseen here. Standard featurettes and interviews do provide some context and background but lack the depth and innovation hoped for in such releases. The film's strengths remain in its storytelling and performances, despite the packaged supplements falling short of adding substantial value.

In conclusion, "The Player" may not be aging as gracefully as its stars, but it still pairs a shrewd industry satire with a tantalizing mystery. Unfortunately, its Blu-ray release wouldn't make it past Griffin Mill's secretary. Its video transfer elicits a shoulder-shrug, its DTS-HD Master Audio track disappoints, and its supplemental package, while appreciated, doesn't offer anything new. Its AV presentation trounces its dated DVD counterpart though, so whip out those wallets accordingly.