Trans-Europ-Express (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

France/1967
Directed By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Written By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Marie-France Pisier
Black & White/94 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
Jean-Louis Trintignant stars in this neo-noir film that plays out almost as a parody and certainly a love letter to the Film Noir genre from director Alain Robbe-Grillet. While aboard a train from Paris to Antwerp a filmmaking team begins to work on the plot of an upcoming crime movie. As they come up with the details to the story we see it acted out as the main meat and potatoes of TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS (also the name of the movie within the movie). The story pertains to a drug smuggler named Elias (Trintignant) who is being seduced by a woman named Eva (Pisier) who may or may not be working for a rival drug ring. As the filmmaking team changes details around in their story, Elias' world becomes confusing with enemies becoming friends, friends becoming enemies, leads disappearing and seemingly everything he knows being turned on its head.

TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS is a well made thriller that could easily be seen as being to Film Noirs what Scream is to the slasher film. It's self-referential style pokes around at the genre while still playing out as a fulfilling enough crime tale. Alain Robbe-Grillet's direction is tight, with a bit of flare and a eye for visual appeal. Trintignant is fantastic in the lead role and is quickly becoming an actor who I greatly admire as I become more familiar with his work. Marie-France Pisier is lovely and easy on the eyes as Eva, who plays her seductress role to a T. She manages to tell a story with her eyes alone and the S&M moments are quite alluring. Robbe-Grillet manages to make TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS both sexy and enthralling while being a bit witty as well.

The Audio & Video
The Redemption Films line from Kino has released some great Blu-rays to date and TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS is yet another. The beautiful black and white cinematography looks natural and film-like, retaining a suitable amount of grain in the 1.66:1 widescreen transfer, taken from 35mm elements. Black levels are deep while white levels never get too hot. This is an exceptional looking disc. The French audio track is presented with English subtitles and is also great. There is no background noise or any other annoyances. It is a crisp and clean sounding track. 

The Extras
 The main extra on the disc is a 31 minute interview with the director. It accompanies a set of trailers for other Robbe-Grillet films and a newly created promotional short.

The Bottom Line
If you're a fan of the film noir, European cinema of the 60s or just good Blu-ray presentations you should absolutely grab TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS.

TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS is available HERE

The Candidate / Johnny Gunman (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome

USA/1964, 1957
Directed By:
Written By:
Starring:
Black & White/151 Minutes/Not Rated

The Films
THE CANDIDATE surrounds an up and coming politician running for senate and his sexual relationships along the way. Starting with a beautiful blond he meets working in a hotel who he takes on as his new secretary to the woman that he impregnates and arranges the abortion. There are court room proceedings, some laughs and even a home made sex tape.

THE CANDIDATE features a simple story and a simple presentation but the attractive girls, likable characters and timeless story of politicians that can't keep it in their pants makes this one hard to turn away from. It ends up being quite a bit more entertaining than the simple synopsis would lead you to believe.

JOHNNY GUNMAN is a noir type thriller about a pair of lifelong friends who look at each other as brothers who are feuding over mob territory now that the boss, their father, has died. Stuck between their greed, their women, their love for each other and their loyalty this is a quick moving piece that boils down to a knife fight in the streets they played in as kids. This film is a quick and easy noir to enjoy.

The Audio & Video
The first feature on this DVD from Vinegar Syndrome is THE CANDIDATE, presented in an attractive 1.85:1 widescreen print. There is a small amount of scratches through the print but otherwise the source material used was in great condition and the transfer here shows it. There is nice shadow detail and deep black levels. The audio on THE CANDIDATE is also good with intermittent crackling in the background but never becoming a distraction. 

JOHNNY GUNMAN has a nice 1.33:1 full frame transfer from quality source materials. The print has similar high qualities to the first feature on this set with even less print damage while the audio also performs highly with little to complain about. 

The Extras
The packaging features reversible cover art for whichever feature you prefer, other wise it is bare bones. 

 
The Bottom Line
The solid pairing of films and their good condition and presentation make up for the lack of special features enough to warrant a recommendation. 

THE CANDIDATE and JOHNNY GUNMAN double feature is available HERE

The Hitch-Hiker (Blu-ray Review) - Kino

USA/1953
Directed By: Ida Lupino
Written By: Collier Young, Ida Lupino, Robert L. Joseph, Daniel Mainwaring
Starring: Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, William Talman
Black & White/71 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
A pair of friends set out on a camping trip when they pick up a hitch-hiker named Emmett Myers, a despicable man on the run from the law and responsible for a double murder. Myers takes the pair captive and into Mexico in an effort to evade capture. What ensues is several days of hell for the men as they're held hostage and abused by the gun wielding maniac of a man. 

THE HITCH-HIKER is based on the murder spree of Billy Cook who killed 6 people over a 22 day span in 1950-51. This film is perhaps most recognized for being the only classic noir that is directed by a woman. The film is deserving of more than just "being made by a woman". This is a fairly cruel story and is certainly well made. The Mexican desert settings leave you feeling the sweat bead off your forehead and you desperately want our antagonists to escape and perhaps turn the table on Myers. 

The film is briskly paced and clocks in at only 71 minutes which make for a brief but dark look into the hell faced by a pair of friends trying to do a good deed. THE HITCH-HIKER isn't a top tier noir but it is well made, well acted and a thrilling ride. 

The Audio & Video
Kino Lorber brings THE HITCH-HIKER to Blu-ray disc courtesy of their Kino Classics line. The film has been beautifully restored from a 35mm elements archived at the Library of Congress. The full frame 1.33:1 transfer maintains the film's original aspect ratio and looks great. Black levels are deep while textures look great. The audio track is crisp and well mixed with the soundtrack. There is no background noise or pops which makes the A/V of this disc pretty damn good. 

The Extras
A still gallery and Kino trailers are the lone extras on the disc.

The Bottom Line
From the film to the technical presentation of this disc I couldn't help but recommend this one highly.

THE HITCH-HIKER is available HERE