American Gangster 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

American Gangster 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Universal has released Director Ridley Scott's acclaimed 2007 Crime Thriller 'American Gangster' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and DTS:X audio. The UHD includes two cuts of the film. The bundled Blu-ray is identical to that which Universal released in 2008 and contains all of the supplements for this set; only the audio commentary track (theatrical cut only) carries over to the UHD disc..

American Gangster 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

American Gangster makes its UHD debut with a stellar 2160p/HDR presentation. The UHD delivers a substantial leap in quality over the aged VC-1 Blu-ray. Scott and Cinematographer Harris Savides (Zodiac, The Game, Milk) shot the movie on film and per IMDB it was finished at 4K for this release. The city street locations find a major boost to total clarity and sharpness. Its a night-and-day difference with a much greater feel for gritty life and vibrancy even to the gray-dominant urban landscape. Pavement and bricks and the human beings who walk, sit, and mingle within this world find ample sharpness that reaches well beyond the Blu-ray's comparatively paltry, flat, and fuzzy presentation. Beyond the razor-sharp urban areas, intimate character presentations enjoy greatly boosted attention to detail. Pores are very deep and natural while other skin details, including hair, present with an organic clarity and intimate definition that also extends to the period clothes. The picture maintains a dense but organic grain structure, a tonally vital component that the UHD presents with incredible accuracy and consistency. It makes for a very flattering look for the movie. There appears to be a few trace remnants of edge enhancement; look at a building at the 8:53 mark on the extended cut for one of the most readily obvious examples. The picture is otherwise in fine shape in terms of print stability and encode accuracy.

The HDR color improvements refine the palette, bringing more life even to a movie that is somewhat gray and bleak and tonally depressed. There's a substantial shift to firmer, more accurate colors. There's not a color spectrum reorganization but the palette is deeper, more flattering, more perfectly nuanced and realistic. The movie's gritty tenor thrives under the UHD parameters, bringing out far more impressive urban tones in the many densely packed city exteriors. Period clothes enjoy greatly improved accuracy as well, presenting with far greater screen command than the Blu-ray. Skin tones are more authentic and full. Black levels depth is terrific throughout while whites appear more crisp and intense, ranging from on-screen text to dress shirts. This is a fairly significant improvement but, again, it's not an alteration. The movie looks very natural and the HDR colors have been carefully applied to flatter and enhance the movie rather than rework it any way. This is a monumental upgrade in total that, even with a couple of very minor flaws, represents one of the more dramatic overhauls from Blu-ray to UHD yet.

American Gangster 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

American Gangster's DTS:X soundtrack proves just as vital an upgrade as the accompanying UHD video. The presentation is exemplary, a finely engineered bit of sonic art that recreates the film's locations and time period with seamless sonic delivery. The track's best moments come where least expected. City atmospherics spring to life with remarkable vitality, clarity, and perfect immersion. The overhead channels and additional rear surrounds work wonders to completely and fully pull the audience into any of many locations throughout the film, with dense city streets the most agreeably complex. Clarity is equal to the task. Individual sounds are distinct and the larger, harmonious landscape is likewise perfectly detailed. Music enjoys superior detail and flawless stage engagement. The front carries the main elements with perfect detail and width; speakers literally melt away as the score files into the stage, aided by equally lifelike surround support and just the right amount of low end compliment. Action effects are realistic. Gunfire is strikingly loud and sharp and deep and other sounds of frenzied chaos are, like everything else, perfectly proportioned and remarkably detailed. Dialogue is firm in its front-center positioning. Vocal detail is lifelike and words are always perfectly prioritized. This is a fantastic soundtrack. Note that the DTS:X soundtrack is the only audio option available for the extended cut; the French and Spanish DTS tracks (and the audio commentary) are exclusive to the Theatrical cut.

American Gangster 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The UHD disc includes only the audio commentary track with Director Ridley Scott and Writer Steve Zaillian. It also includes two cuts of the film: Theatrical (2:36:52) and Extended (2:55:47). Note that the commentary track is only available with the theatrical cut. The bundled Blu-ray is identical that which Universal released over a decade ago. See below for a listing of what's included on that disc and please click here for full supplemental content coverage. This release also includes a Movies Anywhere digital copy code and ships with an embossed slipcover.

• Audio Commentary: Theatrical cut only.
• U-Control: Extended cut only.
• Deleted Scenes
• Fallen Empire: Making American Gangster
• Case Files
• Hip-Hop Infusion Featuring Common and T.I.
• The BET Special: The Making of American Gangster
• Dateline NBC: American Gangster First Look
• Music Videos
• Theatrical Trailer

American Gangster 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is a UHD upgrade. Universal's UHD release of American Gangster represents one of the more drastic improvements from Blu-ray to UHD. The picture is stellar, naturally filmic, and absolutely gorgeous from start to finish. The audio presentation is equally enjoyable. No new extras are included, but the carryover content is thorough. Very highly recommended.