Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Colors Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 14, 2015

Dennis Hopper's "Colors" (1988) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Second Sight Films. The supplemental features on the disc include deleted scenes; new video interview with screenwriter Michael Schiffer; and new video interview with technical advisor/LAPD Gang Division Dennis Fanning. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

"And the young bull said: Hey Pop, let's run down there..."

There is an obvious desire in the first half of this film to be a real eye-opener. It is set in LA during the early 1980s where the Bloods and the Crips are fighting for supremacy and the police are struggling to restore order. The clashes are incredibly violent because both sides have started dealing drugs on the streets and there is plenty of money to be made.

The action is seen through the eyes of two different cops. The first (Robert Duvall) is a veteran whose directness has earned him the respect of some of the gangsters. He understands that there is no magical fix for the crisis and prefers to work on solutions for smaller problems that would keep the tension at bay. The second cop (Sean Penn) is an inexperienced and very temperamental rookie who does not know the streets but is dying to make a change.

The two cops are placed in a series of difficult situations where they have to make important decisions and at the same time try to stay alive. The rookie quickly complicates things and erodes the trust between the older cop and some of the gangsters. On top of that, he also begins questioning the morality and professionalism of his partner. Harsh words are exchanged that force them to reevaluate their relationship.

In the second half the focus of attention shifts towards the gangs and their philosophies. There is a lot of talk about honor, respect and acceptance, and how the streets have become a battleground because there are not enough opportunities for young people to find a meaningful mission in their lives. The climax is a big and very violent confrontation that is supposed to make it clear that the division is unavoidable and that violence will always be a fact of life.

There is a brand new interview on this release with screenwriter Michael Schiffer in which he explains that when they hired him Penn and Orion executive vice president Mike Medavoy’s wanted a film that would emulate the raw style and kinetic energy of Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers. There are some traces of both in Colors, but the scripted melodrama in the second half places the film in a different category.

The sense of authenticity that permeates the film can be credited to the excellent locations that were chosen in LA. Some real gangsters were also cast, though their contribution to the film is largely symbolic.

Unfortunately, even though Haskell Wexler’s (Medium Cool) camera positioning and movement are very good, the action frequently looks overpolisehed. Also, according to Schiffer a lot of research was needed to get the lingo and mannerisms right, but there are a number of sequences in the film that actually feel unbearably pretentious. In one of them a young boy is beaten by a few gangsters while their leader quietly observes the ‘ceremony’. Eventually, he stops the fight and announces that the boy has become a member of the gang.

The soundtrack was created by jazz legend Herbie Hancock ('Round Midnight, Harlem Nights).

Colors Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Dennis Hopper's Colors arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Second Sight Films.

The release has been sourced from a pre-existing master, most likely the same master that was used to produce various DVD releases of the film. Generally speaking, the basics characteristics we typically address in our reviews range from decent to good. Well-lit close-ups, for instance, have pleasing depth. Select wider shots also have pleasing fluidity. Density, however, isn't consistent. Indeed, during select sequences where light is restricted clarity and depth tend to suffer a bit. Shadow definition also isn't optimal. As a result, parts of the film could look a bit soft and flat (see screencaptures #4 and 12). The good news here is that there are no traces of recent degraining and sharpening adjustments. This isn't to say that grain is evenly exposed and resolved throughout the entire film, but it is visible. Colors are stable, but there are some missing nuances. Overall image stability is very good. Finally, there are no large cuts, debris, damage marks, or torn frames to report in our review. All in all, the technical presentation is mostly pleasing, but it is obvious that there is room for some important improvements. (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).

Colors Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.

The audio does not appear to have been fully remastered, but clarity is good. Some additional work could be done to rebalance depth which should make the dialog slightly easier to follow during select sequences, but there are no serious anomalies. Also, there are no pops, audio dropouts, or distortions to report in our review.

Colors Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted Scenes - a gallery of deleted scenes. In English, not subtitles. (9 min).

• Cry of Alarm: An Interview With Screenwriter Michael Schiffer - in this brand new video interview, screenwriter Michael Schiffer recalls how he was attached to Colors, and discusses the initial idea for the film that he introduced to Sean Penn and Orion executive vice president Mike Medavoy (which was an attempt to mirror the style and authenticity of Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers), the research that he did to familiarize himself with gang activities in LA, the language and terms used by the gangsters, teh casting process, etc. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

• Cops & Robbers: An Interview With Technical Advisor/LAPD Gang Division Dennis Fanning - in this brand new video interview, technical advisor Dennis Fanning describes the crime scenes in LA during the early 1980s, his work with Sean Penn during the shooting of Colors and some of the mannerism he borrowed from him, his interactions with the late Dennis Hopper, Haskell Wexler's lensing (including a serious incident during which an expensive camera was broken), etc. In English, not subtitles. (17 min).

Colors Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The bulk of Colors does not work as intended. There is a macho element in it that is supposed to make it look raw and gritty, but the end result is actually an underwhelming urban melodrama. Ultimately, it is a curious time capsule, but definitely not the groundbreaking film it has been hyped up to be. The Blu-ray release has a very good new video interview with screenwriter Michael Schiffer. Consider adding it to your collections only if you can find it on sale. RECOMMENDED.