Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Q & A Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 11, 2013

Sidney Lumet's "Q & A" a.k.a "Contre-enquete" (1990) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label Carlotta Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an original U.S. trailer for the film and a video interview with French critic and film historian Jean-Bpatiste Thoret. In English, with optional French subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The right man for the job

Sidney Lumet's Q & A belongs to a different era – the era of creative freedom, when American directors were able to direct raw and gritty films without having to worry that they will offend someone. Many of these films had a lot of meaningful things to say with plenty of style, but they also bothered a lot of people with plenty of money and connections. It is why Hollywood no longer produces such films.

Q & A opens up with a short sequence in which Captain Michael Brennan (Nick Nolte, The Deep, TV's Rich Man, Poor Man) kills a Puerto Rican man in front of a popular night club in New York City. Brennan then arranges the scene to make his colleagues believe that he had to kill the man in self-defense. Later that night, Assistant D.A. Al Reilly (Timothy Hutton, Playing God, City of Industry) is contacted by Police Chief Kevin Quinn (Patrick O'Neal, Under Siege), who asks him to lead the investigation. Quinn is convinced that Reilly is his man because the whole case will be a formality -- Brennan is one of the city’s best cops while the murdered man has a police record that is bigger than a phone book.

But Reilly begins asking questions he should not be asking, and then he begins meeting people he should not be meeting. Feeling threatened, Brennan tries to discuss the case with his two assistants, Luis Valentin (Luis Guzman) and Sam Chapman (Charles Dutton, Nick Of Time, A Time to Kill), but instead realizes that Reilly is on a mission to prove that justice always prevails. Barely able to contain his anger, Brennan then decides to take matters in his own hands and eliminate all leads that could cost him his freedom. One of these 'leads' is a flashy drug dealer with connections to the mafia (Armand Assante, The Mambo Kings, Hoffa), whose girlfriend, Nancy Bosch (Jenny Lumet), Reilly once wanted to marry.

Lumet’s Q & A is a dark and very gritty crime drama which easily could have been directed by the great Sam Peckinpah. It has the same uncompromising attitude many of Peckinpah’s best films have. The film also frequently points a finger at the bad and rotten in the same fashion Peckinpah’s films do.

The complex relationships between the numerous characters in Q & A, however, give the film a unique identity. Initially it seems like Q & A will focus on a rather straightforward conflict between good and bad guys, but Lumet quickly transforms it into a very unpredictable examination of morality in a city where apparently anything is possible so long as it serves important interests. Naturally, as the film progresses the fine line that separates the opposing sides quickly disappears.

Brennan’s character, played expertly by Nolte, is essentially a litmus test for the viewer. He is a killer who must be brought to justice, but his observations about the flawed system he belongs to are often difficult to discard. Many of these observations are delivered with an intensity which today could easily get a lot of actors and filmmakers in a lot of trouble.

Hutton and Assante are also terrific in this film. The latter, in particular, completely transforms entire sections of the film with his edgy performance. Dutton and Guzman are also convincing as Hutton’s spineless assistants. O'Neal’s performance is respectable, but he is not on the same level with the rest of the supporting cast.

Q & A was lensed by renowned Polish cinematographer Andrzej Bartkowiak (John Huston's Prizzi's Honor, Joel Schumacher's Falling Down, Jan de Bont's Speed).

Note: In 1991, Q & A earned Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Armand Assante).

Q & A Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Sidney Lumet's Q&A arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label Carlotta Films.

The high-definition transfer has been struck from a dated master and more often than not it clearly shows. While detail is at times somewhat pleasing, image depth fails to impress. Indoor close-ups, in particular, are often too noisy and dark, lacking the type of definition they ought to have. There are various clarity fluctuations as well, with a number of outdoor shots looking quite flat. In select sequences light halo effects are also easy to spot. Some of the very light grain is also frequently mixed with noise. Colors are relatively stable, but they never look as lush and well saturated as they should be. The good news is that overall image stability is pleasing. Also, there are no large cuts, debris, warps, or damage marks. To sum it all up, the film is certainly watchable, but there is undoubtedly plenty of room for sizable improvements. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Q & A Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For the record, Carlotta Films have provided optional French subtitles for the main feature.

Clarity is quite good, but depth and fluidity are underwhelming. To be perfectly clear, the mid-range is surprisingly inconsistent - there are times when the sound becomes quite thin, and there are times when dynamic movement is very uneven. The dialog is relatively stable, but because of the fluctuations noted above it isn't always easy to follow. Fortunately, there is no heavy background hiss or serious distortions to report in this review. Still, the audio definitely needs some remastering so that various issues are properly addressed.

Q & A Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Bande-annonce - original trailer for Q & A . In English, with optional French subtitles. (2 min).

• Desillusions - French critic and film historian Jean-Bpatiste Thoret discusses some of the key similarities and differences between Edwin Torres' novel and Sidney Lumet's film. In French, not subtitled. (27 min).

Q & A Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This film directed by the great Sidney Lumet features two simply extraordinary performances by Nick Nolte and Armand Assante. I think that both actors should have earned Oscar nominations and at least one of them should have won the prestigious statuette. Q & A is currently available on Blu-ray in France, but it does not look as impressive as I hoped it would. This is unfortunate as I don't believe that we will see it on Blu-ray in North America any time soon. I can recommend getting this release only if you could find it on sale.