Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Blowup

GB/IT (c) 1966 Bridge Films. For Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. P: Carlo Ponti. D: Michelangelo Antonioni. SC: Antonioni, Tonino Guerra - based on the short story "Final del juego" by Julio Cortázar (1964). DP: Carlo Di Palma. M: Herbie Hancock. ED: Frank Clarke.
    Starring David Hemmings (Thomas, Vanessa Redgrave (Jane), Sarah Miles (Patricia), Veruschka, Jane Birkin (models), The Yardbirds. 110'.
    A print check viewing of a new 2005 print from Technicolor Hollywood / Warner Bros. / Hollywood Classics. At Orion, Helsinki, 29 June 2005.

The 1960s classic still fascinates, also as a Zeitgeist piece. The sad news is that there are now no good prints of BLOWUP. Its brilliant cinematography can not be appreciated in cheapo prints which are far removed from the original. It's ironic that a classic called BLOWUP must be seen in prints which lack in detail and in depth. Colour is very important in this film, especially green, but now also the definition of colour is poor. All this because of no good internegatives and light and colour settings. We were about to buy this print but decided to send it back for review at Hollywood Classics.

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