Hardcore (Blu-Ray) [Region A & B & C]

This is a variation on Taxi Driver, which Schrader wrote for Scorsese, and wanting to have more control over his material turned to directing but lacks Scorsese's visceral power. Schrader started out as a critic and wrote the seminal book, Transcendental Style in Film and, although making some very interesting films, would never achieve the greatness of his mentors, Bresson, Ozu and Dreyer.Having said that, Hardcore is a fine modern noir, a veritable Walk on the Wild Side or Voyage au bout de la nuit, with Scott excellent as the repressed Calvinist father and Boyle providing his usual superb support as the cynical private eye hired to find the missing daughter. The snowy opening contrasts magnificently with the neon sleeze he descends into.A fine release, with excellent images and interesting extras now at a bargain price for a fully featured bluray.

"Hardcore" remains a powerful morality play about a straight-laced Midwestern man whose daughter disappears into the West Coast porn industry and his efforts to find her. George C. Scott is mesmerizing in the lead; his character has to face his own demons as he enters a world he finds repulsive on every level.Beautiful transfer of a somewhat overlooked, hard-hitting film, and a solid addition to your "Scott" shelf, along with "Patton" and "The Hospital"

Director Schrader's most direct examination of Calvinism vs the horrors and degradation of urban sin.

It was ok

Shows the sordid underside of the porn industry and the late 1970's. Scott as always is wonderful and Peter Boyle is wonderfully sleazy (a real antidote to the Gum Shoe as hero).

Coming as it did from an outsourced agent, it arrived well ahead of time and safely packaged. The film itself is dark and one of the best of all of Shrader's films. As dark as Taxi Driver and as powerfully driven. Well worth the money if you can find one affordable. Should be remastered,

FAIR

Great filme... great edition.