10kbullets

Full Body Massage – Unearthed Films (Blu-ray)

Release Date: USA, 1995
Director: Nicolas Roeg
Writer: Dan Gurskis
Cast: Mimi Rogers, Bryan Brown, Christopher Burgard, Elizabeth Barondes, Gareth Williams, Patrick Neil Quinn, Heather Gunn, Gabriella Hall

Release Date: November 14th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 93 Minutes 5 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: LPCM Stereo English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Nina (Mimi Rogers), a successful but world-weary art dealer, is surprised to find that her regular masseur has sent a substitute, Fitch (Bryan Brown), to continue her weekly massage sessions. Fitchs therapeutic caresses, while charged with sexual tension, gain emotional significance as the opinionated pair first clash, and then bond while relaying thoughtful meditations on intimacy and human relationships." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New 2K scan".

Full Body Massage comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.1 GB

Feature: 21.6 GB (1.66:1 Aspect Ratio), 21.6 GB (1.33:1 Aspect Ratio TV Version)

The source used for this brand new 2K scan is in excellent shape. Flesh tones look healthy, color saturation, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look. It should be noted that the version labeled TV version does not look as great as the version that has been given a new 2K scan. That said, the source used for that transfer is in very good shape.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM stereo mix in English. This audio track is in excellent shape. This is a dialog-driven film with limited music and ambient sounds. That said, dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise, this track sounds great. Included are removable English subtitles and removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a trailer (1 minute 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background, the TV version of Full Body Massage (93 minutes 5 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles and removable English SDH), and a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Other extras include trailers for Tokyo Decadence and Nightwish.

Summary:

Directed by Nicolas Roeg, whose other notable films are Walkabout, Don’t Look Now, and The Man Who Fell to Earth.

The narrative revolves around Nina, an art dealer whose weekly massage appointment goes awry when a man named Fitch arrives in the place of her usual masseur. From there, the two slowly get to know each other as Fitch exposes Nina to various massage techniques.

Though there was a resurgence in softcore erotic film in the 1990s due to cable networks that started to make their own late-night adult-oriented content, to simply classify Full Body Massage as a softcore erotic film would be doing it a great disservice and completely missing the point of the film.

Nicolas Roeg had a distinct way of telling a story, and within a few minutes of watching one of his films, it is easy to identify these cinematic flourishes that are unique to him. Notably, his visuals and editing dictate the flow of his narratives, which often employ non-linear structures that jump between present and past.

The narrative builds back story and character depth by juxtaposing moments from Nina and Fitch's past with the present. Also, though the act of massage is the impetus that gets the narrative going, it is ultimately the philosophy behind the process that drives the narrative; what is unfolding is more mental than psychical.

Though there are minor characters who play a role in the story that unfolds, the heart and soul of Full Body Massage are its two leads, Mimi Rogers in the role of Nina and Bryan Brown in the role of Fitch. They both deliver phenomenal performances that are the best of their careers, and they have a tremendous amount of onscreen chemistry.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Full Body Massage does not excel. The premise is superbly realized, and a dialog-driven narrative that's well executed does an exceptional job holding your attention. Also, Full Body Massage is a beautifully photographed film. The most surprising aspect of Full Body Massage is its lack of nudity. Outside of a few moments, most of the nudity is just a bare backside or a side boob. Ultimately, Full Body Massage is an extraordinary exploration of metaphysics.

Full Body Massage gets a solid audio/video presentation from Unearthed Films, highly recommended.