7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco, Dimiter D. MarinovBiography | 100% |
Period | 44% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.00:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Director Peter Farrelly's (Kingpin) Green Book is a lovingly crafted picture that tells the bonding story of a renowned and cultured black pianist and his fairly gruff, white New York driver who accompanies him on a Southern states tour in 1962. The title is taken from "The Negro Motorist Green Book," a guidebook printed in the middle decades of the 20th century to help direct African-American travelers towards "safe" places to eat, sleep, and rest on the road, throughout the United States and particularly in the Jim Crow South. The film is dramatically compelling and subtly funny, extremely well acted, and one of the true cinema joys of 2018.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.
Green Book's UHD may not offer a wholly revelatory viewing experience in comparison to Universal's excellent day-and-date companion 1080p Blu-ray release, but this 2160p/HDR presentation is certainly a clear step
forward in terms of both clarity and, in particular, color. The image, which was shot digitally at a resolution of 3.4K, finds more naturally and consistently sharp textures, offering
increased skin and
clothing detail when compared to Blu-ray. One of the nicest points of comparison comes when Tony first meets Dr. Shirley. The former is wearing a suit
jacket above an undershirt
with a ribbed collar that shows more distinction and tangible texturing in 2160p, while the latter is wearing an ornate robe that sees its various accents
revealed with much improved and flavorful clarity and innate sharpness. Nothing in the image is particularly striking in terms of textural
upgrade, but even
at an incremental level the adds in resolution are certainly appreciable and appreciated in nearly every scene. The overall increase to color fidelity and
intensity, courtesy of the HDR color enhancements, are evident throughout the film. Classic automobiles are a particularly obvious beneficiary, but any
daytime scene offers notably crisper, brighter, more intensely saturated colors. The Blu-ray is left looking comparatively flat and pale by comparison in
nearly every scene, even in darker shots where the improvements are more fine-tuned rather than breathtaking.
Shadow detail and black levels depth are more solidified, while whites are crisper and brighter; take a look at a Kentucky Fried Chicken sign seen at the
50:58 mark for one of the best examples of white intensity and overall improvement. Any of several concert
scenes (a good example comes right at the 60-minute mark) serve as fine reference points for the improvements to blacks. Noise is present but not to
excess. No additional source or encode flaws are apparent. Fans should be very satisfied with
Universal's
efforts with this release; modest adds to sharpness and fairly major increases to color intensity and depth alike yield a very well-rounded UHD image.
With one of the main characters being a musician, it's no surprise that music is a critical component to Green Book. Universal's Dolby Atmos soundtrack supports the film with grandeur and grace alike, delivering a first-rate listen that supports both the generalized sonic atmosphere and the thematically enriching music, often that played by Shirley and his fellow musicians in several concert stops. The film opens with some impressive musical beats flowing off the Copacabana stage. Terrific width, full and balanced surround implementation, and a quality low end depth give a significant verve and enjoyable, immersive presence to music right off the bat. Concert scenes yield wonderfully melodic details as the three instruments present with recognizable individual character and sonic signature while merging into symphonic bliss; the Atmos track effortlessly pulls the listener into any of the several venues along the way. Environmental effects are filling and nicely defined. The tack recreates several distinct locations: bustling city exteriors, a diner, a restaurant, a kitchen, a motel courtyard. Each one finds effortlessly engaging and perfectly balanced location recreation, easily drawing the listener into every stop during the journey. The overhead channels are never used to discrete effect but they do support music and environmental details, with special emphasis on a scene featuring driving rainfall in chapter 15 that offers the most obvious top layer implementation to be found. Dialogue is clear, center-focused, and well prioritized for the duration.
For this UHD release of Green Book, Universal has included a trio of featurettes. A Blu-ray copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy
code are included with purchase. The release ships with an embossed slipcover.
Green Book star Viggo Mortensen ran afoul of controversy when the actor used the "N" word during a Q&A session following a screening. The word was certainly not spoken in a hateful or derogatory manner but rather within the film's narrative and historical contexts during a discussion of how racism has evolved in today's society. Nevertheless, its utterance sparked outrage. Co-Star Mahershala Ali was understandably offended, but Mortensen was quick to apologize and Ali was quick to accept the apology. Hopefully, there's no long-term tainting of Mortensen's character or damage to the film's legacy, a film of purpose, profoundness, and, yes, quality entertainment value at the same time. It's a terrific film from every angle. It does not shy away from the harsh realities of the racial strife in its time while painting a picture of bonding between two very disparate individuals who both change for the better on their journey not just through the heart of the American South but through their own own hearts and souls. Universal's UHD is terrific, featuring a very respectable 2160p/HDR image that offers a positive upgrade over the Blu-ray, particularly in terms of color reproduction. The Atmos track is another highlight. Extras are limited to three relatively short featurettes. Very highly recommended.
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