Blu-ray Feature: The 10 Best Blu-rays of 2011

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Brian Tallerico’s Five Best Blu-rays of 2011

5. “Blue Velvet”

Blue Velvet
Photo credit: MGM

There are stories of lost footage in the history of cinema that are like holy grails for true movie nuts. The general assumption is that there is amazing cutting room floor footage out there sitting in a dank basement and we’ll never get to see it. Lost spider footage from “King Kong,” alternate cuts to “The Magnificent Ambersons,” the original ending to “The Shining,” entire movies from the ’20s and ’30s, etc. And one of the most apocryphal tales of editing lost to history was that of David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet.” Stories of flaming nipples and even a small part by Megan Mullally made the rounds and, lo and behold, the footage appeared on Blu-ray in 2011…and it’s fascinating. Not only has one of the best movies of the ’80s held up remarkably well (looking stunning with a perfect HD mix) but the near-hour of deleted scenes are like a window into an alternate version of the past. Riveting stuff.

4. “Scarface”

Scarface
Photo credit: Universal

Speaking of riveting, the pop culture phenomenon that is “Scarface” with video games and posters has somewhat overshadowed the fact that the movie is a damn good one from the prime of one of the most interesting filmmakers of the ’70s and ’80s. De Palma brilliantly pulls old-fashioned archetypes about the gangster into the bloody, coke-fueled, assault-weapon-carrying ’80s and gets one of the best performances of Al Pacino’s career in the process. The HD transfer is stunning with a perfect balance of color, and the special features are arguably the most impressive of the year with steelbook packaging, collectible cards, two U-Control features, and fun additions like “Scarface Scorecard” (track the f-bombs and deaths) and even clips of when they tried to show “Scarface” on TV. The set even includes the entire 1932 original film on its own disc. It’s truly a definitive edition of a beloved film.

3. “A Clockwork Orange”

A Clockwork Orange
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

It’s been four decades since the release of one of Stanley Kubrick’s most notable films and the work has lost none of its power, especially when viewed with one of the best HD transfers yet produced. The special features here are spectacular, particularly a new one called “Turning Like Clockwork,” in which many of the major players (including Malcolm McDowell) and filmmakers inspired by the movie (including Oliver Stone) discuss its making and its importance. McDowell is a spectacular interview subject and the piece is very well-made, serving as both informational and in appropriate awe of its subject matter. Older bonus material is also included (a Channel Four documentary and a vintage featurette) along with a great commentary by McDowell and Historian Nick Redman. Kubrick was such a visual artist — the man’s eye for composition has influenced hundreds of filmmakers who dared follow in his footsteps — that he makes a perfect fit for HD.

2. “Taxi Driver”

Taxi Driver
Photo credit: Sony

Fantastic special features, a stellar transfer, and a film that offers something new every time you see it — what more do you want from a Blu-ray? This is an absolute must-own. Martin Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Chapman oversaw an extensive 4k digital restoration for this release and it’s a beauty — a film that looks great without looking overly polished. Can you imagine a “Taxi Driver” that scrubbed all the dirt off the picture by over-polishing it for HD? It could have been a disaster. It’s a perfect transfer for a great film that doesn’t disguise the fact that the movie is 35 years old but doesn’t make it look dated either. Special features from the out-of-print Criterion edition were transferred along with commentaries by Scorsese & Paul Schrader, and tons of archival footage. A complete edition for one of the best films ever made.

1. “Citizen Kane”

Citizen Kane
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

It may seem like an obvious choice for a film critic to put what is widely considered the best film ever made at the top of a list like this one but it’s not purely for how well Orson Welles’ work has held up but as much for the completist, remarkable nature of the edition WB released for the film. This is an “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” that lives up to that over-used title and does the work inside the justice that it has long-deserved. The set included amazing archival material, including two complete discs of related entertainment (a documentary and an HBO film) along with physical collectibles and a hardcover mini-book. Roger Ebert’s audio track has been available before but it’s still one of the best ever recorded. The set features replicas of posters, correspondence, and the souvenir program. It’s the kind of box that gets you in the mood for a film before you even watch a frame. This is such a historically important film that it could have just spoken for itself with a standalone release but WB goes all-out for a film that arguably deserves special edition treatment more than any other in history, resulting in the best Blu-ray of the year.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com