Blu-ray Review: ‘Deliverance’ Still Resonates Four Decades After Its Release

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CHICAGO – The new digibook Blu-ray for John Boorman’s incredibly influential and timeless “Deliverance” features one of the best special features of the year as stars Burt Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ronny Cox, and Ned Beatty sit for half an hour at the Burt Reynolds Museum in Florida and just reminisce about the movie that changed their lives. It alone makes this a great purchase for true movie historians. The stellar HD transfer and imported special features don’t hurt.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-ray rating: 4.5/5.0
Rating: 4.5/5.0

It’s amazing to think that it’s been four decades since “Deliverance,” a film that really works best when one considers when it came out. I think modern audiences look at the film and see something a bit dated, nowhere near as shocking as modern viewers raised on “Saw” might consider it to be. At the time, “Deliverance” was a punch to the gut. Made for only $2 million, the film grossed more than twenty times that and became a cultural touchstone.

And it’s held up remarkably well. People remember the shock value of “Deliverance” but forget the quality of the performances, the striking cinematography, the complex storytelling. It’s not just a culturally important movie, it’s a great one.

And it’s a great Blu-ray complete with the aforementioned featurette, a booklet with stills and info on the making of the film, and previously-available special features now imported. It’s a must-own for fans of classic films.

Deliverance was released on Blu-ray on June 26, 2012
Deliverance was released on Blu-ray on June 26, 2012
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Synopsis:
Four city businessmen try their hand at canoeing along a soon-to-be-destroyed river in the deep woods of Georgia. What begins as a weekend adventure becomes a desperate battle for survival when they’re confronted by the terrors of the raging river and brutal assailants in this three-time Oscar-nominated classic. Selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2008, Deliverance remains as beautiful and visceral as ever.

Special Features:
o Deliverance: The Cast Remembers Featurette
o Commentary By Director John Boorman
o Four Part Retrospective: Deliverance: The Beginning, Deliverance: The Journey, Deliverance: Betraying The River, Deliverance: Delivered
o Vintage Featurette: The Dangerous World Of Deliverance
o Theatrical Trailer

“Deliverance” stars Burt Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox. It was written by James Dickey and directed by John Boorman. It was released on Blu-ray on June 26, 2012.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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