★★★★★ 5
Forgotten Classic
Sorcerer (1977) is, for the most part, a forgotten classic. First the forgotten: this film got kicked around by moviegoers when first released, probably because the title is misleading (nothing to do with fantasy), and they probably weren't in the mood for this film due to the sudden stratospheric success of another film that debuted at the same time (Star Wars). With Star Wars cementing the advent of the summer blockbuster, suddenly moviegoers wanted stuff more on the surface and eye candy for good measure. As a result, Sorcerer never got its footing, and was a major box office failure. If this film had debuted just a few years earlier, it would've done well, because it would've fit in with the other films of the time. The truth is that Sorcerer is an adaptation (not a remake) of The Wages of Fear from 1953. Now the classic: Sorcerer has since generated the respect it deserves, and is one of the best films of the 1970's. This film has it all: action, suspense, breathtaking and iconic scenes (the bridge scene being one), organic acting and a sort of 'raw' feel in terms of a lot of the settings; dwellings are dilapidated, and the machinery rusty. Even the actors are dirty, sweaty, and have visible wounds throughout the film. I particularly like the restraint on the dialogue, as Friedkin chooses to tell the story more in a visual sense. I also like the uniqueness of the characters being kept at a distance from the audience; this makes them sort of mysterious and seems to work in this film. This film was a very ambitious project, one that has been rewarded with the passage of time (thankfully). The care that went into many scenes and accompanying special effects are obvious, and first rate. Overall, Sorcerer is a must-see. This blu ray has excellent picture and sound quality, so it was worth the wait in that regard. One last thing: it's extremely rare for a blu ray disc to not include any special features; in the case of Sorcerer, it's unfortunately true. Perhaps this fact tells us just how much of a beating this film took over the years. I guess we should feel grateful that it has even made it onto blu ray.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2017


