The Driver Blu-ray - Ryan O'Neal

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Walter Hill
USA 1978

An audacious, skillful film noir by Walter Hill, so highly stylized that it's guaranteed to alienate 90 percent of its audience. There's no realism, no psychology, and very little plot in Hill's story of a deadly game between a professional getaway driver (Ryan O'Neal) and a detective obsessed with catching him (Bruce Dern). There is, however, a great deal of technically sophisticated and very imaginative filmmaking. The cross-references here are Howard Hawks, Robert Bresson, and Jean-Pierre Melville: a strange, heady, and quite effective range of influences.

Excerpt from Dave Kehr's capsule on the Chicago Reader located HERE.

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Theatrical Release: July 10th, 1978

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Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Cover

Distribution	20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC	Happinet Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:29:18	1:27:52.267
Video	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average BHappinetate: 4.29 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080i Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,724,028,600 bytes Feature: 23,953,238,016 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 28.98 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0) English (mono) French (mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1774 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1774 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1661 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1661 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 1624 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1624 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French, None	Japanese, none
Features	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Alternate Beginning DVD Release Date: June 7th, 2005 Keep Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Happinet Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 1080i Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,724,028,600 bytes Feature: 23,953,238,016 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 28.98 Mbps Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (3:21) + (2:12) Blu-ray Release Date: October 2nd, 2012 Black Blu-ray Case inside cardboard slipcase Chapters 25

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - October 12': No. This is a very poor - firstly it is transferred in 1080i (interlaced) and is filled with waxy DNR and softness. To add insult to injury - it is also cropped on all 4 edges. You're the one in the driver's seat here so 'steer clear' of this Japanese Blu-ray...

***

ON THE DVD: Walter Hill is a good director and this is a damn good crime/thriller film. The image on the 20th Century Fox DVD is excellent. Tight, anamorphic and great contrast. No manipulations that I could see. The stereo audio is consistent if unremarkable. The extra feature is an alternate beginning to the film running a little over 3:00 minutes. Value for $'s this is a great buy. out of