Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

One False Move 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 9, 2023

Carl Franklin's "One False Move" (1992) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Carl Franklin and Billy Bob Thronton; archival audio commentary by Carl Franklin; and newly restored vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

It would have been a crime if Carl Franklin’s One False Move had disappeared into oblivion, which apparently was a very real possibility. According to Franklin, it was because of the enormous support of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert that One False Move received plenty of theatrical exposure and then went on to acquire something of a cult status. Sound strange? Well, it shouldn’t because this is a fate that is shared by a lot of other independent American films from the early ‘90s. For example, John Dahl’s directorial debut, Kill Me Again, popped up on the radar of a lot of casual viewers only after he made The Last Seduction. You may have forgotten, or simply do not know, but Joel and Ethan Coen’s Blood Simple, which came out a little earlier, wasn’t exactly an instant mainstream hit either. It needed support too, and it took some time for casual viewers to discover it. So, even though nowadays many of these films are rightfully regarded as great cult films, when they were first released too many of them struggled mightily to just stay alive.

One False Move is a lot like Blood Simple. It has obvious noirish qualities and seems perfectly happy to promote them, but it is a lot easier to profile simply as a stylish piece of Americana. However, these films work as well as they do for two drastically different reasons. Indeed, Blood Simple has a very wicked sense of humor, and even though it is not a show-off piece it takes great pride in its visual appearance. Also, it is a pretty violent film, but not one that makes you feel uncomfortable. One False Move has a detectable sense of humor too, but it is something of an embellishment that complements its rough personality, which is shaped by its desire to be seen as realistic. The violence in it hits you pretty hard as well because it comes from a place that is very familiar and authentic.

In Los Angeles, a trio of thieves -- Pluto (Michael Beach), Ray Malcolm (Billy Bob Thornton), and his girlfriend Fantasia (Cynda Williams) -- execute a local drug dealer and his visiting friends, steal a large load of cocaine and a bag of money from his vault, and decide to head toward Star City, Arkansas. However, a video camera allows the local authorities to figure out their plan, and shortly after detectives Dud Cole (Jim Metzler) and John McFeely (Earl Billings) phone Chief of Police Dale ‘Hurricane’ Dixon (Bill Paxton) to let him know that they will need his assistance to capture the thieves. The call instantly transforms Dixon into the happiest man in town because he is finally getting an opportunity to deal with a real crime and prove that he is just as good as his colleagues from the big city. When Cole and McFeely appear in Star City, Dixon takes them under his wing and does his best to make them realize that he has the entire situation under control, but instead creates the exact opposite impression. As the thieves approach Star City, Dixon then realizes that his past is about to seriously complicate his work and further compromise his image before the visitors.

Franklin directs with confidence and precision that make One False Move look like a pretty big and expensive project that would have been greenlighted by a major studio. But it was not that kind of a project. It was a pretty small independent film that was done with a limited budget and a great deal of pure enthusiasm.

The actual strength of One False Move, however, is hidden elsewhere. It is in its willingness to impress a mature audience that can recognize important details and nuances. In other words, instead of bombarding its audience with scripted messages and tired cliches about numerous stereotypes, prejudices, and misconceptions One False Move allows its unfiltered story to produce organic contrasts that are quite powerful.

The cast is appropriately loose and the chemistry that materializes before Franklin’s camera is quite special as well. Given the nature of the original material, the end product truly is as good of a film as you could have seen in the theater in the early ‘90s. (Apparently, I.R.S Media, which was the company that produced One False Move, had arranged to send it straight to the home video market. Siskel and Ebert’s very positive coverage changed this plan).

One False Move 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Criterion's release of One False Move is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".

The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this release:

"One False Move was restored in 4K by Sony Pictures Entertainment. Scanning was completed by Roundabout Entertainment in Burbank, California, from the original 35mmcamera negative. HDR color grading was completed by colorist David Bernstein at Roundabout Entertainment in Santa Monica, California. Digital restoration services were completed at Prasad in Burbank. The audio restoration and conform were conducted at BluWave Audio in Universal City, California, and sourced from the 35mm original 2.0 surround magnetic tracks. Restoration was supervisd by Rita Belda for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Color was approved by director Carl Franklin. Please be sure to enable Dolby Pol Logic decoding on your receiver to properly play the Dolby 2.0 surround soundtrack."

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article 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.

Screencaptures #1-24 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #26-31 are from 4K Blu-ray.

The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray discs introduce a brand new 4K makeover of One False Move. In native 4K, the new 4K makeover can be seen with Dolby Vision or HDR. I chose to view it with Dolby Vision.

The only other release of One False Move that I have in my library at the moment is this Australian release from Via Vision Entertainment, which we reviewed last summer. Earlier today, after I viewed the new 4K makeover of One False Move, I did several comparisons with it. I think that the superiority of the new 4K makeover is undeniable and its strengths are very easy to appreciate. During daylight and nighttime footage, there is simply more detail now, so depth is consistently better as well. Much of the darker footage -- darker indoor footage and even darker nighttime footage -- boasts improved shadow definition, so backgrounds that might have looked flatter on the previous release now look different. Density levels are improved. However, there are several areas with native density fluctuations, so expect to see unevenness in grain exposure. (The unevenness is even easier to notice in 1080p). There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Color balance is very convincing. There are expanded ranges of primaries and supporting nuances, and the overall temperature of the visuals is slightly cooler. It is very easy to tell that this is the more accurate color temperature because it frees new hues that were either suppressed or lost on the previous release. Image stability is excellent.

One False Move 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The original press materials that we received for this release indicated that it will feature an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Something must have changed because the 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray have only DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks. On my system, the 2.0 track sounded terrific. In one particular area -- the shootout at the end of the film -- it seems to be producing even superior dynamic contrasts. (I ran a few quick comparisons with the 2.0 track from the recent Australian release of One False Move). The dialog is very clear, sharp, and easy to follow.

One False Move 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Carl Franklin and initially appeared on the R1 DVD release of One False Move that Sony Pictures produced in 1998. It is a very technical commentary with plenty of factual information about the casting and shooting processes, the scoring of the film, its style and the drama that is at the heart of its story. There are some very interesting comments about the film's promotional and theatrical campaigns as well. If you enjoy the film, find the time to listen to the commentary in its entirety.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Carl Franklin and initially appeared on the R1 DVD release of One False Move that Sony Pictures produced in 1998. It is a very technical commentary with plenty of factual information about the casting and shooting processes, the scoring of the film, its style and the drama that is at the heart of its story. There are some very interesting comments about the film's promotional and theatrical campaigns as well. If you enjoy the film, find the time to listen to the commentary in its entirety.

• Carl Franklin and Billy Bob Thornton - in this exclusive new program, Carl Franklin and Billy Bob Thronton discuss the genesis of One False Move -- and mention some very interesting facts about the evolution of the screenplay that inspired it as well as its multiple titles -- its characters and their relationships, and the film's tone and personality. Also, there are some very interesting comments about the film's publicity and reception. In English, not subtitled. (28 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a newly restored original trailer for One False Move. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by author William Boyle as well as technical credits.

One False Move 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One False Move is one of the very best independent films from the 1990s and unquestionably Carl Franklin's masterpiece. It is great that the folks at Criterion restored it in 4K and decided to offer it on 4K Blu-ray as well. Earlier today, I viewed the new 4K makeover and thought that it was spectacular, so I will make sure that this release appears on my Top Ten list at the end of the year. In addition to the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo release, there is a standard Blu-ray release which streets on the same date. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.