Cannonball
Blue Underground
Cast: David Carradine, Bill McKinney, Veronica Hamel, Belinda Balaski
Extras: Interviews, Photo Gallery, Trailers and TV Spots
Rating:
The Trans-America Grand Prix, an illegal car race from coast to coast, has been the material for a number of films throughout the 70s and 80s and Paul Bartel’s ’Cannonball’ certainly stands out as one of the most memorable ones, in part because it was the film that spawned it all. Starring David Carradine in a part that is partly shady and partly loveable he becomes the center of the race as things get out of control. Fiery stunts, high speed car chases and demolitions galore make out the film, making it a feast for every car-loving fan of the 70s.
Blue Underground has once again created a remarkable transfer with this release, giving a film that originally had a low budget, grimy look to it and made it look like a million bucks. While occasional speckles and grain are still evident, the overall presentation is rich in detail and absolutely stable and clear. Colors are vividly reproduced with strong hues and solid blacks that create deep shadows. Edge-enhancement is at a minimum and the compression is without flaws.
Like with pretty much all of their films, Blue Underground sent ’Cannonball’ through a remix to create a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital presentation. The track is dynamic and active throughout and never feels artificially enhanced. Surround usage is, naturally, a bit limited, but still good enough to create an engaging sound field. A Dolby Surround and the original mono audio track are also provided.
An interview featurette with cast and crew members is included on the disc giving a nice retrospective view on how the film came together and how it must have been like to be part fo this project. Also included are trailers and a gallery containing various productions stills as well as poster images.
’Cannonball’ is a blast to revisit. I remember the film form way back when and I truly enjoyed seeing it again, especially on this great DVD presentation. This is car demolition cult at its very best.
