Blu Ray Review: Kino Releases Two from Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds had an interesting career.  Always longing for challenges to his acting ability, Burt tried everything from action dramas to vintage-style musicals. He eventually settled into good ol’ boy comedies but when those wore thin, he kept chasing good parts until finding his form again with the TV series Evening Shade and an Oscar nomination for Boogie Nights. 

The films released on blu ray by Kino Lorber show Burt at different points in his career.

STARING OVER (1979)

This is a period romantic comedy that pretty accurately depicts the challenges of complicated romances among middle-agers as the 70s were becoming the 80s.  The triangle includes Burt, Candace Bergen, and Jill Clayburgh, the two women both netting Oscar nominations.  Directed by Alan J. Pakula with a screenplay by James L. Brooks, Starting Over further benefits from a supporting cast that includes Charles Durning, Austin Pendelton, and Mary Kay Place.  A hit at the box office, it came along just after Burt was enjoying stardom based on the massive success of films like Smokey and the Bandit and Hooper.  He was on the cusp of his good ol’ boy period, but in this romantic comedy he offers one of his most delightful performances.  Kino’s blu ray is a brand new master by Paramount Pictures from a 4K scan of the original camera negative.  It includes an excellent commentary track by Daniel Kramer and Howard S. Berger.

It is available at this link: STARTOVER

RENT-A-COP (1988)

When Burt Reynolds good-ol-boy period came to an end with the unsuccessful Stroker Ace (1983), he spent the rest of the 1980s chasing after good roles in different genres.  Most of his notable films from this period were action dramas like Malone (1987), Burt gave romantic comedy a shot with Rent-a-Cop where he was reunited with Liza Minnelli, his leading lady in Lucky Lady a dozen years earlier.  In its time, Rent-a-Cop was an enormous box office flop, netting less than $300,000 at the box office against a 16 million dollar budget.  But now, in the 21st century, this 80s comedy holds up much more successfully for the charisma of its stars.  Kino’s blu ray is a brand new HD master from a 4K scan of the 35mm original negative.  The commentary track by the always welcome Lee Gambin and actor Richard Masur is especially great.  It is available at this link:  RENT/COP

Each of these films have a lot to recommend, from the delightful performances to the depiction of filmmaking in their time, and, finally, the outstanding commentary tracks offered by each.