Plot: What’s it about?
Ned Merrill (Burt Lancaster) has been gone most of the summer, but now he has returned to his affluent suburb. While he is back in the physical sense, he is still gone in some ways and has always been absent in those respects. Ned has neglected some of the people he holds dearest to his heart, which has caused him immense anguish. He has lied, betrayed, and ignored those he most loved, including himself. Some of his dreams have been crushed and buried, sometimes due to various deceptions of his own creation. But all those lost dreams and deceptions have taken a toll on him, one which he cannot bear much longer. So when he arrives back in his suburb, he takes notice of the string of swimming pools that line the area. He has been in each one and knows the owners, so the pools form a kind of memory lane for Ned. He decides to go home, but instead of taking the sidewalk, he will swim his way back to his residence. As he passes through each pool, a portion of his life is retold and as he revisits these memories, he also confronts the people involved, for better or worse. His passions, deceptions, and humiliations all come back to the surface, as he remembers the steps he took to reach this place. But when he finally reaches his own house, what will he find there and how will this unusual excursion impact his life?
I’ve seen a lot of movies that people described as one of a kind, but not very many manage to live up to that reputation. But a rare selection of movies actually stand as unique, one of a kind productions and this is one of those pictures. The premise is an unusual one, but it allows for such intense emotion, you’ll be stunned almost right from the start. There is such a sense of despair that hangs over this material, its a relief when we’re taken under the surface, which is where our main character finds his solace. As with most movies about the suburbs, The Swimmer deals with the social caste and its consequences, but this is not the typical satiric look at yuppies and their suburban existence. Instead, we’re shown a man’s journey through an incredible emotional breakdown, even as he continues the facades of his lifestyle. He still goes through the motions, at least for a while, but you can tell it is all an act, just a method to rush through the idle social content, so as to get into the water at each household. The concept seems kind of odd and it is, but it is executed to sheer perfection, no doubt about it. The terror isn’t the kind you find in horror movies, as it is very natural and realistic, which is much scarier, if you ask me. I cannot recommend The Swimmer enough, though I wish Columbia had done more with this release. Even so, the movie is so damn good, even this barebones disc is worth a purchase.
As good as this material is, without the right person in the central role, it would have sunk to the bottom of the pool. But in this case, the filmmakers landed Burt Lancaster, who hands in a superb performance. Lancaster has been in countless movies and delivered numerous great efforts, but even so, I have to rank his work here among his finest. In truth, I was stunned the first time I viewed The Swimmer, as his presence is so unnerving. He is able to bring across a sense of despair with just enough terror, never pushing it too much. We need his character to be chilling, but never too much of a threat, given his place in the social realm. His mind has been broken and battered, but his relief comes in an unusual ritual, not violence or what not. Lancaster knocks it out of the park in this picture, with a simply flawless overall effort. He went through a lot to keep in prime condition for this movie also, so he worked hard to nail this role and it paid off, with one of the best performances of his storied career. Other films with Lancaster include The Unforgiven, Separate Tables, The Killers, Field of Dreams, and Ulzana’s Raid. The cast also includes Janice Rule (Bell Book and Candle, The Chase), Kim Hunter (Two Evil Eyes, Planet of the Apes), and David Garfield (The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, White Line Fever).
Video: How does it look?
The Swimmer is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. I am glad to be able to own this movie in widescreen, since the laserdisc edition was full screen, so we have an improved visual presence from the start. This movie has some years behind it, which results in a soft visual scheme, but this could have been intentional to an extent. I compare this to a lot of 1970s pictures, as it has a soft visual presence, but it seems natural throughout. The print has minimal signs of debris and grain, so you can’t knock the softness much, as it doesn’t diminish the visuals, its just kind of there. I know it sounds odd, but once you’ve seen this transfer, you’ll understand what I mean. The colors are bright and natural in scope, while flesh tones remain warm and normal. The softness does lessen the black levels a shade, but contrast is still more than solid at all times. All in all, this is a terrific presentation and the material has held up well.
Audio: How does it sound?
A basic stereo option is provided here, but don’t be concerned, as it handles all the needs of the material. The sounds of the pool come across well, so all the splashes and waves are smooth and well presented. You won’t feel like you’re poolside, but the mix is solid and no problems surface in the least. The music has a good presence, though of course, isn’t as expansive as a true surround option could allow. Even so, the music and sound effects are in fine form, so no reason for complaint in the slightest. The dialogue is smooth and clean also, so no muffled moments or volume troubles can be detected. This disc also includes subtitles in English, French, Korean, and Japanese, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
