Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Deep Cover Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 15, 2021

Bill Duke's "Deep Cover" (1992) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include new interview with Bill Duke; archival Q&A session; conversation with film scholars Racquel J. Gates and Michael B. Gillespie; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The '70s. On a cold night in Cleveland, Russell Stevens Jr. witnesses the death of his father, a reckless drug addict, and his life changes forever. A few decades later, while making ends meet as a cop (Laurence Fishburne) in Cincinnati, he is recruited by the DEA to go on a dangerous mission in LA to take down a notorious drug lord. He changes his name to John Hull.

While selling cocaine supplied by his boss at the DEA, Carver (Charles Martin Smith), Hull establishes contact with David Jason (Jeff Goldblum), a crooked lawyer who makes his money as a drug dealer. He gradually convinces Jason that together they can be a powerful team and capture a big chunk of the local market and eventually the two become partners. Through Jason’s partners, Hull then gets access to the top people in a powerful network that supplies the entire West Coast with drugs from Latin America. His target, the drug lord, then shows willingness to work directly with him, but only if he walks away from Jason.

Bill Duke’s Deep Cover is an interesting but ultimately somewhat mismanaged genre film. Its attitude appears to have been modeled after the various rougher blaxploitation thrillers that emerged during the ‘70s and ‘80s, but without the loose comedy element that shaped up their identity. On the other hand, its stylistic appearance has a lot in common with that promoted by the big and visually attractive neo-noir thrillers of the ‘80s and ‘90s. The glue that holds the two together is a chic urban soundtrack with popular tunes by the likes of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, and Calloway.

The unbridled violence provides plenty of the right type of energy that could have made the film’s drama legit, but most of the time it is quite obvious that its two stars are not on the same page. Indeed, while Fishburne looks very comfortable playing a good but disillusioned cop on a deadly mission, Goldblum visibly struggles with an over-the-top performance that could have been right only in a drastically different genre film. This is a serious problem because it quickly creates the impression that Duke either isn’t in control or oblivious to the fact that Fishburne and Goldblum are pushing his film in completely different directions.

The dissonance has an effect on the supporting actors as well. For example, virtually all of the footage with the big bosses has overdone macho posturing that produces kitsch that is out of sync with the drama. When Fishburne is present, it makes him look like an outsider who is stuck enduring completely random childish characters. Victoria Dillard’s shady art dealer does not do enough to convince that her relationship with Fishburne ought to be taken seriously either. Only Clarence Williams III appears to be on the same wavelength with Fishburne and fully aware how dark and deadly serious the film needs to be, but sadly his time in front of Duke’s camera is very limited.

However, even with plenty of flaws Deep Cover is still one surprisingly beautiful film. At times it almost looks like a contemporary Michael Mann project, boasting lush neon colors that temporarily transform Fishburne’s deadly mission into something of an exotic urban dream. It was lensed by Bojan Bazelli, who just a few years earlier teamed up with Abel Ferrara on the equally stylish crime thriller King of New York.

*Criterion’s release of Deep Cover is sourced from an exclusive 16-bit 4K restoration that was supervised and approved by director Duke.

Deep Cover 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, Deep Cover arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was created in 16-bit 4K resolution on a Lasergraphics Director scanner at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging in Burbank, California, from the 35mm A/B negative and approved by Bill Duke. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, and warps were manually removed using MTI Film's DRS. The original 2.0 surround soundtrack was was remastered from the 35mm magnetic audio tracks using Avid's Pro Tools and iZotope RX. Please be sure to enable Dolby Pro Logic decoding on your receiver to properly play the Dolby 2.0 surround soundtrack.

Transfer supervisor and colorist: Lee Kline/Criterion Post, New York."

Deep Cover looks gorgeous in high-definition. It overflows with lush colors that frequently make it look like a Michael Mann project. The new 4K master also handles the many varieties of shadows that are seen throughout the film very, very well. Delineation, clarity, and depth are outstanding, so if seen in native 4K this master is probably an incredible stunner. Additionally, the visuals have excellent fluidity, so on a larger screen everything looks solid. There are no traces of problematic digital work. Image stability is excellent. Fantastic technical presentation. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Deep Cover Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio is crystal-clear and sharp. Dynamic intensity and balance are very, very good as well. This is important because in addition to the action footage -- some of which has quite impressive surround movement -- there is plenty of music that is essential for the intended urban atmosphere. There are no audio dropouts, pops, clicks, or distortions to report in our review.

Deep Cover Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage trailer from for Deep Cover. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Bill Duke - in this exclusive new program, Bill Duke discusses his acting and directing career and some of the key professional relationships in it as well as the production of Deep Cover. The program was produced for Criterion in 2021. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• Laurence Fishburne and Bill Duke - presented here is a filmed discussion of Deep Cover that was held at the American Film Institute Conservatory in 2018. It features Laurence Fishburne and Bill Duke, and is moderated by critic Elvis Mitchell. In English, not subtitled. (57 min).

• Racquel J. Gates and Michael B. Gillespie - in this filmed conversation, film scholars Racquel J. Gates and Michael B. Gillespie discuss Deep Cover and the era in which it emerged. The program was produced for Criterion in 2021. In English, not subtitled. (36 min).

• Claudrena N. Harold and Oliver Wang - in this filmed conversation, author Claudrena N. Harold and sociology professor Oliver Wang discuss the importance of Deep Cover's title song. The program was produced for Criterion in 2021. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring Michael B. Gillespie's article "Who'll Pay Reparations on My Soul?" as well as technical credits.

Deep Cover Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Deep Cover struggles to establish a proper identity because its stars push it in opposite directions. I like what Laurence Fishburne does, but the only other actor that seems to be on the same wavelength with him is Clarence Williams III. Unfortunately, the latter's time in front of Bill Duke's camera is very limited. Without Jeff Goldblum's over-the-top contribution and the splashes of random humor this film could have been a very special piece of urban neo-noir because it frequently looks incredible. Criterion's Blu-ray release is sourced from a top-notch exclusive new 4K master that was supervised and approved by Duke. Kudos to Lee Kline for grading it so well. RECOMMENDED to the fans.