Stars:
Bill Murray, Theresa Russell, Denholm Elliott, Catherine Hicks, and James Keach
Writers:
John Byrum and Bill Murray
Based
On The Classic Novel By: W. Somerset Maugham
Director:
John Byrum
Feature
length: 129 minutes
Extras:
Trailers
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 4.0
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French Subtitles
Packaging:
Amaray Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 28
Sound:
Dolby Digital 4.0 Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1984/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: PG-13
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
I
know someone deep into Eastern philosophy who turned me on to a lot of
interesting stuff. Anyway one of those things was the 1946 version of “The
Razor’s Edge” starring Tyrone Power. In 1984 John Byrum directed Bill Murray
in a new film adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s novel. Filled with stunning
allegory and memorable characters, both films have their strengths and if they
engage someone, including myself to go out read the book, then I think the movie
has fulfilled it’s job. Murray co-wrote the screenplay and does his best to
display a departure from what most people think of when we think of a film
starring Bill Murray, but as much as he tries Murray cannot escape his own
natural smart-alecky persona even when he is being completely serious. Perhaps
it is his face or perhaps it is merely what one has conditioned his or herself
to expect when they see Bill Murray, but I cannot lose the fact when I watch the
film that it’s Bill Murray and not the character of the story. However that is
my problem. Do not let Bill Murray throw anyone off from viewing this film.
It
is a wonderful film that is not quite equal to Tyrone Power’s version, but
never the less is still an oasis in a sea of largely soulless films even and
maybe especially by the standards we have today.
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment’s DVD edition features a widescreen
(2.40:1) transfer. The image quality is uneven with some scenes showing a bit of
grain from age and even a few artifacts like a hair, but overall the film
picture quality, however uneven, is still quite engaging with a soft and
somewhat washed out look that seems to fit the film’s theme of spiritual self
discovery and the journey that entails. I
wish the film had a richer look, but as it is “The Razor’s Edge” is a film
with a story that transcends the limitations of the DVD transfer and in our
uncertain times “The Razor’s Edge” is still a very timely motion picture.
A new English Dolby Digital 4.0 Soundtrack mix has been created for this DVD
release. Not bad at all. The sound is very full and not overstretched so there
is not a hollow quality to it. There is also no background noise or hissing. The
soundtrack maintains a clear digital quality. English Captions and Closed
Captions and French Language Subtitles are encoded on to the DVD as options.
Widescreen
trailers for “The Razor’s Edge,” “Seven Years In Tibet,” and
“Gandhi” wrap up the extra features on this DVD release. The menus are
standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. “The Razor’s
Edge” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 from Columbia
TriStar Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.