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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (January 2019): Indicator have the same 4K restoration (see below) but their transfer it more robust with a max'ed out bitrate and the image is that much superior. It supports the grain structure to a higher degree although larger systems, or those with very discerning eyes, will note the benefit.

The UK edition has gone linear PCM (24-bit) and my ears could distinguish no differences. The Indicator audio transfer may have a pure high-end (less brittle) but more passive bass. I could very well be incorrect. The music of the film is thanks to Severn Darden, Chabuca Granda, Kris Kristofferson, and John Buck Wilkin. It offers both English (for non-English language) or English (SDH) throughout as subtitle options on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

Supplements is where most people will see the Indicator advancement over its US counterpart. Duplicated (see descriptions below) are the short Hopper Introduction, the 'Product Reel' and trailers, the 3/4 hour Scene Missing documentary by Alex Cox, the 1/2 1986 Some Kind of Genius - Paul Joyce's documentary portrait of Dennis Hopper, the new (2018) Postcards from Peru interviews with members of the original Peruvian cast and crew running 1/2 hour. Also repeated are the 6-minute The Dick Cavett Show (1971) interview with Hopper and the 3-minute split-screen Restoration Demo. NEW are a 1.5 hour audio interview with Dennis Hopper from 1990 running to the film. It is part of the Guardian Lecture series recording of the filmmaker and actor in conversation with Derek Malcolm at London's National Film Theatre. Also included are an 10-minutes of 8MM on-set footage (silent) and an image gallery of on-set and promotional photography. This limited edition has an exclusive 80-page book that contains extensively researched new writing by filmmaker Alex Cox, rare archival photography, and full film credits and the package has a double sided poster.

Indicator prove they are the best Blu-ray production company in Europe with their extensive package that bests the Arbelos Films (which is a fine release!) marginally in the area of the image and substantially in the extras with the Guardian Lecture inclusion and 80-page book.

This is a unique and fascinating part of film history and it's release is somewhat of a revelation. The Indicator is the Blu-ray to own. it's the definitive digital edition for The Last Movie. Don't hesitate.

***

Dennis Hopper's forgotten masterwork, "The Last Movie" comes to us on Blu-ray via Arbelos Films. An included booklet tells us that the "...new digital transfer was scanned in 4K from the 35mm original camera negative by L'Immagine Ritrovata. Other elements were used in a small number of shots where the original negative was not available or lost. Countless instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, tears, flicker, and warps were digitally restored by Arbelos using Digital Vision's Phoenix. As much as possible the film's natural grain has been left untouched. A 35mm print from 2007, supervised by director Dennis Hopper and cinematographer László Kovács, was screened and used as reference for the restoration color grade." The film is housed on a single-layered Blu-ray with supportive bitrate. This transfer is really impressive for the abundance of detail in the image, and the nice amount of grain. Colors also look fairly represented. There are hardly any noticible instances of damage and yet there isn't any sign of digitization. A great transfer thanks to Arbelos and L'Immagine Ritrovata.

Arbelos has not only done a great job restoring the image, as per the booklet, "...the original monaural soundtrack was restored and remastered by Audio Mechanics from the original 35mm elements." The 24-bit 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track sounds fantastic, with the various sounds of crowds not overshadowing the score or main dialogue. There are optional English subtitles for this Region-A Blu-ray.

There are a ton of extras worth diving into on this Blu-ray from Arbelos. First off we get an introduction to the film by the late actor/director, Dennis Hopper. "Scene Missing" is a brand new 48-minute documentary on "The Last Movie", Hopper's long lost film. There are so many people from various aspects of the film's production that are interviewed here, from actors to "henchmen". The documentary was produced by the awesome Alex Cox (a radical director in his own right). "Postcards from Peru" is a another brand new documentary. This 31-minute piece talks with people that were somehow involved in the making of "The Last Movie", even background performers. "Some Kind of Genius" is a 29-minute documentary from 1987. This film explores the life and work of Dennis Hopper, with Hopper himself revealing some interesting behind-the-scenes information. "The Dick Cavett Show" is an excerpt from said TV program, featuring an interview with Hopper. The actor is in full biker-hippie mode and his mere appearance beside Cavett's buttoned-up suited look is quite the image. "Product Reel" is a minute-long sequence featuring a slide-show of promotional articles and features. The film's original trailer is included on this Blu-ray, as is the 4k restoration trailer. "Restoration Demo" is 3-minute extra showing just how much work went into the 4k restoration of "The Last Movie". Also included in this package is a 40-page booklet with new essays by Julie Adams, Jessica Hundley and Mike Plante plus a 1971 Evergreen Review report from the set of the film by L.M. Kit Carson.

Hopper's chaotic masterpiece is finally given the release it deserves thanks to newcomers Arbelos. The transfer is excellent and the extras illuminating. Buy this Blu-ray! 

Colin Zavitz