The Criterion Blu-ray is presented in a 1080p, AVC MPEG-4 transfer with a 1.66:1 aspect ratio. I enjoyed the impressive visual presentation. The colors are vivid, especially for a 1967 film. The orange flames from the many car accidents burned bright and bold. There is a grain visible, but is likely an accurate representation of the cinematography by Raoul Coutard. I did notice a soft smudge along the edge in some of the brighter scenes, particularly if a skyline was shown, but it was only a minor distraction. Overall the picture was good. The sound is presented as a lossless 1.0 mono mix. The soundtrack is sparse, offering very little in the way of background noise and other ambience. However, the clarity was strong, the French-speaking voices easy to hear.
Criterion has put together a decent set of supplements for this set. The booklet included with the Blu-ray contains an essay by film critic and novelist Gary Indiana. The booklet also contains selections from Alain Bergala’s book Godard au travail: Les années, 60, and an excerpt from a 1969 interview. The disc includes the nearly 30-minute documentary “Revolutions Per Second.” The documentary features an analysis of the film from filmmaker Kent Jones. Jones also provides historical context for the film and an overview of Godard’s career at that point. Also included with the set are interviews with the two lead actors, the cinematographer, and the assistant director. The actor interviews are short, lasting only a few minutes, but the crew interviews total about 45 minutes. There is an eight-minute “On Location” featurette, which shows Godard in action. Lastly, the French and U.S. theatrical trailers are included.
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