Blu-ray Review – Bloodline

There was a frenzy for the rights to turn author Sidney Sheldon's 1977 novel, "Bloodline," into a movie. Paramount Pictures paid big bucks to secure their chance to bring the book's sprawling narrative to the screen, also embracing an occasion to cast the endeavor with a range of accomplished stars, including participation from Audrey Hepburn, who, at this point in her career, showed very little interest in thespian opportunities. Perhaps her instincts were dulled at this point in her life, as she accepts the lead role in a feature that's essentially a mess, though one offering fine technical achievements and a strange commitment from the cast and crew to make something that looks good, but most certainly isn't. "Bloodline" is corporate drama, lurid sexploitation, a whodunit, a love story, and examines the difficulties of family ties. It's everything but ends up mostly nothing, as whatever director Terence Young (who brought the James Bond series up to speed with "Dr. No," "From Russia with Love," and "Thunderball") originally wanted from the offering is torn to shreds by harsh editing. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com