Review: Milos Forman's 'Ragtime' Earns Reappraisal with New Blu-ray

Although filmmaker Milos Forman made films across multiple genres, the common thread of someone facing incredible adversity ran through many of them. "Ragtime," his adaptation of the 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow, is no exception to the rule. The massive scope of the novel is approached by Forman as a way to detail the many inequalities that ran rampant in NYC at the turn of the 20th century, but it zeroes in on one particular story in its longest section with more than enough life to sustain such a handsome Hollywood production. But, as is Forman's wont, the focus on that one story reverberates across the entire film to create something narratively fulfilling.

Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment brings Milos Forman's "Ragtime" to Blu-ray as an entry in their Paramount Presents line of home entertainment releases. The 1080p presentation is sourced from a new 4K restoration of the theatrical cut. Included in this edition is the never-before-seen director's cut workprint of the film, which adds about 20 minutes of new footage. While I can't comment on the differences between the two versions, I can stand firm in my assessment that what Paramount has done here is slightly incredible. The director's cut workprint is less a director's cut, as Forman passed away in 2018 and couldn't collaborate on such a project.

Paramount has carried over the supplements previously produced for the 2004 release, which includes a commentary by Forman and executive producer Michael Hausman. As for new features, deleted and extended scenes have been added, and a really great talk between screenwriter Larry Karaszewski and "Ragtime" screenwriter Michael Weller is included. It should go without saying here that this is the best that "Ragtime" has looked in eons, and the addition of the director's cut workprint makes this an essential release if you're a fan of Forman's work.

While the novel concerns the lives of many people during the turn of the century, Forman's adaptation focuses more on the story of Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Howard E. Rollins Jr.), a Black musician wrongfully insulted by a group of vicious volunteer firemen led by Willie Conklin (Kenneth McMillan). Running in parallel to this thread, newly divorced Evelyn Nesbit (Elizabeth McGovern) tries to make a go for stardom, and erstwhile Jewish man Tateh (Mandy Patinkin) leaves his unfaithful wife and takes their kid to a hopefully better life.

Based upon my slipshod description above, I bet you're wondering just how unwieldy the film becomes given all the stories. Forman definitely gives all these disparate threads their time in court, showcasing the passage of time and progression of major events through short film loops that look torn from the early 1900s. If you're interested at all in Forman's adaptation of "Ragtime," I urge you to pick this release up posthaste.

Other special features include:

� Remembering "Ragtime"

"Ragtime" is available now on Blu-ray from Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment.