Flashdance (4k Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

“The hit movie that became a cultural sensation dazzles on 4k Ultra-HD approved by director Adrian Lyne. Delivering an electrifying mix of music, drama and dance, Jennifer Beals stars as Alex, a fiercely determined 18-year-old with one all-consuming dream to study at the Pittsburg Conservatory of Dance. Working during the day as a welder and at night as an exotic dancer, she bravely pursues her dream and undertakes an unforgettable journey that reveals the power of her convictions. Featuring the Oscar-winning song “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” performed and co-written by Irene Cara and the iconic global hit “Maniac.””

The film opens as we’re introduced to Alex riding her bicycle to work, a construction site where she works as a welder. As the day winds down, construction boss Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri) walks through the site and later gets a drink with his friend at Mawby’s Bar, where Alex also works during the evening as a dancer. Captivated by her performance, Nick’s friend tells him that she works for him. The next morning, Nick introduces himself to her and is immediately taken with her, but she’s reluctant to get involved, as it would take away from her focus on her hard work to get into the Pittsburg Conservatory of Dance. Despite all her hard work, dedication and discipline she puts herself through, she can’t go through with the application process, fearing that she’ll fail. Throughout all her hardships, she must learn to believe in herself and her abilities to follow her dream.

Flashdance is a direct result of the MTV era, a feature-length music-video, but with so much more depth and heart than you might expect. It has given us some of the most iconic songs from the 80s, set to a story of inspiration that encourages you to never give up on your dreams.

You can probably count on your fingers the number of dance related films out there, and I’m not sure I had seen any of them growing up during the height of their popularity. The story of Flashdance is a fairly straightforward one, actually based on a real-life welder/dancer. When you think about it, there really aren’t many ways to take a story about dancing other than to win some kind of competition or prestige, unless you’re Footloose, so this story isn’t going to be groundbreaking in any manner in terms of narrative, but what it does achieve is the unique way in which the story is told. It might not have the depth of some films, but you sure can’t help but smile when Jennifer Beals gives it her all in her final dance audition.

The character of Alex isn’t necessarily written well, but the look about her speaks volumes about her character and her background. Riding her bike to work as a welder at eighteen years old in a primarily male dominated profession, then to work nights in a profession she loves, a mostly female dominated profession, is a very interesting reversal. When she first goes to apply to the Conservatory, she is entirely out of place in her trapper hat, thick jacket, jeans and heavy boots, making her feel like an outsider in a world she desperately wants to be a part of. She’s got strong convictions, wanting to achieve her dreams on her own, but scared that she never will. A lot of people can identify with all of this, which I think is why her character is so relatable and the source of such inspiration. Her relationship with Nick doesn’t get front and center of the film, but it does give Alex a glimpse of what it is like to have someone there willing to be there for you and help you any way they can. She is reluctant at first to accept, but the growth of the relationship and how badly she wants her dream to come to fruition allows it.

The film has a few interesting side characters that give the film a bit more depth, but not much. The ice-skater who wants the approval of her parents even though she messes up, the cook who’s dream is to become a stand-up comedian in L.A., all represent basically the same thing as Alex does, but also demonstrates how common a theme this is to everyone in the world, no matter what the age.

Video

Flashdance is presented in 2160p Ultra High-Definition Widescreen 1.85:1 featuring Dolby Vision. Approved by the director, this newly released 4k looks amazing, with a crisp and clear picture, full of detail, with the grain kept at a manageable level throughout. There are some very interesting dance sequences that Lyne does utilizing light and dark, and these look absolutely spectacular. Colors are rich and vibrant, keeping with that 80s tone. The Paramount Presents release had a fantastic transfer, this goes above and beyond that to make it look even better.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Flashdance is known for one thing: the music, and this track does nothing if not highlight those songs that elevated and inspire the audience. Levels sound good, with a nice balance between the surrounds and center channel.

Special Features

The Blu-ray included is the Paramount Presents disc, which includes the same supplemental material:

• Filmmaker Focus: Director Adrian Lyne on Flashdance
• The Look of Flashdance
• Releasing the Flashdance Phenomenon
• Theatrical Trailer

Missing on this set from the original Blu-Ray release include quite a few lengthy featurettes.

Adrian Lyne created something very unique with Flashdance, capturing perfectly the decade it was made and the culture at the time. It is the embodiment of the 80s and even though the dialogue wasn’t the best, or the depth of the story the greatest, it still captivates your attention and you can’t help but to be enthralled by the stellar soundtrack and uplifting message that rings true in any generation. If you’re a die-hard fan of this film, it hasn’t looked any better than this, and the spectacular video transfer alone may be worth the upgrade from Blu-ray. The Paramount Presents release only a few short years ago may deter some, but even so, it’s good to see Paramount working to upgrade titles and continue to release physical media. This one comes out this Tuesday, and is recommended.