The Celluloid Closet 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Celluloid Closet 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony has released the 1996 Documentary film 'The Celluloid Closet,' directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman and narrated by Lily Tomlin, to the UHD format. This is the film's North American debut on Blu-ray or UHD. The presentation features 2160p/Dolby Vision video, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless audio, and several supplements. No Blu-ray disc is included. At time of writing, this release is exclusive to the eleven-film Sony Pictures Classics: 30th Anniversary Collection boxed set.

The Celluloid Closet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sony brings The Celluloid Closet to the UHD format with a 2160p/Dolby Vision presentation. This is the film's debut on either Blu-ray or UHD in North America, and Sony has done right by its UHD presentation. Of course, considering that this is essentially an amalgamation of film clips and interviews, the former of which are sourced from films that date as far back as nearly a century in age, the quality varies quite a bit. Still, much of the vintage film segments are appropriately restored with good general characteristics for grain management, textural clarity, and cleanliness. Some do show some spots of wear -- speckles, splotches, the stray vertical line -- but given the film's wildly divergent content the image pushes in a general direction of core excellence. The interview segments are, unsurprisingly, where the image looks its best. Grain is very flatteringly filmic here and clarity and stability are excellent. These segments just delight for the satisfyingly cinematic appeal and the high yield facial and clothing definition evident in each and every one. Here, the segments are presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, while some of the vintage film clips hold to their native 4x3 aspect ratio. The encode appears very efficient. This is not challenging material, but it translates well to the 2160p resolution.

The Dolby Vision grading is fine, offering little in terms of dazzle or delight. Its strength is in its fluency and stability, offering old grayscale clips certainly not with the exacting tonal distinction and excellence at the far ends of the spectrum as black-and-white movies restored from the ground up, but these clips are stable and pleasing. The new interview segments favor a warm appearance. Skin tones look fine in that context, as do clothes, the latter of which can really pop (look at a teal-colored shirt around the 52-minute mark). Low light backgrounds impress with depth and stability to spare

The Celluloid Closet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The film's audio needs are minimal, and the 2.0 lossless DTS-HD Master Audio track satisfies its meager needs. Dialogue is nicely imaged in the center, whether considering the new interviews or the vintage film clips that are dispersed throughout the film. There is usually only little need for extension to the far edges, usually in support of musical or ambient content in film clips. Clarity to all elements is satisfactory. Nothing stands out, but the audio engineering is very basic with this presentation, so nothing is meant to stand out. This is a word-heavy film, and the audio satisfies demands well enough here and in the odd moment when another sound element is required to tell the story.

The Celluloid Closet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The following extras are included. As it ships in the Sony Pictures Classics boxed set, a non-embossed slipcover is included.

• Interview with Vito Russo (1080p, 4:20): Vito Russo, author of the 1981 book The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies, features Russo talking about the intersection of film and the gay community in his life, research for the book, gay depictions in film then and for (his) future time, and more.
• Rescued from the Closet: Additional Interviews (1080p, 55:59): A lengthy piece involving a number of voices talking about a broad range of topics including real-world experiences and recollections and talk about how homosexuality is depicted in film and how it should be depicted in the film.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 4x3, 2:05).
• Audio Commentary: Narrator Lily Tomlin is joined by Directors Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein and Co-Editor Arnold Glassman. They discuss not only their roles in the film but also many of the stories behind it and that influenced it.
• Additional Commentary with Vito Russo (1990): Russo speaks to an audience; his comments are overlaid atop the film. While not a direct commentary, this is a quality support feature that offers great background and insight on both the film proper and the content is explores.

The Celluloid Closet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Celluloid Closet is not a film meant to be an audio-visual showstopper in this set. Nevertheless, the presentation is just fine, delivering a healthy and very satisfying 2160p/Dolby Vision presentation that truly excels in the interview segments. The audio is fine, and the supplements are rewardingly thorough. Fans will be more than satisfied with this presentation as it exclusively ships in the prestigious Sony Pictures Classics UHD collection.