6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A poor Parisian couple embarks upon a simple get-rich-quick scheme only to find themselves hurtling down a winding road of desperation, deceit, and madness.
Starring: Sophia Loren, Anthony Perkins, Gig Young, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Yolande TurnerCrime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 2.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
1962’s “Five Miles to Midnight” has an unfortunate casting issue that’s difficult to ignore. It’s not that Anthony Perkins and Sophia Loren are unpleasant performers, far from it, but director Anatole Litvak makes quite a leap pairing them in what should be a tense domestic drama with thriller interests. Instead of conjuring suspense, “Five Miles to Midnight” takes a leisurely stroll around screen anxiety, with Loren and Perkins sharing stiff chemistry normally reserved for sibling characters, not a married couple.
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation is billed as "Newly re-mastered in HD," and clarity certainly isn't an issue, offering crisp details on costuming and facial particulars, and urban adventures retain distance. Source shows a little wear and tear, but nothing distracts, keeping to a routine of speckling and minor scratches. Black and white cinematography is balanced to satisfaction, without delineation issues.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is problematic, suffering from sync issues that periodically knock dialogue loose. However, sloppy ADR is prominent throughout the listening experience, often making it difficult to spot the inherent issues with the track. The rest of the mix remains on the shrill side, with sharp scoring, keeping the jazzy mood hard on the ears. Atmospherics are on the thick side, without much personality. Hiss and pops are minimal.
"Five Miles to Midnight" is talkative, without much in the way of escalation, trying to create psychological gamesmanship with actors who aren't a proper match. Design elements are interesting, and the picture is shot well, but every time "Five Minutes to Midnight" threatens to do something exciting, it always pulls back. With a story like this, featuring endless opportunities to amplify aggression, it's a shame that Litvak allows all this perfectly good domestic unease and criminal interest to go to waste.
1967
1964
1961
1968
1967
1981
1966
1973
Includes They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! and The Organization on standard BD
1967-1971
1969
1990
1956
1954
1968
1947
Warner Archive Collection
1962
1954
Warner Archive Collection
1951
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1950
1936