Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Blue Steel Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 13, 2023

There are a number of rather interesting supplements included on this disc which more or less demand that Blue Steel be reevaluated, especially since at the time of its release the prevailing opinion, as recounted in some of these supplements themselves, was that the film was patently ludicrous. And so let me start this review by simply stating that while Blue Steel may indeed invite the kind of critical reassessment that often comes with hindsight and/or a bit of "breathing room", as it were, there is absolutely no doubt that the film is patently ludicrous. This was a relatively early effort from co-writer and director Kathryn Bigelow, and while Alexandra Heller-Nicholas' commentary in particular laments the fact that a "female director" even needs to be identified as such, there is an awareness of gender suffusing this story which some of the other supplements also overtly address, and so perhaps arguably, then, it's a little more "politically correct" to discuss Bigelow's gender as well. Jamie Lee Curtis portrays new police cadet Megan Turner, who spectacularly fails a training exercise as the film opens, in just the first of several arguable "bait and switch" vignettes, but who then seems to be a singular thin blue line herself when she accosts a violent robber (Tom Sizemore) in a corner market and shoots and kills him. The robber's gun falls right next to one of the customers who has lain prone on the floor following the robber's shouted instructions to do so, and that customer, a commodities trader named Eugene Hunt (Ron Silver), hides it and later absconds with it without anyone else being aware of what's happened. The upshot is that Megan is accused of having taking out an unarmed man and is immediately suspended, but in the meantime the hilariously "on the nose" named Hunt has given in to his dark side and begins using the robber's weapon for his own killing spree, while also becoming romantically involved with Megan. As stated above: patently ludicrous.

Film historian Jennifer Moorman's supplement The Phallic Woman probably most overtly gets into some of the quasi-"gender bending" in the film, starting with Megan's rather androgynous appearance once she dons her uniform and police hat, and gets some more than admiring glances from passing females out on the street. But Moorman in particular mentions Megan's gun as an obvious phallic symbol, and the fact that Hunt himself evidently needs a pistol himself to reinforce his ostensible masculinity also plays into the subtext of the film. But it's kind of hard to accept Blue Steel as some kind of proto-feminist "anthem" when the film so resolutely offers Megan as a veritable damsel in distress, albeit one who is at least intermittently armed.

Part of the issue with Blue Steel, as alluded to in at least some of the supplements, is the fact that Hunt, as absurdly named as he may be, is a cipher, with absolutely no context or motivating factors given for his increasingly gonzo behavior. This lack of "backstory" added to an increasingly gonzo portrayal by Silver gives the film an off kilter feeling which can be undeniably menacing, but which ultimately lacks any real force because it's just so completely silly. By the time Hunt has taken out (not necessarily mortally) not just innocent bystanders but at least a couple of more major characters, one might think people would wise up to what's going on, but Megan seems to be surrounded by, well, stupid men, which might be a more apt way to look at the entire setup that Bigelow and co-writer Eric Red offer in this outlandish tale.

Blue Steel repeatedly hinges on such an absurd concatenation of unbelievable events that its angst levels may be undercut somewhat by an almost comical aspect due to the very improbabilities being presented. This may be nowhere more evident than in the supposed "witness ambiguity" about whether a gun was utilized in the robbery that resulted in Megan shooting the bad guy. But not providing the character of Hunt with more of a surrounding story also contributes to a frankly silly sensibility at times. All of this said, the film is often so, well, patently ludicrous that it's hard not just to surrender to its over the top-ness and enjoy it for the undeniably ridiculous escapade it is, any "newly discovered" subtext(s) notwithstanding.

Blue Steel Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Blue Steel is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of the Vestron Video Collector's Series, an imprint of Lionsgate, with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. These Vestron releases typically don't offer much in the way of technical information other than a generic "digitally restored", which is once again the case here, though in the "fine print" department it's kind of interesting that the back cover misstates the aspect ratio as being 1.85:1, a mistake that is typically not made on other Vestron releases. One way or the other, this is a surprisingly healthy looking transfer, though eagle eyed videophiles will note any number of small but recurrent blemishes, including quite a few white speckles that crop up for just a nanosecond or two. The palette is nicely robust and natural looking. Grain can be a bit gritty and grimy in appearance, especially against lighter backgrounds, but adds an organic texture to the proceedings. A few low light moments flirt with crush (see screenshot 19). My score is 3.75.

Blue Steel Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Blue Steel features a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track that provides excellent support for the expected sound effects like gunfire, as well as Brad Fiedel's score. Some of the urban environments allow for background ambient environmental sounds. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

Blue Steel Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas


• A Hired Gun (HD; 10:36) is an interview with editor Lee Percy.


• The Phallic Woman: Deconstructing Blue Steel (HD; 19:34) is an analysis by film historian Professor Jennifer Moorman.


• Staring Down the Barrel (HD; 9:01) is an interview with production designer Toby Corbett.


• A Profound Emotional Response (HD; 12:33) is a visual essay by film historian Chris O'Neill.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:05)


• Japanese Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:51)


• International Video Teaser (HD; 00:55)


• TV Spots (HD; 1:03)


• Vintage Promo (HD; 4:38)


• Still Gallery (HD; 8:05)

Additionally a digital copy is included and packaging features a slipcover.

Blue Steel Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Even if you don't quite "buy" some of the latter day reassessments of this film included in the supplements on this disc, Blue Steel has a certain gonzo manic energy that at least qualifies it as a quasi-camp thriller. It's also interesting to note "little" aspects like a credits sequence that in its own way presages the one for Lord of War. I personally found the film woefully underwritten for the Hunt character in particular, but Silver's performance is unforgettable in (to reference Lord of War's inimitable star) a Nicolas Cage kind of way. Technical merits are generally solid, and this boasts one of the more thoughtful arrays of bonus features a Vestron release has offered. With caveats noted, Recommended.