6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Phil Gaines is a bitter, cynical cop who investigates the case of a dead stripper/porno actress found on the beach. Gaines is experiencing a troubled relationship with a hooker, and things don't get any better when the dead girl's father launches his own investigation.
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Catherine Deneuve, Ben Johnson, Paul Winfield, Eileen BrennanFilm-Noir | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Robert Aldrich's "Hustle" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by critics and authors Alain Silver and James Ursini and vintage promotional materials for the film. In English, with optional Enlgish SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
"No matter how much you have, there is always room for a little more. It's an unavoidable fact of life."
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Hustle arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The release is sourced from a new 4K master that was prepared at Paramount Pictures. The new 4K master is very solid and I like a lot how the film looks now. I think that only one area could have been managed a little bit better, but I am not convinced that the issue is on the master. I am beginning to suspect that something is done during the encoding process. Several darker areas reveal very light crushing, though its effects are easy to ignore because the cinematography introduces plenty of thicker shadows. Perhaps in native 4K these areas look better. The rest looks terrific. For example, density levels are fantastic, often approaching an overall quality that I would expect to see on a native 4K presentation. Delineation, clarity, and depth are terrific (except for the few darker areas that I mentioned above). The color grade is very convincing as well. I thought that all primaries looked fabulous, especially in terms of saturation, while the supporting nuances are very healthy. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. The surface of the visuals is very healthy, but at the very beginning of the film, I noticed a couple of tiny white specks. All in all, this is clearly the best Hustle has ever looked on a home video release. My score is 4.75/5.00. (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).
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.
While viewing the film, I did not encounter any issues to report in our review. The audio remained very clear throughout the entire film and dynamic intensity was as good as I thought it could be. Frank De Vol's soundtrack has primarily a supporting role, but there are a few segments where the music easily makes an impression.
I mentioned elsewhere that despite having different personalities Hustle and Blow-Up have a lot in common. But the closest relative of Hustle is probably Hardcore, which enters a similar territory and undoubtedly carries the same neo-noir genes. However, I prefer not to profile Hustle as a neo-noir film simply because Robert Aldrich's films are usually in a category of their own and tend to follow their own rules. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from a fabulous new 4K master that was prepared at Paramount Pictures. If you wish to pick it up for your collection but reside on the other side of the Atlantic, please keep in mind that it is Region-A "locked". VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Includes They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! and The Organization on standard BD
1967
Warner Archive Collection
1947
1944
1946
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1950
1996
Warner Archive Collection
1953
1955
1962
Fox Studio Classics
1944
Limited Edition to 3000
1950
Encore Edition | Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1953
Warner Archive Collection
1975
1996
1944
Warner Archive Collection
1946
1993
Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1949
Warner Archive Collection
1951
1954