John Frankenheimer brought exceptional picture definition & attention to detail when he personally helmed all the Formula 1 racing footage with the First Unit, an unheard practice for Hollywood at the time. And what a break he got on those photogenic ‘66 car designs. It all pays off, especially in the stunning DVD transfer mastered from original 65mm elements. (Cinerama was no longer a 3 camera system.) The problem, of course, is that when the story moves off the track, everything – plot, dialogue, performances – might just as well have been left to the Second Unit. Maybe it was? Yves Montand shows more of his charisma and sheer authority than he usual mustered in his english language pics, but no one else adds much luster. The young & sexy comic relief duo of Antonio Sabato & Francoise Hardy are embarrassments as is the Grade ‘Z’ vocal dubbing on Toshiro Mifune, while Maurice Jarre ’s score makes do with leftovers from DR ZHIVAGO & LAWRENCE OF ARABIA.
No comments:
Post a Comment