Moscow On The Hudson (1984/Columbia/Sony/Twilight Time Limited Edition Blu-ray)

Picture: B Sound: B Extras: B Film: C+

PLEASE NOTE: This Blu-ray is now only available from our friends at Twilight Time, is limited to only 3,000 copies and can be ordered while supplies last from the links below.

One of the not-too-popular Robin Williams films (despite doing modern business) yet still a fantastic performance by the late, great actor, is Paul Mazursky's Moscow on the Hudson (1984), which finds its way onto high definition Blu-ray disc for the first time thanks to Twilight Time.

A contemporary take on the subject of immigration, the film centers around Vladimir Ivanoff (Williams), a Russian musician who finds his way into New York and undergoes immense culture shock during the Cold War. Meeting different folks from several different cultural backgrounds in the big city, New York City, the film glorifies both America and the Open Door Policy that was a hot topic of the time.

Moscow on the Hudson also stars Maria Conchita Alonso, Cleavant Derricks, Alejandro Rey, Elya Baskin, Savely Kramarov, an uncredited Udo Kier and the stand-up comic Yakov Smirnoff, who became a star on his own after this.

The transfer looks fantastic in 1080p with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and a fantastic sounding (even for its age) English DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) lossless 5.1 track that brings the film to life like never before, originally released in Dolby's original, older analog Type-A theatrical sound encoding. Nice upgrade. For being shot on 35mm film, the restoration looks nice here on Blu-ray disc with great detail with that even and natural sound mix that brings you to the center of the action. Also on the disc is an English 2.0 DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) lossless track that doesn't sound quite as nice as the 5.1, but is still solid and offers Pro Logic surrounds for those who are purists or nostalgic.

Special Features include...

Isolated Score Track with a soundtrack by David McHugh

Audio Commentary with Film Historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman

Vintage Audio Commentary with the late Director Paul Mazursky

Collectible Booklet with illustrations and thorough Julie Kirgo essay

An interesting and often times funny film if you haven't seen it, Moscow on the Hudson looks great and fresh on Blu-ray disc thanks to Twilight Time.

To order this and other great limited edition Blu-rays, buy them while supplies last at these links:

www.screenarchives.com

and

http://www.twilighttimemovies.com/

- James Lockhart

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/