Brazil: Terry Gilliam's Stunning Dystopian Classic Comes to 4K (Criterion 4K/Blu-ray)

The Film:

Celebrated filmmaker, and original member of the beloved Monty Python troupe, Terry Gilliam has delivered a number of films considered to be classics over the course of his remarkable career, including "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (co-directed with Terry Jones), "Time Bandits," "12 Monkeys," and "The Fisher King," but one of his most acclaimed works, and indeed the film that has earned him his only Oscar nomination, remains his grand dystopian epic "Brazil." With the film reaching its 40th anniversary this year, Criterion has decided to celebrate by giving the film a highly-deserved 4K upgrade, making it the perfect time for a revisit to see why this bizarre little sci-fi classic has garnered a reputation that has seen it named as one of the greatest British films of all time.

Taking place in a dystopian future that's become overrun by bureaucracy, we follow Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce), a lowly government worker who often finds himself dreaming of being a brave warrior that saves a mysterious woman. When a bug getting caught in a printer causes the accidental printing of an arrest warrant for an Archibald Buttle, instead of suspected terrorist Archibald Tuttle (Robert De Niro), it leads to the arrest, interrogation, and death of the former, leaving a bit of a mess for Sam and his boss, Mr. Kurtzmann (Ian Holm), to clean up when they discover the error.

When the family of the wrongfully abducted man is overcharged for the arrest, Sam decides that the best way to get the check to them is to deliver it himself. When he does, he happens to notice that the upstairs neighbor, Jill Layton (Kim Greist), looks exactly like the woman from his dreams, leading him to do everything he can to learn more about her, including accepting a promotion to Information Retrieval that his mother arranged. However, the situation is rather complicated given that Jill is considered a terrorist suspect for her inquiries into the Tuttle/Buttle situation on behalf of Mrs. Buttle. Will Sam be able to untangle her from this predicament before he gets in too deep himself?

Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" is a wild, wacky, wonderful trip through a nightmarish landscape where the government has reached Orwellian levels of dominance, where one can hardly make a move without them knowing about it, and where carrying out the smallest action requires that the proper form be filled out. It's one of those films where you just kind of go along for the ride, not knowing what bizarre thing is going to happen next on the journey, or what intriguing path it's going to go down as Sam tries to navigate through this bleak world to help the woman of his dreams.

Indeed, the story is a major part of it, presenting a captivating negative utopia along the lines of "1984," "Brave New World," and "Fahrenheit 451," and giving us a hero that we can easily root for among the madness that has taken over everyday life. For their remarkable tale, it comes to no surprise that screenwriters Gilliam, Tom Stoppard, and Charles McKeown received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, as it's certainly a fascinating story that the viewer is not likely to forget anytime soon, one that keeps them hanging on and fully-engaged for its entire 143-minute duration.

However, perhaps even more memorable than its gripping narrative is the stunning production design that truly helps brings this cold, dark world to life. Utilizing large spaces, models, and futuristic contraptions, designers Norman Garwood and Maggie Gray give this totalitarian landscape its perfect, haunting look, one that draws you into its thrilling tale even more. Just like with its screenplay, it's hardly a shock that it received a much-deserved Oscar nod for Art Direction, though it is a rather big shock that it lost to "Out of Africa" (and that's not to mention that Akira Kurosawa's "Ran" was also in the mix).

With these elements, on top of Gilliam's outstanding direction and a marvelous cast, it's no wonder as to why "Brazil" is held in such high esteem. It's one of those remarkably outlandish cinematic experiences that sticks with you from the first time you see it, one that draws you back over and over, even if it's only to feast on its incredible visuals. It may not have been a success at the box office at the time, but it gained a cult status rather quickly, and with that, a re-appreciation that has come with a highly-respected place in cinematic history. If you've somehow missed out on this dark, haunting classic over the decades, now's the perfect time to catch up and see what all the fuss is about, with Criterion's easily-recommendable new release being the perfect way to do so.

Video/Audio:

This new release comes with the film on both 4K (2160p, UHD) and Blu-ray (1080p, HD) in 1.85:1 transfers of fantastic quality. The new 4K digital restoration, supervised & approved by Gilliam himself, looks absolutely gorgeous, highlighting the film's remarkable, Oscar-nominated production design & stunning cinematography. Likewise, the 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio is outstanding, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and music in excellent quality. Overall, Criterion has done a brilliant job restoring the film in both areas for this new edition.

Special Features:

Audio Commentary by Terry Gilliam

What is Brazil? (29 Minutes)

The Production Notebook

- We're All in It Together (11 Minutes)

- Dreams Unfulfilled: Unfilmed Brazil Storyboards

- Designing Brazil (21 Minutes)

- Flights of Fancy: Brazil's Special Effects (10 Minutes)

- Fashion and Fascism: James Acheson on Brazil's Costume Design (7 Minutes)

- Brazil's Score (10 Minutes)

The Battle of Brazil: A Video History (55 Minutes)

Brazil: The "Love Conquers All" Version (94 Minutes)

The new 4K edition brings with it the entire treasure trove of outstanding extras from the previous release, which includes a commentary from Gilliam himself, tons of behind the scenes material from the Production Notebook, documentaries covering its making & controversial history, and the infamous "Love Conquers All" cut of the film with a happy ending. Definitely plenty of material here for fans looking to learn all about the film.

Conclusion:

Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" is a dark, haunting dystopian classic, featuring an unforgettable tale of a man bravely facing off against a nightmarish bureaucracy to help the woman of his dreams, as well as stunning production design that truly brings this cold totalitarian world to life, ultimately making for an incredible, outlandish cinematic experience that the viewer will not likely forget anytime soon.

Score: 4/5

Now available on Criterion 4K/Blu-ray.

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