8.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
After carrying out a hit on a nightclub owner, hitman Jef Costello discovers a witness to the killing. Before he can act, he is arrested in a sweep of suspects. Released after the witness fails to come forward, Costello goes from being the hunter to the hunted.
Starring: Alain Delon, François Périer, Nathalie Delon, Cathy Rosier, Jacques Leroy (I)Drama | 100% |
Foreign | 95% |
Film-Noir | 23% |
Crime | 16% |
Mystery | 10% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
French: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Jean-Pierre Melville's "Le Samourai" (1967) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include archival interviews with critics Rui Nogueira and Ginette Vincendeau; Olivier Bohler's documentary "Of Honor and Of Night"; archival interviews with Jean-Pierre Melville, Alain Delon, Nathalie Delon, Francois Perier, and Catrhy Rosier; and more. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
The lone wolf
Criterion's release of Le Samourai is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".
Please note that all screencaptures are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.
The following text appears inside the booklet that is provided with this release:
"This new 4K restoration, undertaken by the Criterion Collection and Pathe, was created from the 35mm original camera negative, in addition to a 35mm internegative and 35mm interpositive for some sections. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm magnetic track. The feature is presented in HDR (high dynamic range) on the 4K Blu-ray and high-definition SDR (standard dynamic range) on the Blu-ray.
Mastering supervisor: Bruno Nyutten, Lee Kline.
Restoration: L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna, Italy.
Colorist: Giandomenico Zeppa/L'Immagine Ritrovata."
In the United States, Le Samourai made its high-definition debut with this Blu-ray release in 2017. I think that it offers a very good technical presentation of Le Samourai, but it was sourced from an older master that had some limitations.
The 4K makeover gives Le Samourai a healthier and notably lusher appearance that is very attractive. On my system, I could easily tell that the native 4K presentation had superior density levels, too. Unsurprisingly, many darker areas are far better balanced now. In most areas, delineation and depth are improved. Brighter visuals are noticeably sharper as well, so I would say that these are the visuals revealing the most dramatic improvements in quality. Image stability is outstanding. Color balance is very good. It is extremely similar to that of the 1080p presentation of Le Samourai but with some meaningful rebalancing improvements. For example, primary gray and gray nuances are richer and in some areas more prominent, as I thought they should be, so a lot of the darker indoor and outdoor footage looks wonderful now. The outdoor footage reveals additional expanded nuances as well. Brown and blue, but especially brown and brown nuances, boast superior saturation, so even some of the more subdued visuals look more attractive now. The HDR grade is not aggressive. I think that a few of the nighttime sequences are a tad too dark, but the overall color balance and color temperature of the 4K makeover are very, very good. I did not see any traces of problematic digital corrections. All in all, I must say that the 4K makeover is very convincing and very attractive, so my prediction is that fans of Le Samourai will be thrilled with it.
There is only one standard audio track on this release: French LPCM 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.
If there is any new, possibly cosmetic work, done on the lossless track that is included on this release, I missed it. The dialog and the shootouts sounded clear and crisp, as they did on the previous release, and dynamic balance was again excellent. I did not notice any encoding anomalies to report.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
I envy younger collectors who will discover Le Samourai on 4K Blu-ray because they will see this legendary cult film as it was meant to be seen. After it was properly restored in 4K, Le Samourai looks gorgeous, so it is easy to predict that the 4K Blu-ray will close its cycle on the home video market. If you have Criterion's original Blu-ray release of it in your collection, plan on purchasing the 4K Blu-ray because it offers a pretty substantial upgrade in quality. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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