Based on Robert Cormier’s controversial novel – once the most widely banned book in America -this “starkly beautiful” (San Francisco Chronicle) allegory of abusive power is set in a Catholic boy’s school where a chocolate sale becomes a war over conformity. Jerry (Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Weird Science) is a student who refuses to take part, undercutting ambitious school administrator Brother Leon (John Glover, Scrooged). Leon secretly enlists Archie (Wallace Langham, credited as Wally Ward, Ford v. Ferrari) – the sadistic mastermind of the school’s resident gang – to force Jerry into line. But motives and results are far more complex than they first seem in this ‘fascinating film done with style, with care and with excellence” (Los Angeles Times)
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Video Quality
The Chocolate War debuts on Blu-Ray via the MVD Rewind Collection with a 1080p transfer that appears to be sourced from an older master that has not had much work done to it. There is room for improvement if it were to receive a new scan, but this transfer is not too shabby as it retains natural film grain that resolves without much issue. This film is strongest in daytime scenes, as shadowy sequences can often come up short when called to provide distinct outlines or perfect clarity. Black levels display a slightly milky appearance which lacks depth. There are moments of crush and banding which do not ruin the transfer but are worth noting. Colors are not incredibly vibrant by nature of the dusky aesthetic. The transfer does reveal some fine detail, but some moments run on the soft side or experience fluctuations in density. Detail comes through in the production design and texture of clothing. A small amount of nicks and scratches pop up here and there, but the track avoids significant damage. While we would not pass up a new scan in the future, this transfer is solid.
Audio Quality
MVD Entertainment brings us this new Blu-Ray with a LPCM 2.0 track that does the trick. The disc also comes with a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track that would have been nice to have in lossless form. Environmental effects are precisely defined from the chatter in the classroom to the scraping of chairs against the floor. This track maintains its fidelity without any major instances of age related wear and tear. The dialogue comes through without issue as it works in harmony with all competing sounds. The music adds a formidable thematic undercurrent to the feature as it flows through the room. This track presents this film perfectly well. Optional English (SDH), French and Spanish subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Keith Gordon provides a commentary track in which he discusses the place of music in this film, the thought process behind certain characters and casting choices, discovering and trying to honor the source material, working within a low budget and more.
- Interview with Direction Keith Gordon: A nearly 52-minute piece with Gordon which gives a really great overview of the director, making his directing debut with The Chocolate War, the circumstances that lead to this opportunity, his early career as an actor, and so much more that gives you so much information about this fascinating artist.
- Trailers: This disc provides the two-minute trailer for The Chocolate War. The disc also features trailers for other MVD releases including Disturbing Behavior, Canadian Bacon and Vampire’s Kiss.
- Poster: A fold-out poster of the cover art is included in the case.
Final Thoughts
The Chocolate War is a quietly enveloping tale of conformity and abuse of power that cleverly uses the innocuous process of school fundraising to explore weighty themes. The performances are very strong in general, but John Glover is especially entrancing in his wickedness. It is difficult to find movies of this ilk these days, so you have to appreciate what we had. MVD Entertainment has offered up a new Blu-Ray with a pretty decent A/V presentation, a couple of great special features and some nice packaging. If you appreciate a character-driven drama with rich social themes, pick this one up. Recommended
The Chocolate War is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.