Cruising

[_shadow_]

Arrow's BD is an improvement on the prior DVD at least in taking the blue filter down from 11, but still a miss overall. It seems like this is mostly due to Friedkin's influence and Arrow wasn't able to do what they would have wanted with it.

But the choice of essay for the booklet empasizes that this is a straight person's presentation of gay culture to a straight audience, and I couldn't help feeling that even more intensely when seeing the movie again.

The leather guys dancing to punk rock is a good example of the film's "Bizzaro World" POV - sadly, its mix of real-life people and locations with a purely filmic fantasy of what those people did there seems to be taken at face value by contemporary viewers.

This release would have benefitted from multiple gay perspectives on the film, but there's not really much depth in any of the (ported) features, and it's not like Friedkin's a reliable narrator. In a typical example, the essay talks about Friedkin just happening to think about Pacino's character maybe being the killer while editing the film, even though this is taken directly from the book, which presents it quite overtly. And it seems like nobody's really read the book, when it would have been fascinating to look into the book in detail - what reaction it received when published, and how it evolved into the final film.

And of course the "clinking chains" sound over the final shot of Pacino is gone in the new audio mix. The BD's new opening titles are better than the DVDs new titles, but this film is primarily valuable as a historical document so erasing the "this film isn't about most gays just the perverted ones" disclaimer means viewers are missing valuable context as to how this was presented to its initial audience.

At least the DNR is not as pervasive and extreme as I'd expected based on screenshots.

[colinr0380]

The other notorious 'straight view of gay people' film from 1980 which is a bit more obscure these days for obvious reasons is Windows (the only directorial credit of cinematographer Gordon Willis), in which a friendly passing lesbian helps a woman who is being stalked, but then the big thriller twist is:

SpoilerShow

that she is the obsessive stalker herself and even hired the man to attack her object of desire so that she could swoop in to save the day

[R0lf]

This release would have benefitted from multiple gay perspectives on the film, but there's not really much depth in any of the (ported) features, and it's not like Friedkin's a reliable narrator.

Gary Needham who was announced for the original commentary (that was buried) is a gay academic who specialises in LGBT culture. I presume because of any previous “controversy” they didn’t want to include any gay content? Or they didn’t care?

It’s also a bit on the nose that the blurb for the movie on the rear cover skirts around using the word GAY to an almost ludicrous degree.

[zedz]

This is such a hapless film. Apart from being obnoxious in its historical context, it's just not very good on any level. I can only assume that its defenders are more enamoured of its unrealized potential than its actual achievements. It could have been a valuable depiction of an underexplored subculture - but it isn't. It could have been an examination of establishment - and specifically police - homophobia - but it isn't. It could have been an intriguing character study of a closeted cop who has to go undercover as himself, and then has to deal with the personal fallout of that - but it isn't. It could have been a suspenseful thriller - but it isn't. It would have been so easy for it to be a dumb, oblivious camp frolic - but it's too po-faced and nasty to even clear that lowest of hurdles. It's like Friedkin latched onto some 'edgy' content but had no idea what to do with it, or thought that that was enough, and Pacino seems to be just as bewildered.

[Finch]

4K in February



2-DISC 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films
120-page perfect-bound collector’s book featuring articles from The Village Voice and The New York Times, essays from the film’s extras cast, an introduction from William Friedkin, and an archive interview with Al Pacino
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde
DISC ONE - FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD):
4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Original lossless English mono audio, 2.0 stereo, and 5.1
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Two archive audio commentaries by director William Friedkin, one solo and one moderated by critic and broadcaster Mark Kermode
Brand new commentary featuring original musicians involved with the soundtrack
I Want to Be the Curator, a brand-new interview with actress Karen Allen
Deleted scenes and alternative footage
On-set audio featuring the club scenes and protest coverage
Censored material reels
Theatrical trailer, teasers, and TV spots
DISC TWO - EXTRAS (BLU-RAY):
Walking the Line, a brand-new interview with actor, film consultant, and former police detective Randy Jurgensen
Cut Offs, an interview with editor Bud S. Smith
Who’s That Guy?, an interview with actor Jay Acovone
Pounding the Beat, an interview with actor Mike Starr
Boy on the Bus, an interview with actor Mark Zecca
Mineshaft Memories, an archive interview with Wally Wallace, former manager of the Mineshaft
Breaking the Codes, a brand-new visual essay surrounding the hanky-codes featuring actor and writer David McGillivray
Stop the Movie, a short film by Jim Hubbard capturing the Cruising protests
The History of Cruising, an archival featurette looking at the film’s origins and production
Exorcising Cruising, an archival featurette looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy
William Friedkin’s BeyondFest 2022 Q&A at the American Cinematheque
Extensive image gallery featuring international promotional material, on-set sketches, and more

[yoloswegmaster]

Interesting that they are redoing the 4K restoration. They probably wanted to fix the issues that were imposed on the Friedkin supervised master. Great package for fans of the film but I wish they released Sorcerer instead.

[beamish14]

Interesting that they are redoing the 4K restoration. They probably wanted to fix the issues that were imposed on the Friedkin supervised master. Great package for fans of the film but I wish they released Sorcerer instead.

Yep. No more wonky color timing, the disclaimer present, and no trimmed scenes.

Have these deleted/“censored” material reel scenes ever appeared before?

I’m sure a 4K of Sorcerer will be a given

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Thank god. I watched it this year on the Criterion Channel and loved it. So I'm glad this will be 4k with new extras and a book. I was really disappointed at that paucity on the earlier release. That Sister Hyde cover really captures what I loved about the film.

[ryannichols7]

Friedkin is really not for me (aside from The French Connection) but I do want to pop in and say that cover is really incredible. and this is a really good use of a Warner license. hopefully for all fans, Arrow gets to do Sorcerer next

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

Isn’t the cover based off of the Japanese poster?

I watch this movie twice a year, and I’m happy to move those viewings to 4K.

[_shadow_]

But will this restore the "this film is not intended as an indictment of the homosexual world" card opening?

[Finch]

Geoff D confirmed this is the theatrical cut with none of the revisions Friedkin made for home video.

[Finch]

Going to be released in the US too. Mifune Fan found the US listing.

[ryannichols7]

I'm surprised they're still blocked from releasing the scholarly commentary

[nicolas]

Fidelity in Motion confirmed their involvement via X/Twitter.