Search - The Loveless on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Brief Nudity, Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1982 DVD Release: 11/16/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 22 mins Studio: Blue Underground Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Drama, Biker Film

The period biker flick The Loveless marks the feature debut of both actor Willem Dafoe and writer/director Kathryn Bigelow (Strange Days). Bigelow co-wrote and co-directed the film with Monty Montgomery, who would go on to produce Wild at Heart and The Portrait of a Lady. Dafoe plays Vance, a stoic, leather-clad biker who rides into a small Southern town and to wait for some other bikers. Their plan is to travel on to Daytona for some racing, but they have to stick around the little truck stop town for a while to get one of their bikes repaired. Vance flirts a bit with Augusta (Liz Gans), a widowed waitress. She's the only local who's friendly to him and his gang. Contemplating living in such a depressed, isolated place, Vance tells her, "I think your husband had the right idea." While the bikes are worked on, Vance and the gang, including the abrasive Davis (rockabilly musician Robert Gordon, who also composed the film's soundtrack) and his girlfriend, Debbie (Tina Lhotsky), spend the day in town, to the chagrin of the conservative residents. Vance hooks up with Telena (Marin Kanter), the rebellious teenage daughter of a rich redneck. Their little tryst creates even more tension, and the day ends with violence. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Willem Dafoe - Vance
Robert Gordon
Marin Kanter - Telena
J. Don Ferguson - Tarver

This languid and arty spin on the conventions of classic biker movies has been given a strong presentation on this DVD re-release from Blue Underground. The Loveless has been given a letterboxed transfer at the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, which has also been enhanced for anamorphic play on 16 x 9 monitors; the images look great, and make the most of the color schemes of Doyle Smith's cinematography. The audio has been presented in three formats; the original single-channel sound mix is preserved in Dolby Digital Mono, while two new multi-channel mixes appear in Dolby Digital Surround and Dolby Digital 5.1. No subtitles or multiple language options are included. Most notable among the bonus materials is a commentary track featuring leading man Willem Dafoe and directors Kathryn Bigelow and Monty Montgomery, in which they offer plenty of background on the making of the movie. Other bonus materials include the film's original trailer and a large gallery of still photos and advertising materials. This is a fine presentation of the sort of genre film that often slips through the cracks, and Blue Underground has done a superb job of bringing it to DVD. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide