Review of Don`t Look Now: Special Edition

Introduction

After making the extraordinary `Performance` and the achingly beautiful Walkabout, Nicolas Roeg`s third feature was based on a Daphne Du Maurier short story. Like The Birds, the book is only short and leaves plenty of room for interpretation when expanding the novel into a film screenplay.

John and Laura Baxter (Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie) are on a working holiday in Venice and trying to overcome the grief of losing their daughter, Christine. In a restaurant one evening, Laura assists a blind woman and her sister; the blind sister is apparently psychic and tells Laura that Christine is with her and is happy. John is less than enthused at this development and, unlike his wife, wants nothing more to do with the strange sisters, preferring to turn his attention to renovating a church, ignoring their warnings that his life is in danger and that he himself has the `gift`.

Don`t Look Now has long been a favourite of mine, so I was overjoyed when a special edition disc came out so that I could replace my `vanilla` disc.

Video

The video has been cleaned up and sharpened substantially with better colour definition compared to the original DVD, yet there are still contrast problems in underlit scenes.

The cinematography, as you`d expect from a Nic Roeg film, is stunning and the editing is one of the film`s highlights.

Audio

The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo soundtrack has also been improved, yet is too quiet in parts and there are no subtitles to assist with the faint dialogue.

Pino Donnagio`s score is terrific and perfectly complements the atmosphere and mood of the film.

Features

The disc features a commentary with Nic Roeg which is interesting and puts an end to the `did they or didn`t they` rumours surrounding the love scene although Roeg`s delivery is far from optimum.

Alan Jones provides an introduction which is comprehensive and informative, covering much of the information provided in the commentary.

There is also `Looking Back`, a retrospective feature, a sixteen page booklet with an essay by Ryan Gilbey, an interview with composer Pino Donnagio and a trailer.

Many of these extras have major spoilers so, if you haven`t seen the film, don`t look now!

Conclusion

The crowning achievement in Nicolas Roeg`s impressive oeuvre features stunning expressionist style cinematography which uses the unique Venetian setting to tremendous effect, a great score, superb editing and career-best performances from Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie, whose married couple is arguably the most realistic ever seen on celluloid. The changes made from the book are all improvements and this is one of those rare films that improves on every viewing as the nuances and plot points become clearer and clearer.

With para-psychological and religious undertones, this is a superb and haunting film that will live with you long after the credits have finished rolling. Some special editions are major let downs, this one wasn`t, due to the improved picture quality and extra features. It`s no understatement to say that I love this film and consider it the finest psychological horror ever made.