7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
In the 1950s Brooklyn a seedy PI is hired by a shady client to track down a singer who reneged on a debt. The investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn.
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet, Charlotte Rampling, Stocker FontelieuHorror | 100% |
Psychological thriller | 77% |
Drama | 74% |
Film-Noir | 58% |
Mystery | 32% |
Supernatural | 25% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Alan Parker's "Angel Heart" (1987) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include vintage audio commentary by the director; various archival cast and crew interviews; featurettes; promotional materials; and more. The release also arrives with a 48-page illustrated booklet featuring Parker's "The Making of the Film, Beat by Beat" as well as technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Angel Heart arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal.
The release is sourced from a brand new 4K restoration and our review of it will be broken into two sections. In the first, you will see comments about the Blu-ray/1080p presentation and how it compares to StudioCanal's previous Blu-ray release of Angel Heart. In the second, you will see comments about the native 4K presentation.
BLU-RAY DISC
A direct comparison between this release and the old release that emerged a decade ago immediately makes it very obvious that now there are numerous stable organic qualities that revive the film's native appearance. For example, in areas where on the old release there is noticeable flatness now there is pleasing depth, with plenty of layered nuances that are crucial for its neo-noirish identity. (On the previous release these ares typically reveal big blocks of flat black).
Quite predictably, grain appears better exposed, not smeary. Colors are stable and nicely balanced. However, here different segments actually have entirely new primaries and tonalities, which introduce new color temperature as well (screencaptures #1 and 14 demonstrate the changes). In darker areas shadow definition is more convincing. However, this is the one area where I think that there is still some room for better balancing work. Indeed, as it is the case with other recent 4K restorations from StudioCanal, it appears that the grading is just a tad too aggressive, though the cinematography of this film is such that the thicker/fuller blacks that are present on the 4K restoration of The Deer Hunter are quite easy to miss. This is why I think that the overall balance is still really good. Image stability is excellent. There are no distracting debris, cuts, damage marks, stains, or other similar age-related anomalies to report. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
4K BLU-RAY DISC
The native 4K presentation excels in all of the areas that I thought it would. For example, it has superior fluidity, which makes a lot of the panoramic shots look even more impressive. You can compare the sequences that screencaptures #3, 27, 28, and 29 from from to see the difference. In 4K the entire film also has a predictably 'tighter' grain scheme, and on a larger screen the difference becomes rather substantial. (For what it's worth, if you only upscale to 4K, you will get a very similar result). Depth is excellent, but I also thought that the 1080p presentation looked great. Discrepancies emerge in some of the darkest areas where nuances are superior, but I think that better color balance contributes a lot. This is just a reoccurring theme on 4K restorations from StudioCanal, and on my system I can very easily see and appreciate the difference. Bottom line is this: I think that the new restoration is excellent. Some minor adjustments could have been done to achieve better balance in the darker areas, but the end product is enormously satisfying. My score is 4.75/5.00.
There are four standard audio tracks on this release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit), English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), German: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit) and French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit). Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
I still have the previous Blu-ray release of the film and was able to run some direct comparisons. I noticed that the 2.0 tracks, for instance, have pretty different dynamic fields and in some areas the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is quite a bit louder. However, I am uncertain if it was redone or simply encoded differently. On the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track the difference is practically gone. The great music score sounds great on both.
Angel Heart is one of the quintessential '80s films. Of course, there are much bigger films that can be used to highlight a lot of what made the decade special, but Angel Heart is one of those genuine class acts that sticks out for all the right reasons -- Mickey Rourke was at his prime when Alan Parker made it, its style and tone were as good as the decade could deliver, Trevor Jones produced a killer soundtrack with some unforgettable sax solos, it spooked the censors and earned the dreaded X rating, etc. I've always had a spot for it in my library, and still own multiple home video releases of it from different territories. This 4K Blu-ray release will almost certainly be the last that I add to the library because it is another definitive catalog winner for StudioCanal. It is sourced from a very solid new 4K restoration, so if you like the film, place your order now. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
2015
1963
2016
2005
2003
55th Anniversary
1968
2001
Extended Director's Cut
2018
2019
2017
1980
Vintage Classics
1973
1972
2013-2017
1963
1990
2008
1980
2005
2018