Double Jeopardy 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Double Jeopardy 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has released the fan-favorite 1999 Thriller 'Double Jeopardy' to the Blu-ray and UHD formats, both for the first time and exclusively in a single release. The image has been sourced from a new 4K restoration. Audio is presented in the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless configuration. A new retrospective and a few vintage extras are included.

Double Jeopardy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from the bundled 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Paramount touts this release as sourced from "a new 4K restoration" that has been approved by none other than Director Bruce Beresford himself. It appears that both the Blu-ray and the UHD are sourced from this master.

First, a few words on the Blu-ray. It certainly looks good, and very good, at times. The image looks mildly sharpened, but the grain structure appears more or less natural, capturing an attractive filmic texturing. The picture is well defined across the board, capturing a pleasing filmic veneer that accentuates fine detail and offers stable clarity and precision through most every shot, a few softer focus elements notwithstanding. The color reproduction is solid, with pleasantly neutral contrast delighting in every location, whether out at sea or in dense urban environments, and even in the dank blue-gray prison locales. Black levels are solid as well, and skin tones look more or less accurate though perhaps a hair pasty and orange. There are no obvious signs of print deterioration or encode faults.

The 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD presentation follows suit but with noticeably sharper details thanks to the upped resolution. Core facial definition skyrockets in terms of clarity. Look at Tommy Lee Jones' face at the 52:41 mark. The depth of various wrinkles, the clarity of pores, and individuality of hairs are all greatly superior to the Blu-ray, which looks very good on its own but in direct comparison is clearly lacking the depth and finesse that the UHD has on offer. Clarity extends to environments, too, including the wide berth of shooting locales, including those aforementioned drab prison areas, farmlands, and well-kept luxury interiors. Grain is very fine but does fluctuate to a slightly more intense field from time to time. Color depth is likewise improved. Flesh tones are more satisfyingly healthy, colors are more vibrant overall, and white balance is clearly better. The Dolby Vision grading offers more color vividness and naturalism, making for, overall, a very satisfying tonal yield. This is a very nice UHD presentation from Paramount.

Double Jeopardy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Both the Blu-ray and the UHD include the same Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is perfectly capable, offering a smooth, refined listen that complements the film's moderately engaging sound design quite nicely. Music plays with pleasing clarity and width. It is nicely balanced with surround and subwoofer support also in evidence. Atmospheric details present with realistically immersive posture and detail, doing well to draw the listener into locales like the prison and the boarding house, and even out on the water where the murder supposedly takes place, with realistic ambience and suitable clarity. The same may be said of some bustling New Orleans locales later in the film. A few more intensive action scenes offer music in overdrive while maintaining clarity and rigor. Additionally, deeper sound elements and larger stage engagement help the more prolific audio cues through to complete satisfaction, such as during a car escape scene at the 62-minute mark, which just about represents the high point for superior audio output in this track for intensity, stage engagement, and clarity. Dialogue is clear, center grounded, and well prioritized for the duration.

Double Jeopardy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray disc for Double Jeopardy includes a new director retrospective, an original production feature, an alternate ending, and the theatrical trailer. This release is the 37th in the "Paramount Presents" line and includes the slipcover with fold-open poster artwork. A digital copy code is included with purchase

• Filmmaker Focus with Director Bruce Beresford (1080p, 14:54): A look back at the production history, original casting choices, performances, studio meddling, editing, the ending, audience reaction, the film's legacy, and more.
• Alternate Ending with Unfinished Audio (1080p, 1:42): The other ending that Beresford discusses in the previous supplement.
• The Making of "Double Jeopardy" (480i, window box, 13:24): A vintage piece that looks back at the film's story, Beresford's direction, cast and characters, crafting key scenes, shooting locales, and more.
• Original theatrical Trailer (480i, window box, 2:27).

Double Jeopardy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's wild to realize that it took until 2023 for Double Jeopardy to make it to Blu-ray in the United States. While not a classic, it's a solid film and a fan favorite that deserved to be on the format years ago. Fortunately, the wait was worth it. The video presentation is solid on Blu-ray and excellent on UHD. There is no Atmos audio track, but the 5.1 lossless presentation suits the material just fine. Bonus content offers a small but pleasing blend of new and vintage material. Recommended.