‘Millennium Mambo’ Blu-Ray Review – A Transfixing Memory Piece From Hou Hsiao-Hsien

A stylish and seductive submersion into the techno-scored neon nightlife of Taipei, Hou’s much-misunderstood marvel stars Shu Qi (The Assassin) as an aimless bar hostess drifting away from her blowhard boyfriend and towards Jack Kao’s suave, sensitive gangster. Structured as a flashback to the then-present from the then-future of 2011, it’s a transfixing trance-out of a movie, drenched in club lights, ecstatic endorphin-rush exhilaration, and a nagging undercurrent of ennui.

For thoughts on Millennium Mambo, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/I-VIuFV2RSo?t=1727]

Video Quality

Millennium Mambo comes to Blu-Ray with a fantastic new digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 original aspect ratio derived from a 4K restoration. This new restoration gives the film its proper due with a controlled grain structure that resolves evenly without getting clumpy or overwhelming. Print damage and other flaws are no longer  an issue, and overall clarity and detail is terrific. This transfer avoids any trace of digital noise or anything of that persuasion. Black levels are deep with good detail in shadows and very little in the way of crush. The story offers up a few different types of environments such as the shabby apartment, the colorful nightlife and even snowy streets, and this transfer reveals subtle details within every bit of production design, clothing and scenery. Metrograph Pictures and Kino Lorber have delivered a mighty presentation for this Hou Hsiao-Hsien feature. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a stellar DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track in the original Mandarin with optional English subtitles. Dialogue stays planted clearly in the center channel of the mix without being overshadowed by competing sounds. With notable stretches of the film gently following the main character, environmental sounds throughout the city stand out and are rendered admirably alongside everything else. The soundtrack brings such a distinct energy to the story, and it comes through with a pleasing fidelity. The track does not experience any instances of age-related wear and tear. This audio presentation is every bit as good as the video side of the equation. 

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Rolling Stone film critic K. Austin Collins provides a great commentary track in which he discusses his relationship to the film, the career of Hou Hsiao-Hsien, how this film served as more of a breakout internationally, the themes on display, the visual motifs and more. 

• Video Essay by Cristina Alvarez and Adrian Martin: A nearly ten-minute deconstruction of a scene from the film which looks at it from a visual and audio perspective in minute detail. 

• Re-Release Trailer: This disc provides the two-minute Re-Release trailer. 

Final Thoughts

Millennium Mambo is a compelling memory piece from Taiwanese auteur Hou Hsiao-Hsien. There is a propulsive style that makes this narrative so entrancing even when the character development is less overt than you might be used to. The film is precisely crafted to use its visuals to tell the story in a way that embodies the maxim of “show don’t tell,” although the sound work is just as acutely considered as the visual journey. The performances are truly terrific as they complement the needs of the narrative effortlessly. This is a movie that lingers in your mind after you have finished it and grows fonder in your heart the more you reflect on it. Metrograph Pictures and Kino Classics have delivered a Blu-Ray with an excellent A/V presentation and an informative couple of supplements. If you are a fan of international cinema, this is a great one to seek out. Recommended 

Millennium Mambo is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and Digital. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Metrograph Pictures and Kino Lorber have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.