PIC of the Week – Figures in a Landscape
Article series by Ray Schillaci
This was a lackluster week for releases. The one notable was due to a performance, but not enough to recommend the film. That was Nicole Kidman in Destroyer. So, in cases like this I try to find something so out of left field that it ends up being a big surprise. One that many of us might not have heard about. That ends up being Kino Lorber’s Blu release of Joseph Losey’s Figures in a Landscape, starring Robert Shaw and Malcolm McDowell. Honestly, I’ve never heard of this film till recently. Imagine, Quint from Jaws and Alex from A Clockwork Orange fleeing a helicopter from rocky terrain to snowcapped mountains.
This is not your basic action/adventure fare, incorporated within its structure is a carefully conceived character study. The story was taken from the notable thriller novel by Barry England which was adapted to screen by none other than actor Robert Shaw. Shaw, best known from his wily shark hunter, is also well remembered as the deadly villain in the second James Bond film, From Russia With Love and as Henry the VIII in A Man For All Seasons.
From ’55 to ’75, Shaw dabbled in writing. He had written for TV, and was uncredited as the writer on the play The Man in the Glass Booth. But his big splash was with Figures, where it appears he might have first cultivated a younger version of the beloved character he would later play in Jaws. That ends up being a huge find for those who are big Quint fans.
The film starts ambiguous with the two men running from a black helicopter. We don’t know if they’re criminals, prisoner of war escapees or deserters. The helicopter and its occupants are not only relentless, they toy with the fugitives. With only their wits to arm them, Mac (Shaw) and Ansell (McDowell) doggedly traverse the landscape, finding every which way to avoid their captors. Between moments when they’ve actually eluded the chopper, both of them reveal a little bit about themselves. Their stories engage us – sad, funny, and captivating.
But, we also learn that Mac is willing to do anything not to be captured, including murder, and he pushes Ansell to do the same. These are desperate men, and we do end up rooting for them. This is all due to the fine directing by Joseph Losey, the two players, Shaw and McDowell, and Shaw’s well crafted screenplay.
Specks and blemishes aside, this Blu has a nice picture that excels when we get the wide angle lens shots, which are many. Differences between the terrain are well represented along with skin tone. Aspect ratio is 2.35:1 and services this presentation with many of the breathtaking shots. My only complaint would be the last fifteen minutes or so where there were noticeable pink and blue flakes that seem to dart on the screen. It does not happen often, but enough to be noticeable. Still, we can be thankful that we even have a decent presentation of this lost art/exploitation film.
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 is like the picture, serviceable. Sound has a nice organic feel to it, but does have some unevenness at times. And, I could swear there was some dubbing issues in a small portion of the film. The big drawback is the lack of subtitles. With both Shaw’s and McDowell’s thick accents it can be hard to catch every word, and you may find yourself turning up the sound as you hit the rewind button. Also, there are no bonuses.
So, you may wonder, “Why catch this one?” Because it truly is a small gem for film lovers. It’s also cool to think what the film might have been like with the original cast…Peter O’Toole in the McDowell role. This is definitely one worthy to check out.
Lowest Price – $19.33 – Amazon
