Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Joan Micklin Silver and Producer Amy Robinson
• Isolated Score Track
• Original Theatrical Trailer (1:45)

• Liner notes by Julie Kirgo

Limited to 3,000 Copies!

Bitrate:

 

Description: In writer-director Joan Micklin Silver’s endearing adaptation of Ann Beattie’s celebrated novel, Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979), Charles (John Heard), a bored office worker, falls in love with Laura (Mary Beth Hurt) when she is separated from her husband, Ox (Mark Metcalf); when she returns to the appropriately named fellow, Charles makes it his life’s work to get her back, aided, abetted, and occasionally hindered by a sensational cast of eccentric friends and relatives, played by the likes of Peter Riegert, Kenneth McMillan, Nora Heflin, and the great Gloria Grahame.

***

Charles (John Heard) meets Laura (Mary Beth Hurt) in the the government office where they both work and is instantly smitten. Unfortunately, Laura is not completely unattached but merely separated from her husband. Charles optimistically pursues a relationship with her -- an endeavor made more difficult by his exasperating roommate, Sam (Peter Riegert), and his somewhat daft mother, Clara (Gloria Grahame). Charles and Laura fall in love nevertheless, but struggle with their friends and family.

 

 

The Film:

This Twilight Time Blu-ray is compared to the Criterion Blu-ray HERE

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

Chilly Scenes of Winter comes to Twilight Time Blu-ray in a single-layered, 1080P transfer with a supportive bitrate. The visuals are indicative of the later 70s, early 80s - reasonable but not overwhelming. It can look fairly thick, flat and a shade soft, not glossy, but this would be in-line with the production. It looks pretty consistent in-motion with no damage or speckles.  I see no evidence of manipulation or noise but there is no real depth. This Blu-ray has a solid enough transfer but the film probably can't look much crisper.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1965 kbps (24-bit) sounds clean with a few richer moments in pushing the film's modest requirements for the limited effects and depth. There is an unremarkable score credited to Ken Lauber (who had done mostly TV work). There are optional English subtitles (sample above) and my Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE.

Extras :

Twilight Time add an audio commentary with writer/director Joan Micklin Silver and producer Amy Robinson and it is revealing with, as you might expect, plenty of information on the story and production although I haven't finished listening to it. There is also the usual Isolated Score Track and an original theatrical trailer. The package has some liner notes by Julie Kirgo and is limited to 3,000 copies.

 

 

This Twilight Time Blu-ray is compared to the Criterion Blu-ray HERE

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Chilly Scenes of Winter is a realistic romance film with flawed characters and natural circumstances. The performances are adept and the film if pragmatic and grounded. I liked it, but it's no masterpiece - sort of an after-school special for adults. I was keen to see Gloria Grahame but she isn't in it very long.  The Twilight Time Blu-ray provides a decent a/v transfer for the film and further value with the commentary, isolated score, trailer and liner notes. For what the film is - this is a very good package of a sobering yet still entertaining slice of life. Recommended to the right crowd. 

Gary Tooze

March 1st, 2017