Drugstore Cowboy Blu-ray

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

directed by Gus van Sant
USA 1989

Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon) is the leader of a “family” of drug addicts consisting of his wife, Dianne (Kelly Lynch), and another couple who feed their habit by robbing drug stores as they travel across the country. After a tragedy befalls a member of his group, Bob decides he must leave his dysfunctional clan and go straight. Parting ways with his junkie past proves more difficult than expected when Bob is stalked by an old acquaintance looking to score drugs at any price.

***

Portland, Oregon, 1971. Bob Hughes is the charismatic leader of a peculiar quartet, formed by his wife, Dianne, and another couple, Rick and Nadine, who skillfully steal from drugstores and hospital medicine cabinets in order to appease their insatiable need for drugs. But neither fun nor luck last forever.

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 9th, 1989 - Toronto Film Festival

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Comparison:

Artisan Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM - Region 2 - PAL vs. Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Pave Borodin for all the DVD Screen Caps!

Box Cover
			Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Artisan Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC	MGM Region 2 - PAL	Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:41:15	1:37:27 (4% PAL speedup)	1:41:26.538
Video	Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.89 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.22 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 47,945,126,244 bytes Feature: 31,909,300,224 bytes Video Bitrate: 33.02 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Artisan DVD:
Bitrate MGM PAL DVD:
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)	English (Dolby Surround), DUBS: German (mono), French (mono), Spanish (mono)	LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Isolated Score: LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	None	English, German , French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Dutch, Portuguese or none	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Artisan Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - Edition Details: • Commentary with Gus van Sant and Matt Dillon • Making of Drugstore Cowboy (27:42) • Production Notes • Cast & Crew Information • Trailer DVD Release Date: April 24th, 2001 Keep case Chapters 35	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed Edition Details: • Trailer DVD Release Date: Sept 16th, 2002 Keep case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Imprint 1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 47,945,126,244 bytes Feature: 31,909,300,224 bytes Video Bitrate: 33.02 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Commentary with Gus van Sant and Matt Dillon • Vintage Making-of documentary (27:50) • New Visual essay by filmmaker Chris O’Neill (2021) (10:59) • New composer featurette (2021) (9:11) • Interview with Kelly Lynch (12:35) • Theatrical Trailer (0:30) • Isolated Music and Effects score Limited Edition slipcase on the first 2000 copies with unique artwork. Blu-ray Release Date: September 3rd, 2021 Transparent Blu-ray Case in LE slipcase Chapters 12

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (October 2021): Imprint have transferred Gus Van Sant's Drugstore Cowboy to Blu-ray. The 1080P is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The DVDs had colors all over the place from green hue to orange skin tones. Contrast is significantly superior (more pure whites, deeper black levels) and the film has a purposeful rough edge (very textured) to it that is supported far better by the Blu-ray transfer that is on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate (6X that of the weak PAL DVD.) It is rarely crisp but that is a function of the shooting style.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Imprint use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. Drugstore Cowboy has just a few aggressive moments - one gunshot - that come through with depth. The score was by Elliot Goldenthal (Heat, Interview With the Vampire, Pet Sematary, A Time To Kill, Public Enemies.) There is some other excellent music in the film, including For All We Know by Abbey Lincoln, Little Things by Bobby Goldsboro, Put a Little Love in Your Heart performed by Jackie DeShannon, I Am performed by Roky Erickson & Jack Johnson, Cherry Lips performed by The Robins and other music capturing the film's era and moods. There is also an isolated score track with effects. It all sounds fine in the uncompressed transfer. Imprint offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

Included on the Imprint Blu-ray is the 2001 commentary by Gus van Sant and Matt Dillon found on the Artisan DVD where they discuss the 'hat on the bed' superstition, the director of photography Robert Yeoman, the Elliot Goldenthal score - Gus heard his score in Pet Sematary. They relate that both their fathers were golfers who had played with each other independently of knowing them. The locations are talked about, Gus talks about this being his major feature with a star (Dillon), a lot of author James Fogle... it's good - very relaxed and they remember together certain production details. It's enjoyable hearing their thoughts of over 20-years ago. The Blu-ray also has the 1/2 hour Making-of documentary founds on the 2001 US DVD. There is also a new visual essay by filmmaker Chris O’Neill running about 11-minutes entitled 'Ahead of the Curve' - I loved his observations, There is a new featurette on composer Goldenthal, a dozen minute interview with Kelly Lynch called Diane's Addiction - she who had worked as a flight attendant after leaving college and a model for the Elite modeling agency before acting. Lastly is a theatrical trailer.

Gus Van Sant's Drugstore Cowboy is based on the autobiographical novel by James Fogle. Personally I am a huge fan of Van Sant's films (Mala Noche, Paranoid Park, My Own Private Idaho, Gerry etc.) and Drugstore Cowboy was the start of his unique brand of cinema. It is both highly memorable and very re-watchable. The Imprint Blu-ray is easily the best home theater a/v presentation - it has the valuable commentary, a new visual essay, interview and limited edition packaging. This is a keeper for me. Absolutely recommended!