Spotlight 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Spotlight 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Prior coverage of Tom McCarthy's Spotlight (2015) was provided by my colleagues Brian Orndorf and Martin Liebman. Brian penned a theatrical review while Marty wrote about Universal Studios' BD-50. To read their perspectives on the film, please consult the linked reviews.

The Spotlight team.

Spotlight 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shout Select's "10th Anniversary Edition" consists of a two-disc 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray set that comes with a slipcover. The UHD is presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible). Cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi shot Spotlight entirely on digital in 1.85:1 using the ARRI ALEXA XT Camera. Robert Goldrich of SHOOTonline interviewed Takayanagi about filming back-to-back pictures in Boston. (Before lensing Spotlight, Takayanagi shot Black Mass for director Scott Cooper.) Takayanagi told Goldrich that he actually filmed a majority of Spotlight's interiors in Toronto while the exteriors were shot in Boston. Other interiors, such as The Boston Globe headquarters and a large library, were photographed in Boston.

Takayanagi also spoke with Jack Egan of M&E (Media and Entertainment) about his camera work on the film. The DP said he and McCarthy attempted "to include more space around the characters, in the headroom, or to the right or left to show the environment surrounding the characters." You will notice this more open-framing device in many of the screen captures I made. Much of Spotlight takes place inside The Globe's newsrooms, offices, and conference rooms. The first scene following the prologue features a lot of bright fluorescent lighting during a retirement tribute to a columnist. Other interiors are much darker, including when Mike Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo) has dinner with Mitchell Garabedian (Stanley Tucci) (see Screenshot #3). Ditto for the scenes in The Globe's basement where Spotlight's members sift through Catholic priest directories (see frame grab #s 35-36).

For a film that doesn't feature a lot of primary colors, the UHD does a fine job of accentuating hues in a few of the semi-bright outdoor scenes. For instance, Walter Robinson's (Michael Keaton) golf outing with Jim Sullivan (Jamey Sheridan) as seen in capture #s 17 and 6. The 4K brings out depth cues better than the regular Blu-ray. It does this even in tighter and more cramped shots such as the one with the trio of Globe journalists in Screenshot #34. Depth also impresses during a wide shot showing Banker's Lamps situated along the tables of a library where Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) does her research.

The feature on the UHD sports an average video bitrate of 84.1 Mbps. The full disc delivers a total bitrate of 92.4 Mbps. Shout gives its Blu-ray a maxed-out bitrate of 36286 kbps.

Screenshot #s 1-30, 32, 34, 36, 38, & 40 = Shout Select 2025 4K Ultra HD (downscaled to 1080p)
Screenshot #s 31, 33, 35, 37, & 39 = Shout Select 2025 Blu-ray BD-50

The 129-minute feature is accompanied by the standard twelve chapter selections.

Spotlight 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Shout has supplied a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround mix (3244 kbps, 24-bit) and a 2.0 Stereo downmix (1990 kbps, 24-bit). This seems like the same 5.1 track that's on the Universal BD from nine years ago. Spotlight is very dialogue heavy so expect a front-oriented track. Dialogue is intelligible, although it took me a while to warm and get used to Keaton's Boston accent. The surrounds occasionally deliver the town's traffic noise, chirping birds, and other ambient sounds.

Spotlight features one of Howard Shore's smaller scores. Thematic material is built around a piano with notes that are both foreboding and express an underlying sadness. The main theme underscores the personal strife victims and survivors have endured. Shore's score subtly interweaves other instruments as it's comprised of a ten-piece chamber group. The composer explained to Jazz Tangcay of AwardsDaily that he also incorporated Fender Rhodes and Hammond organ, classical harp, the bodhran, an Irish drum, a small drum kit, fiddles, accordion, two French horns, electric guitar, acoustic six-string guitar and mandolin, and electric bass.

I watched Spotlight with the optional English SDH switched on and they don't contain any typographical errors.

Spotlight 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Shout has ported over Universal's EPK materials. The boutique label didn't produce any new extras.

• Uncovering the Truth – A Spotlight Team Roundtable (6:33, 1080p) - a brief discussion about the priest scandal with journalists Marty Baron, Walter "Robby" Robinson, Mike Rezendes, Sacha Pfeiffer, Ben Bradlee Jr., and Matt Carroll. All speak in English, not subtitled.

• SPOTLIGHT: A Look Inside (2:30, 1080p) - this is really an extended trailer with remarks by Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, co-writer/director Tom McCarthy, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery, Liev Schreiber, and Stanley Tucci. In English, not subitled.

• The State of Journalism (3:14, 1080p) - a brief featurette with comments by McCarthy and the Spotlight actors, including Brian d'Arcy James. In English, not subitled.

Spotlight 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Spotlight is honest and forthright in its telling of widespread clergy abuse uncovered by a small group of diligent and dedicated investigative journalists. The picture captures the verisimilitude of newsrooms well. Shout Select's 4K UHD shows an uptick in detail over the regular HD transfer. It would have been nice to get some new supplements but this anniversary package still earns A VERY SOLID RECOMMENDATION.