7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
An honest New York cop blows the whistle on rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.
Starring: Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe, Biff McGuire, Barbara Eda-YoungDrama | 100% |
Crime | 28% |
Biography | 17% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
DD 2.0 is a Commentary
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Sidney Lumet's "Serpico" (1973) arrives on 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary recorded by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; archival programs; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Kino Lorber's release of Serpico is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray disc is Region-A "locked".
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 #1-33 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #36-39 are from 4K Blu-ray.
The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray are sourced from an exclusive new 4K master that was struck from the original camera negative. The native 4K presentation utilizes a Dolby Vision/HDR grade. I viewed Serpico in native 4K with Dolby Vision and did a couple of random tests with HDR.
The only other release of Serpico that I have in my library is this release which StudioCanal produced in 2010. It is sourced from an older but very good master that treats the film quite nicely. However, this master has some predictable limitations that trained eyes will recognize. For example, in some darker areas, finer nuances are not as convincing as they could be. Color reproduction and the overall dynamic range of the visuals could be better, too. However, color balance is very good and the entire film has a fine organic appearance.
The exclusive new 4K master is healthier and has stronger density levels, so as soon as the 4K Blu-ray disc loads and the film begins it becomes very clear that a superior element was used to prepare it. On my system, the fluidity of the visuals was undeniably better as well. This means that a lot of the faster-moving footage -- like the chase around the 1.00.00 mark where the camera quickly zooms and pans -- looks better. Image stability is excellent. The exclusive new 4K master is very nicely graded, too. The visuals have the correct color temperature, so the native period appearance of Serpico is retained. This is great news because there is another absolutely atrocious 4K master that StudioCanal prepared a few years ago that destroys the film's native period appearance and turns it green.
Unfortunately, I have to report that in native 4K and 1080p a lot of the darker visuals reveal black crush. Some of it is quite strong and eliminates detail in much the same manner that the crushing on the recent 4K master of The Long Goodbye does. If you compare this screencapture and this screencapture from the StudioCanal release, you will get a pretty good idea how much detail is being lost in relatively well-lit footage. In darker area, where light is restricted more, the crushing becomes very prominent. You can see examples here, here, and here. Interestingly, in native 4K, with Dolby Vision, there are random areas where some of the darker nuances appear much more convincing and reveal native detail as they should. You can see an example here. I expected to see the entire 4K master looking this good. The surface of the visuals is very healthy. To sum it all up, the new 4K master has the healthiest appearance, but it loses quite a bit of detail in darker areas because of prominent crushing that makes most of the film look quite dark as well. My score is 3.75/5.00.
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 for the main feature.
I started viewing the film with the 2.0 track but also tested quite a few areas with the 5.1 track. I liked what I heard a lot on both, so I would not automatically dismiss the 5.1 track because it is not the original audio. On the 2.0 track, clarity in particular is very good, perhaps a tad better than that on the StudioCanal release. From what I heard, both tracks are very healthy as well. Also, the inclusion of optional English SDH subtitles will surely be appreciated by Engish speakers (the StudioCanal release does not have any).
4K BLU-RAY DISC
Sidney Lumet's Serpico is one of the great American films of the 1970s. However, it is not one of those great older films whose message has aged so much that it has lost its relevance. On the contrary, its message has an even stronger resonance now that corruption is detectable in so many different agencies and institutions that should be immune to it. This 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack is sourced from an exclusive new 4K master that is vastly superior to the one StudioCanal prepared on the other side of the Atlantic a few years ago. However, there are certain areas of it that could have been managed better so that the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack is the definitive home video release of Serpico. If possible, my advice is to find a way to test it before deciding whether to purchase it. RECOMMENDED, but with reservations.
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