Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Homicide Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 24, 2024

David Mamet's "Homicide" (1991) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by critic Jim Hemphill and vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

David Mamet’s Homicide is set in one of the most dangerous cities in America -- Baltimore, Maryland. However, Mamet could have easily moved the film to Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee, or his hometown of Chicago and not even a fraction of its story would have been compromised. This story is very, very bold, and probably only Mamet could have written it.

Bobby Gold (Joe Mantegna) is a good cop who constantly faces bad people. Some of them he hunts down and escorts to the police department, where they are promptly processed and explained what will happen next. But some are like him, men with badges and guns, and the worst among them have dropped all pretenses that they are not who they are. In the past, Gold has successfully ignored them, but he has grown older and changed, too. If they target him now, he will fight back, even if his actions may cost him his job.

After confronting an FBI agent for using a racial slur, Gold and his partner Tim Sullivan (William H. Macy) are ordered to begin tracking down an elusive criminal with a long record. However, shortly after, Gold accidentally becomes entangled in a murder case that sends him in a different direction. It happens when the wealthy and influential relatives of an elderly Jewish woman killed in her deli in a black neighborhood request that Gold, also a Jew, take over the case. Gold reluctantly begins investigating, assuming that it will be routine work, but while digging into the victim’s past uncovers an extremely well-funded and managed Zionist group taking out targets on demand. Learning more about the group’s history and activities and meeting its leadership then forces Gold out of his comfort zone and permanently resets his entire system of beliefs.

In all Mamet films, a crucial sequence effectively alters the structure of the story they tell and the identity of the characters that are part of it. After that, everything the audience has seen must be placed and understood in an entirely different context. This is why some of the most original films about conmen have Mamet’s name attached to them.

Even though Homicide is not about conmen, it is made with the same blueprint and eventually the audience is left speechless. However, in Homicide something very important is done differently. The buildup before the crucial sequence where Mamet typically does all of the misdirection work is incredibly transparent, allowing the audience to witness a complex character transformation that becomes the biggest trick. However, instead of placing this transformation in a proper context, Homicide uses it to force the audience to ponder a wide range of hot subjects, each much bigger than the fate of Mantegna’s cop.

One of the subjects is the legitimacy of the grand melting pot that is supposed to produce patriotic Americans. Mamet speculates that the melting pot is flawed and extremely easy to manipulate. Another subject is the dangerous flexibility of religious extremism and its ability to convert non-believers into believers. Mamet also questions the resilience of the individual to withstand the corrosive effects of ethnic and religious tribalism and the lies that are used to shield them.

Mantegna gives a tremendous performance that deserves to be praised as one of his very best. His confusion and struggle to redefine his Jewishness look remarkably authentic. Macy is also excellent as his good friend and partner, who eventually must confront him. Vincent Guastaferro leaves a lasting impression as Lt. Senna.

Mamet’s director of photography was Roger Deakins, whose credits include such big contemporary classics as The Shawshank Redemption, The Big Lebowski, and Fargo.

Homicide Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Homicide arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

I know that if one day Homicide is fully redone in 4K it will have a fresher and almost certainly more attractive organic appearance. However, the master that was used to produce this release is very, very good. It is not new, or event recent. However, I think that it makes Homicide look as good as House of Games, and almost as good as Hard Eight.

Delineation, clarity, and depth range from very good to excellent. This is not easy because there is plenty of darker material with nuanced shadows. Other stylization choices produce unique visuals, too. Colors are stable. I like how the primaries and supporting nuances are set, but I do think that in a few areas the former could be improved a bit. Saturation is the main area where meaningful tweaks can be made. Image stability is excellent. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. I did not see any large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames to report in our review. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Bu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Homicide Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

The lossless track is excellent. All exchanges sounded very clear and action footage had plenty of oomph, which tells me that the current master was prepared with proper care and attention. Is there any room for improvement? At the moment, I do not think so. I do not see where good enhancements can be made so that one can recognize the improvement(s).

Homicide Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Jim Hemphill. It is a broad commentary that offers plenty of information about the conception and themes of Homicide, David Mamet's creative universe, Joe Mantegna's powerful performance, etc. If you enjoy Homicide, you should find the time to listen to the commentary in its entirety.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. trailer for Homicide. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Booklet - 60-page illustrated booklet featuring multiple essays and technical information.

Homicide Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Homicide is the kind of fearless crime film that only David Mamet could have conceived. It is different from his other films, too. It has that special trick that resets everything its protagonist has been through, but here the audience is left to ponder various subjects and possibilities. Also, one can pretty easily argue that Joe Mantegna's best work might be in this film. Imprint Films' release is included in After Dark: Neo-Noir Cinema Collection Three, a six-disc, Region-Free box set. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.