Marie: A True Story (1985) [Warner Archive Blu-ray review]

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Marie: A True Story is a mid 1980s movie starring my favorite actress. Also, I forgot it existed until the movie was sent my way to cover. Director Roger Donaldson was a peculiar choice to handle the film, as he hadn’t handled similar material prior to leaving behind the Aussie New Wave. That’s not to overlook his work on Sleeping Dogs, Smash Palace and The Bounty. But, it would be like if Peter Weir directed North Country after helming Master and Commander. It just would have been a wild tonal shift.

Sissy Spacek can do anything she wants

I still can’t believe this wasn’t a TV Movie. For those of us not from Tennessee, Marie Ragghianti was a key figure in the Governor Ray Blanton corruption case of the late 1970s. Afterwards, she rose to prominence in the Clinton administration and generally did well by most. However, she began her journey into politics by escaping an abusive environment in Georgia. After making friends with an assistant to the Governor, Marie began rising through the ranks.

So much of Marie is predicated on knowing a great deal about regional politics of the 1970s. Democratic Governors in the 1970s throughout the South were no different than your typical Trump era Republicans. They ran everything into the ground, so long as they were benefitted. Marie is a story about a lower tier employee saying no to the Governor and then facing the repercussions. That’s right, kids…it’s a legal drama too.

Tennessee is a wild place

While this story took place in the 1970s, it feels even more antiquated than that. Meaning that major studios made films about rural crimes all the time. Then, they stopped caring about anything between the coasts. What resulted was a slant in most modern American narratives where everything either happened in NYC, Los Angeles or once in awhile in Chicago. Certain biases and attitudes were fostered and a great swath of the population checked out because their experiences and lives weren’t available on film.

Couple that with tech changes, more entertainment channels opening and basically life bypassing the Coastal view and things changed. But, what does this have to do with Marie and TN politics? Well, most reading this or watching the movie will ultimately not knowing anything about it. Even the social media activists who claim to care about legal reform will never mention Marie Ragghianti and her whistleblowing on state leaders game the parole system.

Fred Thompson as Himself

Fred Thompson was a prominent Republican attorney and Senator that eventually discovered a love of acting. Making his film debut in Marie, Thompson gets that rare opportunity to bring first-hand experience into a role. But, it’s rarely a perfect translation as you still have to portray a movie-friendly version of what happened. Most of what Thompson did came into play much later in the case, but it’s neat to see. It’s giving Audie Murphy vibes.

What’s weird in having Fred Thompson play himself is that you fall into this weird trap of the real vs. the idealized. Fred Thompson did a good thing, but he also has to play up the movie actor aspect of the material. He does a good job, but again…it almost requires you being firmly invested in this real world story.

Before we talk about the Blu-ray, let’s finish talking about the movie

Marie is a solid drama made for adults about real world heroes and their efforts to overcome corruption. The movie barely broke even at the Box Office in 1985 and it went ignored by the mainstream for the most part. But, I wish we had more material like this. Except this kind of movie almost always goes to streaming now. Oh well, to live with eyes on past.

How does Marie look?

“Marie” is a drama that focuses on the gritty realities of political corruption, and its visual style reflects that. Roger Donaldson’s direction is straightforward and efficient, keeping the focus on the performances and the tension of the unfolding political drama. The film’s muted color palette and emphasis on courtroom and office settings create an atmosphere of seriousness, perfectly matching the high-stakes narrative.

The recent Warner Archive Blu-ray release breathes new life into the visuals, improving picture clarity and sharpness. While the film doesn’t rely on flashy visuals, the cleaner presentation highlights the detailed performances and the tense, slow-burn nature of the story. The remastered transfer maintains the film’s natural, unembellished style while offering an improved viewing experience.

Let’s talk more about that Warner Archive Blu-ray

The Warner Archive Blu-ray release of Marie significantly improves the film’s picture quality, offering a much clearer and sharper image compared to previous DVD versions. The film’s somewhat subdued visual style, with its focus on everyday settings like offices, courtrooms, and homes, benefits from the Blu-ray’s restoration. Colors appear more natural, and the overall presentation is cleaner, allowing viewers to appreciate the performances and the subtle tension that builds throughout the film.

The Blu-ray’s high definition transfer also improves the darker scenes, particularly those in courtrooms and during confrontational moments, offering better contrast and more detail. The audio has been remastered as well, providing a clean, clear sound mix that enhances the dialogue-driven nature of the film. While Marie isn’t a film that relies on bombastic sound effects or an epic score, the improved audio quality ensures that conversations remain crisp and easy to follow, even during the most intense exchanges.

One downside of the Warner Archive Blu-ray release is its lack of extensive special features. The disc primarily focuses on delivering an improved version of the film, without offering any behind-the-scenes documentaries or interviews with the cast and crew. However, fans of the film will likely be satisfied with the visual and audio upgrades.

Marie: A True Story or Marie or whatever you want to call it is now available from Warner Archive at MovieZyng!

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Buy Marie: A True Story from our partners

MovieZyng

Amazon