The
Return Of Ruben Blades (1985/MVD Visual Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: D Film: C+
The
1985 Robert Mugge (Black Wax, Sun Ra: A Joyful
Noise)-directed documentary The Return Of Ruben Blades is
a profile on the life and music of Grammy Award-Winner (and sometimes
actor) Ruben Blades. Mugge and Blades make it an interesting journey
that's worth taking. Well shot and produced, it's an interesting
look at the 1980s music scene, but at times feels a bit dated despite
its advantage in being another palpable time capsule Mugge is so
capable of creating. Still, the theme of the film is pretty strong -
that the power of music can overcome many ordinary life obstacles.
If you're a musician or have a passion for music, then you may want
to check this film out particularly.
Filmed
in his native Panama, at his Harvard Law School graduation, at a club
in New York City, and with Linda Ronstadt in a Los Angeles recording
studio, we follow Blades throughout an interesting life transition
and hear about his past and evolution of his unique music. For those
only familiar with his acting, it will be informative and for fans of
his music, a rare portrait finally reissued. Good to have it on
Blu-ray.
Presented
in 1080p high definition and a 1.33:1 full frame aspect ratio and a
2.0 stereo track, the older film looks and sounds fine on Blu-ray and
was obviously shot on 16mm film as Mugge's works always were at the
time and looks good for that.
No
extras.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
