Crying Freeman Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Crying Freeman Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 16, 2018

Christophe Gans' "Crying Freeman" (1995) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of German label Turbine Classics. The supplemental features on the release include video interview with Mark Dacascos; vintage featurettes; promotional materials for the film; deleted scenes; and more. In English, with optional English and German subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Somewhere on the hills of San Francisco, beautiful painter Emu O'Hara (Julie Condra, Gas Food Lodging) witnesses the killing of a prominent Yakuza member. Before he disappears, the assassin (Mark Dacascos, Brotherhood of the Wolf) quickly introduces himself to the stunned painter.

Back in Vancouver B.C., Emu’s hometown, Shido Shimazaki (Mako, The Killer Elite), the leader of the Hakushin Society, warns the local authorities that Freeman, a legendary assassin who has been living in the shadows, will soon appear to kill the painter because she saw his face when his son died in San Francisco. Shimazaki then urges the police to work with his men and capture the assassin, who was sent by the dangerous Sons of the Dragons, a powerful Chinese faction whose members are descendants of the 108 Buddhist monks who centuries ago fought the merciless Manchus. However, shortly after, Shimazaki and his men are executed by Freeman and his assistant, Koh (Byron Mann).

Meanwhile, detective Netah (Tcheky Karyo, Bad Boys), who is on the payroll of another overly ambitious Japanese Yakuza leader whose men have dealt with the assassin, interrogates Emu, but she refuses to cooperate. Later that night, Freeman quietly enters Emu’s home ready to kill her but is so moved by her beauty and innocence that ends up making love to her.

The film takes a very unusual turn Freeman and Emu’s second encounter. The action quickly moves from Canada to Japan and various long flashbacks reveal plenty about Freeman’s unusual past.

French director Christophe Gans’ directorial debut, Crying Freeman, is extremely faithful to the popular manga of the same name by Kazuo Koike and Ryoichi Ikegami that inspired it. In fact, a very large portion of the film essentially recreates the carefully drawn images from the manga.

The film’s tone and atmosphere, however, are very unique. For example, the expertly choreographed shootouts have the elegance and fluidity John Woo popularized in his early films – there are numerous slow-motion zooms, unusual close-ups, and fantastic tracking shots. On the other hand, the intimate sequences ooze the lush eroticism that is frequently present in Patrice Leconte’s early ‘90s films (see Le mari de la coiffeuse, Le Parfum D'Yvonne). The end result is an incredibly sensual film that manages to retell the story that inspired it with an admirable degree of seriousness.

Crying Freeman is also complemented by arguably one of the best soundtracks ever created for a film of this caliber. Composed by acclaimed American New Age artist Patrick O'Hearn, the music blends elements of dark tribal ambient and progressive eletronica. The beautiful main theme, for instance, very much reminds of Tangerine Dream’s classic work.

The acting is very good. There is remarkable chemistry between Dacascos and Condra who very much like the characters they play fell in love during the shooting of the film and consequently married. Karyo is very convincing as the corrupt detective. There are also memorable cameos by Rae Dawn Chong, Kevan Ohtsji, the beautiful Yoko Shimada, and the legendary Mako.

Crying Freeman was lensed by Canadian cinematographer Thomas Burstyn (John Irvin’s City of Industry, Marek Kanievska’s Where the Money Is). The film’s editing supervisor was David Wu (John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow and Hard Boiled).

Crying Freeman Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.40:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Christophe Gans' Crying Freeman arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Turbine Classics.

The release is sourced from the same 2K remaster that French label Metropolitan Filmexport worked with when it prepared its release of Crying Freeman in 2014. It is a pretty good remaster with nice organic qualities that makes it easy to appreciate the visual style of the film, which is something that was almost impossible to do with the old DVD releases. There are some small density fluctuations and a few areas where black crush sneaks in, but the lack of compromising digital enhancements is crucial and even on a very large screen the film holds quite well. The color grading is fine. Saturation is slightly inconsistent, but there are no troubling anomalies. Image stability is excellent. A few tiny blemishes remain, but there are no large cuts, debris, damage marks, or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Crying Freeman Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are four standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English and German subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, the split the image frame and the black bar below it.

The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track does a terrific job of opening up the film's aggressive soundtrack. There are a number of sequences where the track splits the action with impressive precision and dispatches some serious oomph to the speakers. Patrick O'Hearn's atmospheric soundtrack also easily breathes throughout the film. It really is a treat to view this film on Blu-ray.

Crying Freeman Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Christophe Gans Interviews - presented here are three vintage video interviews with Christophe Gans. In French, with imposed German subtitles.
  
  1. ...den Ursprung (2 min).
  2. ...dle Ausstattung (3 min).
  3. ...dle Storyboards (3 min).

• Featurettes - presented here are three vintage video feautrettes that focus on the production history of Crying Freeman and the manga that inspired it. In French and English, with imposed German subtitles.
  
  1. Making of Part I and Part II (26 min).
  2. Uber den Schnitt (9 min).
  3. Hinter den Kullssen (39 min).

• Deleted Scenes - in English, with optional German subtitles.
  
  1. Die SprengFalle (2).
  2. Tokyo Hotel (2 min).

• Promotion - presented here are vintage promotional materials for the film. In English, with optional German subtitles where necessary.
  
  1. Featurettes Part I and Part II (14 min).
  2. Remastered International Teaser (2 min).
  3. Remastered International Trailer (3 min).
  4. Remastered German Trailer (3 min).

• Interview with Christophe Gans - presented here is a recent video interview with director Christophe Gans in which he discusses the production history and success of Crying Freeman, the film's visual style, etc. The interview was conducted by journalist Leonard Haddad. In French, with optional German subtitles. (52 min).

• Interview with Mark Dacascos - in this recent video interview, actor Mark Dacascos recalls how he was offered to play Yo Hinomura/Freeman, and discusses the shooting of the film, its unique visual style, the manga that inspired it, his relationship with Julie Condra during the production process and after the film was completed, the film's success around the world, etc. In English, with optional German subtitles. (15 min).

• Commentary - audio commentary by Christophe Gans. In French.

Crying Freeman Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you reside in North America and wanted to add Christophe Gans' film Crying Freeman to your library this limited SteelBook Edition should be on your radar. It is sourced from the recent 2K remaster that French label Metropolitan Filmexport completed under the supervision of director Gans and is Region-Free. It even comes with optional English subtitles for the main feature. It has some bonus features that are only in French, but it also has some vintage international promotional featurettes as well as the recent interview with Mark Dacascos that was conducted for the French release which you will be able to enjoy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.