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One from the Heart: Reprise Blu-ray Review

 


  • Director: Francis Ford Coppola
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Frederic Forrest, Teri Garr
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Lionsgate Home Entertainment
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
  • Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, Digital_copy, Blu-ray
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 47 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2024



 

        While it is difficult to imagine a movie like Moulin Rouge ever existing without the experimentation of Francis Ford Coppola’s One from the Heart first occurring, that does not make his unique musical vision a success. While boldly creative and undeniably unique, One from the Heart is also a messy movie that doesn’t work any better after forty years, even with new footage and an alternate edit approved by Coppola. The characters are still unsympathetic and the plot overly simplistic, though it now seems clearer that the real star of the film was the production design, all constructed on the stages of the historic Zoetrope studios in Hollywood.

 

        The simplistic storyline follows Las Vegas couple Hank (Frederic Forrest) and Frannie (Teri Garr) on one Fourth of July holiday. After years together, an argument during their anniversary dinner leads to questions about their relationship. Both Hank and Frannie meet new people, tempting them away from their relationship remarkably fast. Frannie meets a sleazy waiter/piano player (Raul Julia) while working at her job as a window dresser, and Hank makes plans to meet an attractive young circus performer. Despite both moving on quickly, there is never any doubt about the way the narrative will be resolved.

 

        The story within One from the Heart is simple, but the execution is unique. While Frannie and Hank leave each other to enjoy sexual escapades with new romantic partners, before inevitably changing their minds, there is a musical soundtrack providing additional insight into the emotional journey of these two. The Oscar-nominated music by Tom Waits is not what most might expect from a musical, because none of the cast onscreen ever sings (and only dance in a few musical sequences), and that may have been part of what led to the film failing on initial release.

 

        Even if the story and characters aren’t particularly likeable and the music is unconventional at best, the ambitious vision is admirable. The decision to shoot the film on a stage rather than on the actual streets of Vegas is the one aspect that remains compelling multiple decades later. The work that went into the production design and elaborate camera moves is even more impressive with the 4K restoration and presentation.

 

        In addition to a Blu-ray disc with the original 1982 theatrical cut of the film, the main selling point of this package is a 4K disc with a new cut of the film. This “Reprise” version doesn’t so much as improve the story as it does provide an alternative edit, including six minutes of footage added to the original negative. Even with new footage, however, this version of the film is shorter by ten minutes, partially because of the decision to change the chronology of the narrative.

 

        In addition to the two cuts of the film on Blu-ray and 4K, there is also a digital copy of the Reprise cut, along with plenty of extras on the discs themselves. There is a commentary track with Coppola on the new cut, in addition to five new featurettes, including an interview with Baz Luhrmann on the impact the film had on his career. The Blu-ray disc with the theatrical cut also contains the extras that already exist, including a making-of  featurette and deleted footage/alternate musical tracks.

 

Entertainment Value: 6/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 6/10

Historical Significance:  5/10

Special Features: 8/10



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