The Parallax View (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

It has never ceased to amaze me how many dross titles are released on Blu Ray and 4K yet true classics, like The Parallax View, remain saddled with standard definition DVD (with frankly embarrassing cover art that looks like it was knocked out by a teenager using Photoshop and clip art for the first time in the 90s). Thank goodness this has now changed and even better to see the release is from Criterion so we know it is going to be great quality.The Parallax View is a brilliant, thought-provoking and prescient conspiracy thriller that melds aspects of the assassinations of RFK (the shots being fired by a waiter, the second gunman, the girl in the polka dot dress) and JFK (the Warren Commission style review and inference that a shadowy corporation is hiring hitmen - and unknowing patsies - to effect assassinations) together with themes about nameless, faceless corporations manipulating society. It was part of Alan J Pakula's conspiracy trilogy along with the equally excellent All the Presidents Men and Klute. They might be rooted in the 70s, and for some may be too talky and slow, but (along with Three Days of the Condor, The Conversation, Night Moves and others), I find them endlessly rewatchable, entertaining and stylish. It doesn't hurt that the Pakula films are all shot by cinematographer Gordon Willis who creates a wonderful sense of mood and cold detachment in all three films. He was also the DOP on the Godfather trilogy and the cinematographer for many of Woody Allen's films. In contrast to the obsession with very small depth of field and over saturation (not to mention CGI) in most modern films, Willis’ widescreen framing really adds to the sense of Frady being swallowed up by overwhelming and impenetrable corporate entities. It's also far more interesting that the enemy might lie within - a common theme throughout the politically and socially tumultuous 70s - than the endless stream of good vs bad comic book films that predominate now.A special note also about the score by Michael Small which is tremendous at creating anxiety and discord. He also scored Klute, Night Moves, Marathon Man, The Driver and The Star Chamber, amongst others, and his jarring musical style is so distinctive and suits these gritty thrillers.As usual Criterion do a great job with the Blu Ray. The picture is sharp and colourful as you would expect. As for the extras, the documentary short/ interview with Gordon Willis the DP is interesting and informative to a die hard fan of the Paula conspiracy trilogy each of which Willis photographed in his beautiful widescreen style. The short interview with cult filmmaker Alex Cox is good, but for an even better introduction to the Parallax View, I suggest looking up Alex Cox’s BBC2 Moviedrome review on YT which dates back to the early 90s but is a wonderful short film in itself. It’s a shame it couldn’t have been included.It's been a very, very long wait, but at last The Parallax View is on a format it deserves.

it's not a bad effort I guess, but ultimately it lacks suspense and the story line wanders around so much you really have to concentrate or watch it a few times. supposedly a political comment on dark political forces in US society it fails to evoke any sense of threat or even of conspiracy. average film of poor political sense.

Part of an unofficial trilogy with Klute and All The President's Men, and probably my favourite of the three.