This special limited edition J-card MediaBook slipcase (designed by Haunt Love) is limited to 5,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Taking its name from the Lumière Brothers invention of the same name, Cinématographe is a new sub-label from Vinegar Syndrome that seeks to fill gaps in the canon of American cinema. Offering a mix of auteur driven studio films produced during the New Hollywood era of the late 1960s and 70s all the way through the indie boom of the 1980s and 90s, Cinématographe will explore the wide breadth of American moviemaking, spanning numerous genres and scales of production. Curated and produced by Vinegar Syndrome's Justin LaLiberty, each limited edition release will be housed in a specially designed, cloth-bound, media book with embossed foil titles and custom molded disc trays accompanied by a slipcase featuring newly commissioned art and an individually numbered J-card.
Former evangelist Bill Hill (Christopher Walken, King of New York), discovers Juvenal (Skeet Ulrich, Scream), a purported miracle worker who can heal people simply by touching them and bears the marks of stigmata on his body. Hill, no stranger to exploiting others, sees a potential fortune in Juvenal and primes him for show business but Hill’s plans go awry when the woman he entrusts to seduce Juvenal (Bridget Fonda, Jackie Brown) falls for him and a fundamentalist reverend (Tom Arnold, True Lies) threatens to put a stop to the whole enterprise.
Based on a novel by noted crime author Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty, Jackie Brown) and adapted for the screen and directed by Paul Schrader (Hardcore, Affliction), TOUCH is a burst of post-Tarantino dark comedy, matching Leonard’s offbeat characters with Schrader’s unwavering examination of theology in America. Featuring an ensemble cast that also includes the likes of Gina Gershon (Bound), Lolita Davidovich (Raising Cain), Paul Mazursky (director of An Unmarried Woman), Janeane Garofalo (Reality Bites) and LL Cool J as himself, TOUCH is quintessential Paul Schrader and ripe for rediscovery. Cinématographe is proud to present this often overlooked entry in the career of one of America’s most prized filmmakers in its first ever blu-ray release, sourced from a new 2K scan of its 35mm interpositive.
directed by: Paul Schrader starring: Bridget Fonda, Christopher Walken, Skeet Ulrich, Gina Gershon, Tom Arnold, Paul Mazursky, LL Cool J, Lolita Davidovich 1997 / 96 min / 1.85:1 / English DTS-HD MA Dolby Stereo
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
New 2K restoration from the 35mm Interpositive with original Dolby Stereo soundtrack
New video interview with writer/director Paul Schrader
New audio commentary with film historians Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell
New video essay by Daniel Kremer
Essays by film critics Chris Cabin and Bilge Ebiri and filmmaker/writer Cosmo Bjorkenheim
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.3296704 / 5 from 273 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
The Touch Blu-ray Limited Edition from Cinématographe is highly praised for its exceptional quality, beautiful packaging, and outstanding film transfer. The ensemble cast and Paul Schrader's direction are also lauded, though some find the comedy offbeat. This release includes new interviews, commentaries, and essays, making it a must-have for fans of American cinema.
"Paul Shrader's most sensitive and less out there effort is a sensitive mild comedy with heart!" — LUIS C.
"Interesting film with fantastic packaging and transfer." — Nathaniel M.
"Beautiful transfer and great special features/ unparalleled packaging." — Samuel B.
Reviews
Tom Arnold is an underrated actor
"Amazing film, but unfortunately I ordered the wrong thing - I already owned this and sold it, as I wanted the standard edition (the limited edition boxes are HUGE and take up far too much shelf space). For some reason I somehow managed to order the limited edition again! I'll wait for it to come up again in the sale and make sure I get the right edition next time. I already reviewed the film previously I think, but in short - it's absolutely brilliant. Superb cast and although it doesn't feel 100% complete, I really enjoyed watching it all the same."
— Sam N. (5/5)
The treatment of this film
"The treatment of this film upgraded to 4k is great. The cast is interesting and well put together. You should make a spot for this in your collection to see what its like to watch. Good for cinephiles who like odd stuff."
— Bradley T. (5/5)
Superficial Hoopla
"Three stars for Bridget Fonda- in white t-shirt -who I fell in love with. I feel she carried the movie. Also for the director Paul Schrader who is one of my favorite directors. New footage of him in extras discussing the movie. Found this movie to be boring even with Schrader channeling Tarantino. I think it was 96 minutes yet took me 3 days to get through. There are too many characters and they all were superficial creeps that I didn't care about. The director mentioned that mixing religion with crude humor and sex is not easy to pull off. "you ever play carnival? I'll sit on your face and you guess my weight". . . I found the last shot of this movie to be ugly and it said it all- its supposed to be hopeful yet it just put me in a depression. I am happy Cinematographe put this out though. I can slide this into my Paul Schrader section of my collection."
— david t. (3/5)
Touch Me
"I love this line of VS. Can’t wait to dive deep into what I feel is a forgotten gem."
— Ian R. (5/5)
Paul Schrader brings it!
"This edition is filled with extras along with an amazing restoration."
— Thomas E. (5/5)
Lesser Schrader
"This is lesser Schrader but still good Schrader."
— Frank M. (3/5)
Good
"Haven't heard of it, now Happy I've seen it"
— Matthew R. (4/5)
Odd but enjoyable
"Definitely feels like a movie only from the 90s but in a good way! Great performances and excellent transfer and packaging."
— Craig G. (5/5)
Cinematographe Always Does Cool Stuff!
"I don't know enough to know if I'd recommend this one, but the effort that Cinematographe always puts into their releases makes me believe each and every title is worth it. I'm glad to check out this release, I'm always in for Skeet Ulrich, Bridget Fonda, and plenty more on the cast and it's cool to see the video era get a transfer upgrade like this."
— Jake B. (5/5)
I was touched
"Paul Schrader's adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel is a brilliantly cynical dark comedy A great discovery for me."
— Kevin G. (5/5)
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