Funny Girl & The Guilt Trip on Blu-ray TODAY!

Consider today a Barbrathon!

Sony Home Entertainment have released FUNNY GIRL on Blu-ray, and Paramount have released THE GUILT TRIP!

I was lucky enough to get advanced copies on both of the above - and they are SPECTACULAR.

First of all, FUNNY GIRL. Wow. WHAT A TREAT! Sony have really done a fantastic job with the restoration. Lovingly restored from the original negative. Blu-ray.com summed it up nicely:

"The 2.35:1-framed print is meticulously clean, showing not a speckle, hair, or any sign of wear. Light grain beautifully floats over the image, giving it a desirable film-like texturing. It's ever-so-slightly soft on the whole

Details are exquisite; the many rich, lavish backdrops, as well as some of the more homely and worn down elements, reveal intimate textures that are beautifully clear and lifelike. Skin textures aren't often deeply intricate -- Streisand in particular takes on a very smooth, but naturally so appearance...

Colors are beautifully reproduced. The balance is striking, whether the film be showering the screen with a parade of bright hues or showcasing some plainer brown and other earthen tones. Black levels are deep and stable, while skin tones appear even.

This is everything a catalogue title should be, a miraculous presentation that's sure to please all comers. "

(The above review has been shortened for this newsletter).

I'd also like to add that the AUDIO on the Blu-ray is a treat. The first thing I did was turn on my surround sound... and went straight to "MY MAN" - and literally blasted it on full belt. Talk about goosebumps.

If you don't have a Blu-ray player, this film is the reason to go and BUY ONE!

There are two vintage featurettes included on the disc from the time of the movie. These were previously released on the DVD release from around a decade ago - but well worth a revisit.

Click here to order Funny Girl.

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"The Guilt Trip" is still fresh in our minds from it's recent cinema release, but when have we ever needed an excuse to re-watch a Barbra movie?

The "extras" included on this release are great, and it's worth buying the disc just to watch them. There's a funny gag reel... alternate opening and closing scenes.... featurettes... behind the scenes footage... interviews with the cast... lots of deleted scenes... and more.

It's a pleasure to see so much behind-the-scenes footage of Barbra on this Blu-ray. It's always rare to see Barbra behind the scenes. Maybe because she hasn't made many movies in the past few decades... but it did strike me how great it was to see her having fun making this movie.

Click here to order The Guilt Trip.

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In memory of Ally Waldman who would have loved today... and would have beautifully reviewed both movies in her own unique way.

Barbra at the White House...

Barbra attended the White House Correspondent's dinner tonight in Washington. Here are some great pix from the event.

RIP Dear Allison Waldman.

Dear Friend:

It's with a very heavy heart that I tell you that dear Allison Waldman passed away this evening in Florida. She had battled cancer on and off for many years, but her latest battle was just too tough to conquer.

Most of you know Allison through the books she had written on Barbra over the years. She was the MOST loyal and faithful fan I had the pleasure of knowing for over 12 years. Barbra could do no wrong in Ally's eyes, and it was so refreshing to "talk Barbra" with Allison many times over the years.

Her one wish was to meet Barbra. She told me enough times! Luckily it happened on October 13th last year, backstage at Barbra's Brooklyn concert. I was with her... and dropped her off at her friend's apartment in Manhattan on the way home. She had the biggest grin all the way to the apartment... and couldn't quite believe her luck. I'll never forget that smile, and that night. For her, it was meant to be.

Here's a great shot, backstage at the Brooklyn Concert with myself, Richard Jay-Alexander and Matt Howe (L-R).

We also all loved her weekly "Sunday with Ally" YouTube videos which she had done over the last few years. She recorded her last video just over two weeks ago. You could tell Ally was struggling... but she didn't want to let us down. Maybe she knew the end was near? Just listen to the opening lines of her video "I'm thinking maybe, baby, I'll go away".

Watch her final video here from March 31: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZR5j17GhVU

Thank you to everyone who donated to her "Nothing's Impossible" appeal over the years. It was a real struggle for Allison to pay for her cancer bills... but the Barbra fans really took the edge off, and came to her rescue. Barbra does have the most generous fans in the world.

RIP Allison. Your generosity will never be forgotten. What a MENSCH you were!

xoxo