‘Falling in Love’ Blu-ray Review (Fun City Editions)
Stars: Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Jane Kaczmarek, George Martin, David Clennon, Dianne Wiest, Frances Conroy | Written by Michael Cristofer | Directed by Ulu Grosbard
Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro are wonderful Hollywood actors who, together, have won 5 Academy Awards: 2 for De Niro and 3 for Streep. They have acted on screen together several times in their careers. Including their first on-screen film, 1979’s The Deer Hunter, followed by Marvin’s Room (1996) and The Good House (2013).
In between these films, in 1984, right at the height of De Niro’s popularity, he was cast alongside the lovely Streep for a romantic drama entitled Falling in Love. Now this film just celebrated its 40th anniversary. So, what better time for a Blu-ray debut?
Sometimes magic is the only thing that’s real. Falling in Love is a shining example of the magic that’s created when two of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars join forces in one special film. Academy Award Winners Robert De Niro (The King of Comedy) and Meryl Streep (Silkwood) are together again for the first time since The Deer Hunter. In Falling in Love, they play Frank Raftis and Molly Gilmore, two everyday people who meet first by chance, and later by choice. There’s just one thing standing between Frank and Molly’s intense, newfound love–both are already married. It’s a genuine modern dilemma.
Falling in Love is pure ’80s cinema… the fashion, the hairstyles. In 2025, it’s so retro, but then it was everyday life. It is so strange nowadays seeing people using phone booths, but that was the 80s. Streep and De Niro have a real quirky chemistry together that works perfectly for this film. Falling in Love explores the complexity of life and love unapologetically.
Falling In Love makes its debut on Blu-Ray thanks to Fun City Editions. The film has been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Now, this transfer is not just any transfer. This transfer comes from a 4k scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. What results is a wonderful looking picture quality, the colours are rich with natural skin tones. And there is no sign of damage to this print that I could see while screening it. Fun City Editions didn’t just put this restored film on a Blu-ray and leave it there. Not by a long shot. They added some very cool bonus features to this release to make it a must-own.
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary: Film historian Jim Hemphill provides a great commentary track that is truly a must listen.
- Image Gallery: A seven-minute slideshow of movie stills and promotional material.
- Trailer
- Booklet: This booklet includes essays by Mitchell Beaupre and Daniel Schweiger. Wonderful reads!
- Reversible Blu-ray insert that includes a Japanese poster art
Watching Falling in Love on this Blu-ray is a treat, to say the least. But the bonus features take this release to a new level of cool. Of course, a wonderful looking picture is the most important part of a release, but I always enjoy the additional artwork, commentaries and other cool things. Fun City Editions didn’t disappoint here, and if you buy directly from them or via DiabolikDVD, the film comes with an exclusive slipcover (pictured above) too!
If you love a good romantic movie or the films of Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep, why not get a film that has all those things with Falling in Love?
***** 5/5
Falling in Love is out now on Blu-ray, courtesy of Fun City Editions.
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