Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Romeo Is Bleeding Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 19, 2022

Peter Medak's "Romeo is Bleeding" (1993) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute. The supplemental features on the disc include exclusive new program with the director; new audio commentary by critic Alexandra Heller-Nichols; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Dirty cop

Jack Grimaldi (Gary Oldman) has been a dirty cop for years. His secret tips have helped the mafia eliminate many snitches and made him a wealthier man. He has not been able to save enough to give his beautiful wife (Annabella Sciorra) the life she deserves, but it is only a matter of time now. If he remains smart, in a year or two he will be ready.

After pocketing yet another large payment for a job well done, Grimaldi is tasked to take out Mona Demarkov (Lena Olin), a deadly Russian beauty who has been a thorn in the side of the powerful Dol Falcone (Roy Scheider). He reluctantly agrees and takes a new payment from his contact, but immediately after meeting Demarkov his world begins to spin out of control. While trying to tame the animal Demarkov has unexpectedly awakened in him, Grimaldi then makes a series of crucial mistakes that initially threaten to collapse his perfect plan to retire as a very rich man and then destroy him.

Peter Medak’s Romeo is Bleeding is one of those very special film noirs that emerged in the early ‘90s that are now rightfully considered genre classics. Indeed, it is as brilliantly scripted as The Last Seduction and almost as sexy as The Hot Spot, plus it has the best soundtrack of the entire bunch.

This film has arguably the greatest contemporary femme fatale as well. Yes, this is a big statement, but it is entirely deserved because the powerful presence and versatility of Olin’s character remain unmatched. Oldman is predictably good and does plenty to make the drama exciting, but it is undoubtedly Olin’s unleashed performance that elevates it to a level that ensures a pretty unique experience.

Medak worked with an original screenplay by Hilary Henkin, who a couple of years earlier teamed up with Rowdy Herrington on another cult classic, Road House. Given Medak’s history with such screenplays, it is fair to speculate that the final version of Romeo is Bleeding likely features some changes that made him happier, but it is clear that the quality of Henkin’s writing is another very big reason why the end product is terrific. For example, as Oldman’s character realizes that he has severely misjudged his target, Henkin infuses the drama with some very, very subtle dark humor that makes it possible to view Romeo is Bleeding as a completely different type of film, one that has plenty in common with Quentin Tarantino’s most outrageous projects. But the serious side of it remains unharmed, so when eventually the resolution comes the audience is left with the impression that what Oldman’s character has gone through is just the proper punishment dirty players deserve.

The supporting cast includes various excellent character actors that have had leading parts in other terrific genre films. Juliette Lewis is the dirty cop’s secret lover who thinks that together they might have a future. Dennis Farina plays a mafia guy-turned-informer that is getting ready to testify against his former boss in exchange for a clean record and brand new identity. Ron Perlman is a fast-talking lawyer with an attitude. Michael Wincott is the mafia guy that requests ‘favors’ from the dirty cop. Will Patton Michael Wincott is one of the good guys who eventually see the big picture exactly as it is.

Despite plenty of graphic visuals the film looks very stylish and sexy. It has that very fluid quality that is present in some of the greatest classic film noirs as well. It was lensed by Polish-born Oscar-nominated cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (The Crow, Dark City).

Romeo Is Bleeding Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Romeo is Bleeding arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute.

The release is sourced from a very dated and inconsistent master that was supplied by MGM. Indeed, despite the occasional decent looking close-ups, virtually all wider panoramic shots and darker footage are disappointingly soft and flat. During nighttime footage there are entire ranges of nuances that struggle to appear as they should, so on a larger screen darker footage usually looks quite underwhelming. There are various backgrounds that are missing native detail, too. I noticed some minor instability in the beginning of the film and in a few areas towards the end. Color balance is good, but a properly graded new 2K/4K master will offer meaningful improvements in terms of saturation and expand a number of different supporting nuances. Some dirt spots, stains, and blemishes can be seen, so the film could look healthier as well. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Romeo Is Bleeding Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless track offers a pretty serious upgrade in quality over the lossy track from the R1 DVD release of Rome is Bleeding. Clarity, sharpness, and dynamic depth are much, much better, so given the important role the superb jazzy soundtrack has in the film, I think that this is a good enough reason to recommend the current Blu-ray release until a better Blu-ray release, or why not 4K Blu-ray release, arrives on the market.

Romeo Is Bleeding Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Medak on Medak: An interview with Peter Medak - in this exclusive new program, director Peter Medak discusses his early years in Hungary and move to the West, his work in the film industry, and some of his bigger films, including Romeo is Bleeding. It is an excellent program. In English, not subtitled. (44 min).

• Trailer - presented here is an original theatrical trailer for Rome is Bleeding. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for Rome is Bleeding. (4 min).

• Isolated Scores - presented as Dolby Digital 2.0.

• Commentary - an exclusive new audio commentary by critic Alexandra Heller-Nichols.

• Booklet - 26-page illustrated booklet with new essays by Rebecca Feasey, Lou Thomas and Dr. Josephine Botting, as well as technical credits.

Romeo Is Bleeding Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Neo-noir's greatest femme fatale is in this super-stylish film directed by Peter Medak. Also, Mark Isham's sultry soundtrack is a notch above the one Jack Nitzsche cooked up with John Lee Hooker, Miles Davis, Taj Mahal, and Roy Rogers for The Hot Spot. Needless to say, in my book Romeo is Bleeding is a genuine genre masterpiece, and I consider it one of the best films to emerge from the '90s. This recent Blu-ray release from the BFI is sourced from an old and pretty average master, supplied by MGM, that does not do the film justice. To be honest, on it Romeo is Bleeding looks a lot like The Hot Spot did when Shout Factory initially introduced it on Blu-ray. It is crying to be redone in 4K, and if it is released on 4K Blu-ray, it will be a jewel a lot of people will fall in love with again. However, I am going to recommend BFI's release because it has a very, very nice exclusive new program with director Medak in which he discusses his life in communist Hungary, career, and best films, including Romeo is Bleeding. RECOMMENDED.