How to Get Ahead in Advertising (Criterion Collection): Blu-Ray Review
Arriving on special edition Blu-ray from Criterion is Bruce Robinson’s 1989 dark comedy, How to Get Ahead in Advertising, starring Richard E. Grant. This feature was Robinson’s sophomore film and to be honest, I completely forgot how dark this thing goes. It’s been more than 3 decades since my last viewing and while I remembered certain aspects, it almost felt like a first-time watch.
The story centers on advertising executive Denis Dimbleby Bagley (Grant), whose latest project is to come up with an advert for a new pimple cream. While Denis is normally very successful at his job, the latest advert causes him to have a nervous breakdown. Not only does Denis start blaming the ethics of his work for the current downfall of society, but he starts to grow a massive boil on his neck, which his wife Julia (Rachel Ward) thinks is caused from stress.
To make matters even worse, the boil not only starts to grow, but also forms a face and voice. As Denis begins to think more about the ethics of his work and the damage of advertising, the more the boil wants to take control over Denis’ body. This is because the boil doesn’t agree with its host sudden found sense of morals. Not only is Denis and his loud-mouth boil putting a strain on his marriage, but also on the relationships with their friends. The boil does eventually take over Denis’ body and displays zero ethics. The former boil loves the evil of advertising and refuses to let his former host take control once again.
How to Get Ahead in Advertising is definitely a body-horror film as-well-as a satirical comedy that feels honest, though sometimes misguided. Grant is the true star here and perfect in the role. His decent into madness is truly fun to watch. Fans of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde will see some similarities in the narrative, but Robinson makes the film his own.
The Blu-ray’s 2K restoration was supervised by D.P. Peter Hannan and includes a 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio track. This is the same transfer that Arrow released in the U.K. back in 2014 as part of the Withnail and I box-set. However, this is the first time it has been released in the U.S. This is a great looking transfer with skin tones looking natural and locations, like the Bagley home looking detailed and vibrant. The 2.0 audio track is a little more than serviceable for this mostly dialogue-driven film. If you are a fan pf How to Get Ahead in Advertising, you will most likely be pleased with Criterion’s released and will also be surprised just how relevant it feels more than 30 years later.
Bonus Features:
- 2K digital restoration, supervised by director of photography Peter Hannan, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- New documentary featuring interviews with writer-director Bruce Robinson and actor Richard E. Grant
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: An essay by critic David Cairns
By: Marc Ferman