Body of Evidence 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Body of Evidence 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

As a musical artist, Madonna remains one of the most iconic performers around. She’s enjoyed incredible success over the course of her career, but she was especially white hot as the 1980s drew to a close, riding the triumph of her “Like a Prayer” album into the 1990s as controversy and attention increased, giving her the media’s undivided attention. Madonna risked it all to continue pushing boundaries, with 1992’s “Erotica” attempting to stir up more trouble for the singer as she entered a hypersexual phase of her career. The record did fine, but sales were noticeably down, and Madonna was also determined to keep working on an acting career, hoping to sell herself as a viable dramatic entity while previously performing in pictures that suggested otherwise. 1993’s “Body of Evidence” was part of the “Erotica” era, giving Madonna her own erotic thriller after the success of 1992’s “Basic Instinct,” attempting to deliver the ultimate in heat for director Uli Edel (“Last Exit to Brooklyn”). And the star puts on quite a show in the endeavor, working with screenwriter Brad Mirman’s imagination for softcore events and kink play for suburbanites, portraying a femme fatale on trial for the murder of her lover. “Body of Evidence” has Madonna willing to go where the writing leads, but she’s certainly not a commanding presence in an already clunky, awkward picture. Heat isn’t present here, and legal entanglements are often less appealing, adding another misfire to Madonna’s odd acting oeuvre.

Body of Evidence 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"Body of Evidence" was originally issued on Blu-ray in 2018 by Shout Factory, and Vinegar Syndrome returns to the title with a UHD release, listed as "newly scanned and restored from the 35mm original camera negative." There's obvious improvement here, exploring a refreshed world of detail in the movie, examining extensive displays of skin particulars on the cast and their various sexual and legal appearances. Pore-ous views and fibrous costuming is secured, and intended sheerness is preserved. Interiors maintain dimension, also delivering textured decorative additions. Exteriors maintain excellent depth as the production tours Oregon locations. Color is strong, with superb greenery throughout the viewing experience. Hair color is also distinct, exploring extremes of blondness and redness. Lighting offers a golden presence during courtroom interactions, and candlelight retains intended glow. Skin tones are natural. Blacks are deep, preserving evening encounters and shadowy trysts. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is nicely resolved. Source is in good condition, but "Reel 4" contains lengthy but light scratches. Studio logos contain brief judder.

Body of Evidence 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Listed as the "original 2.0 stereo" soundtrack, the DTS-HD MA listening event is quite satisfying, with crisp dialogue exchanges throughout the picture. Emotional moods are understood and argumentative scenes are comfortable, without slipping into distortive extremes. Scoring handles with sharp instrumentation, supporting sensual and suspenseful moments. Sound effects are distinct, and atmospherics are appreciable, offering a wider sense of engagement with courtroom activity and community bustle.

Body of Evidence 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet offers essays by Scout Tafoya, Walter Chaw, and Abbey Bender.

• "Seamless, Sensual Cinematography" (11:41, HD) is an interview with cinematographer Douglas Milsome, who was introduced to Madonna's attitude at the time via nudity, as the actress was open to discussing her appearance in "Body of Evidence" while remaining topless in front the interviewee. A discussion of professional demands is offered, as Madonna was very controlling of her image in the feature, putting her faith into Milsome's abilities to make her look good. Style choices are analyzed, as lighting choices played an important role in the making of the movie. Locations are recalled as well, but studio control was more exciting to Milsome, who was allowed to play with moods, especially during courtroom sequences. The sexual demands of the screenplay pushed the production to play with privacy, working with a smaller crew to pull off intimacies. The discussion leads into more technical demands on image clarity and stylishness, but Milsome retains praise for Madonna, and memories of the feature's reception after release are provided, with the interviewee maintaining critical notices at the time were "harsh and unfair."

• "The Production of Provocation" (16:29, HD) is an interview with director Uli Edel, who details his educational history, moving from film school to a job at a German film studio, creating an opportunity to create his first feature, "Christiane F." The picture connected Edel to a music star, roping David Bowie into participating. Career highlights followed, including work on "Last Exit to Brooklyn," eventually making his way to producer Dino De Laurentiis, who offered a project with Madonna. "Body of Evidence" struggled with script issues, putting Udel to work meeting Madonna's needs, becoming aware of her thespian limitations. Scheduling was tight, keeping the star distracted and shooting hours limited, inspiring the director to hire seasoned actors to support Madonna, making her look good. The sexual tone of "Body of Evidence" is analyzed, with Madonna looking to make a provocative offering during her "Erotica" push, unbothered by controversy. Technical credits are celebrated, and the initial response to the picture is remembered, with interviewee feeling "attacked" by criticisms, hopeful the endeavor finds new life on home video.

• "The Madonna and the Whore" (19:47, HD) is a video essay by Jennifer Moorman.

• "Love or Murder?" (5:47, SD) is an EPK featurette that provides a brief overview of the "Body of Evidence" filming experience, offering interviews with cast and crew. Topics include the storyline, characterizations, director Uli Edel and his vision, Madonna's comfort in front of a camera vs. a sea of fans, and, most candidly, the production's difficulties shooting in Olympia, Washington, where local politicians wanted nothing to do with such graphic material.

• Still Gallery (6:03) includes poster art, publicity snaps, and BTS photos.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:04, HD) is included.

Body of Evidence 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Body of Evidence" intends to explore the power of obsession and the lure of seduction, taking matters into a kinky direction as a lawyer is pulled into extremes of pain and pleasure he's never experienced before. It's an area of excitement and even shame that's worth inspecting, but Edel doesn't have an original take on the material, electing to go the basic cable erotic route with the endeavor, on some type of quest to create softness with a story that's basically about a psychological unraveling. Madonna is stiff instead of seductive, and co-star Willem Dafoe is equally miscast, unable to crack the shades of gray in his character, whose rampant unprofessionalism is weirdly never addressed in the writing. He's just a sketchy legal mind with incredibly low impulse control, sent in to untangle a mess involving troubling sex, possible drug use, and concerned outsiders. "Body of Evidence" wants to be dangerous, it hopes to be beguiling, and it aims to wind up with red herrings and lengthy scenes of intense courtroom testimony and lawyer combat. Edel doesn't have the right stuff to make this offering vibrate with the proper feel for risk, giving the effort a dull television-style approach despite its saucy intentions.