Blu Ray Review: Performance (1970)- Criterion Collection

Aaron ConnBlu-Ray Review, Movies, MusicLeave a Comment

Performance Blu Ray

Performance Blu RayTwo months into the year of 2025, the Criterion Collection have graced movie lovers with some solid releases. Those movie lovers looking something a little more musical might be interested in their latest release: Nicolas Roeg and Donald Cammell’s Performance. While released in 1970, Performance was filmed in 1968. For the two years it was shelved, Warner Brothers didn’t know what do with it: its mix of violent and sexual content was a bit too much for people to digest. While it eventually received an unceremonious release, the movie has gone on to attain a cult following. Filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan have cited this movie as influential and it’s often on lists as one of the greatest British movies ever made.  Performance has certainly earned its spot in the Criterion Collection and this release does the movie justice.

The Movie
Performance is a story about two different worlds during the times of swinging London in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The main character is Chas (James Fox), a British gangster who intimidates or “performs” for people. While living a decent life of violence and kinky sex, a series of circumstances cause Chas to hide out from his mafia boss. While on the run, he seeks sanctuary in a house owned by a reclusive rock star named Turner (Mick Jagger). While Chas thinks he’ll be safe, he’s not prepared for the mind games that Turner and his friends have prepared for him.

James Fox

James Fox as Chas

There’s some themes and meanings that can be taken out of watching Performance. The most notable of them is the theme of identity: Chas thinks he has his life figured out by living a somewhat hedonistic lifestyle of a 30-something year old white male. Chas is a man constantly looking in a mirror, focused on his image and how people see him. This, however, comes with a downside of working under the thumb (pun slightly intended) of his mafia boss Harry Flowers. While hiding out at Turner’s, Chas gets the chance to open his mind with the bohemian “freaks” that Turner associates himself with. Though as the movie goes on, it turns out that Chas and Turner might have more in common than the viewer thinks.

The acting in the movie is quite strong. James Fox throws himself into the role of Chas. He gives a great performance (pun slightly intended, once more) and quite believable. Some have noticed that Performance is one of Fox’s last acting roles until 1983’s Runners. Of what’s been written, Fox took a break from acting and became an evangelical Christian. Whether his time filming this movie had any impact on that is left for debate. For what it is, Fox’s performance is solid.

Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger as Turner

Mick Jagger, in one of his first acting roles, charms as the enigmatic Turner. Of what’s been said, Jagger is said to have based his performance of Turner from his Rolling Stones bandmate Brian Jones. At the time of the movie’s release, Jones’ interest in the Stones was beginning to slip. Jagger isn’t necessarily mimicking Jones but he gives a performance that may leave the viewer slightly disturbed.  There’s a mystique to the character of Turner and Jagger captures that. Jagger even sings in the movie, with the musical sequence in the movie (“Memo from Turner”) being the stand out scene from the movie. Also in the movie is actress Anita Pallenberg, once the girlfriend of Brian Jones and (at the time of  filming) the partner of Keith Richards. Pallenberg plays Pherber, one of Turner’s roommates/lovers. She also gives a solid performance and serves as eye candy for  movie goers.

If the movie had any downsides, it would be some of the pacing. The writing na/or transitions from one scene to another isn’t perfect and the movie can become self indulgent. Though when these weaknesses are pushed aside, Performance can be appreciated as a surreal time capsule.

The Supplements

Anita Pallenberg

Anita Pallenberg as Pherber

Performance comes with several special features. They are as follows:

  • Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance (1998)- documentary on writer/director Donald Cammell
  • Influence and Controversy: Making Performance (2007)- ten minute documentary on the making of the movie
  • (NEW) A visual essay about the movie’s dialogue coach/technical advisor David Litvinoff
  • (NEW) A featurette with interviews of the cast of Performance.
  • program on the overdubbing done for the US version of the movie
  • the making of the “Memo from Turner” sequence
  • A booklet with essays from Ryan Gilbey and Peter Wollen

Most of the features were already released on the 2007 re-release of the movie from Warner Brothers, which was first DVD release of the movie. The Donald Cammell documentary can be found on YouTube, though it looks far better on the Blu ray. Unused outtakes from the 1998 documentary were used to make the new featurette with all of the cast members talking. While there might not be any brand new footage of James Fox or Mick Jagger talking about the movie, these supplements are still great.

Conclusion
Criterion have done it once again with this release of Performance. The new remaster of the movie looks splendid and the supplements all make a case for what makes this movie such a beloved cult classic. Even if you already own the 2007 DVD, do yourself a favor and immerse yourself into the world of Performance.

Movie Rating: 7/10
Release Rating: 7.5/10

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