7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
An underworld enforcer sent to Kansas City to collect money from a mysterious mobster who has no intention of paying up.
Starring: Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman, Angel Tompkins, Gregory Walcott, Sissy SpacekThriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Michael Ritchie's "Prime Cut" (1972) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include audio commentary by Lee Marvin biographer Dwayne Epstein; audio commentary by critics Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; and vintage trailer. In English with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
We sent Murphy down to Kansas City to see Mary Ann and his boys. This is how they sent him back.
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Prime Cut arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The release introduces a new 4K makeover of Prime Cut sourced from the original camera negative. The 4K makeover is also available on 4K Blu-ray via this combo pack release.
This morning, I saw the entire film, without interruptions, in 1080p as well. I must restate my frustration with the quality of the new 4K makeover because with just a few minor tweaks it could have been an absolute stunner. I think that several darker areas become a tad too dark, though crushing is not an overwhelming issue. It is noticeable, but it does compromise these areas with serious anomalies. (This is a bigger issue on the 4K Blu-ray). Unfortunately, color reproduction is unsatisfactory. The film looks a bit cooler than it should, and primary red shifts toward light brown. In some areas, the change is very small and easy to ignore. However, in other areas, it clearly produces anomalies. You can see how primary red is destabilized and shifts toward light brown, creating anomalies, by comparing this screencapture from the new 4K makeover and this screencapture from the old MGM master. This is unfortunate because the 4K makeover strengthens other primaries and nuances, so everything could have been perfect. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. On this release, there is room for some minor encoding optimizations. My score is 3.75/5.00. (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 are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
Earlier this morning, I viewed Prime Cut, in its entirety, on Blu-ray. Once again, I used the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track.
I only used the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. It is healthy and stable. It handles all action material very well, plus the music breathes easily throughout the film. Dynamic intensity is somewhat limited, but this is to be expected. The European release of Prime Cut I have in my library does not have optional English SDH subtitles, but this release does.
Completed three years after Downhill Racer, Michael Ritchie's Prime Cut is a cracking gangster film that has all the right ingredients to be considered a minor classic. It is as quirky as Robert Altman's Nashville, but a lot darker and a lot funnier. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release is sourced from an exclusive new 4K master struck from the film's original camera negative. (A 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack is available for purchase as well). I have viewed the 4K makeover in native 4K and 1080p and find it quite frustrating. Clearly, it produces richer, better detailed, and healthier visuals than previous home video releases do. However, it is not graded as convincingly as it could have been. For this reason, if you wish to have the Blu-ray or combo pack in your collection, I suggest that you find a way to test your preferred release before spending money on it.
(Still not reliable for this title)
1989
Limited Edition Reissue
1974
1973
La French
2014
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1972
Limited Edition to 3000
1973
De la part des copains
1970
1989
2012
1931
1974
1981
1973
Unrated Cut
2012
2K Remaster
1974
1980
1990
1972
Pionér
2013
Warner Archive Collection
1972