Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

The Gentlemen 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 27, 2020

The Gentlemen may not reach the same plane of existence in which films like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels exist, but it's also a wonderfully crafted it not narratively trite but authentically "Guy Ritchie" experience, returning to the roots that bore more unrelated commercialized fruits like Aladdin, Sherlock Holmes, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. With The Gentlemen, Ritchie essentially folds together the best of both worlds, crafting a film true to his strengths and the films that made him famous but he does it on a larger scale to highly impressive technical result. It's a strong outing that hopefully portends more early Ritchie rather than contemporary Ritchie with future projects.

Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) has been in the dope growing and selling business for years. Beginning at the bottom and working his way to the top, he’s a true criminal success story who has built his empire within the foundations of English royalty, quietly literally. Various English Lords and other high society types, desperate to stay afloat and maintain social positioning, take Pearson’s cash in exchange for growing opportunities beneath their feet. It’s been a lucrative run but he and his wife Rosalind (Michelle Dockery) are ready to get out of the game. Pearson eyes selling the business for $400,000,000 to American Matthew Berger (Jeremy Strong), but as is so often the case when big money and bigger fortunes in narcotics are involved, all does not go according to plan...or does it?

Ritchie's script approaches the material primarily from the perspective of a PI named Fletcher (Hugh Grant) who lays out the tale to Pearson's trusted colleague Raymond (Charlie Hunnam) and has been so taken by its twists and complex moving parts that he's assembled it in the form of a movie script he dreams of one day seeing on the big screen in all of its glory. But his story doesn't end on the page, and Ritchie's richly leaps off of it. As with the filmmaker's previous, and best, efforts, The Gentlemen requires a concerted effort on the audience's part to fully appreciate. It demands strict investments in attention and energy and only gradually does it fold its many moving pieces into a coherent, cohesive entity. That said, the story isn't particularly engaging. The characters are more a product of the involved performances, the intimate and energized portrayals, than they are the general wheeling and dealing and maneuvering that crudely defines them on the page. It's more in the way Ritchie, Cinematographer Alan Stewart, Editor James Herbert, and Composer Christopher Benstead piece The Gentlemen all together that makes it work more so than its narrative fundamentals. The story bears fruit but most savvy audiences who have seen these pieces in play before will find the construction rather than the content to be the most riveting component that drives The Gentlemen to success.

The film's technical merits star but The Gentlemen soars thanks to the gentlemen (and the gentle lady) who make it all happen on their side of the screen. Hugh Grant and Collin Ferrell dazzle in secondary parts that become transformative roles for them. They chew scenery like nobody's business and even if they're not top billed they earn top marks for energy and scene-stealing brilliance (and props to the costume department, too...these guys just ooze "cool"). McConaughey's work as Mickey Pearson is balanced and true. The actor finds the perfect emotional response to every scene, from calm business dealings to high intensity as he pulls the trigger. He's deeply invested in the character, understanding not the superficialities but the core components that drive him through the story and towards his destiny, both as the character has previously grown to control an empire to where he is now attempting to escape from it, for a hefty price tag that nobody wants to pay.

The Gentlemen 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Universal brings The Gentlemen to UHD with a top quality 2160p/HDR presentation. The HDR color palette produces an image of darker, deeper tones but with more accurate nuance and captivating clarity. Clothes are one of the top highlights; Fletcher's jacket, even in low light, boasts immaculate color reproduction that gives it an added oomph while still allowing audiences to explore tonal intricacies in every leathery ridge. The low light dinner moments later at the 11-minute mark is something else. The plush upholstery enjoys critical color clarity against the warm candlelight and the intensely deep blacks behind and on tuxedos and pricey dresses. Several sports cars seen in one key location leap off the screen with highly impressive color saturation. White balance finds a new level of clarity and expression while everything from natural greens to gray concrete push into another gear. Flesh tones are immaculate, too.

The added resolution brings more sharpness and clarity to the image, allowing skin to breathe, clothes to dominate, and environments to shine. While there's not an explosive growth in textural output compared to the 1080p Blu-ray, the UHD does promote great definition across the board, refining the image well beyond 1080p limitations. The film begs to be seen on a large screen and the UHD only amplifies that demand. Still, it's perfectly excellent even at more commonplace home viewing sizes. The overall crispness and finely honed definition are appreciable even in the 65" screen range. Better, noise management is greatly improved on the UHD compared to the Blu-ray; it's borderline distracting, at times, at 1080p, but the UHD offers a less intrusive, more finessed presentation. This is a fine effort overall. Fans will be pleased.

The Gentlemen 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Gentlemen's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is a treat. Music is a critical cog in the film's cadence and Universal's track delivers it beautifully with full clarity to instrumental elements and lyrics alike. Width impresses, depth is steady and complimentary, and some overhead components fold in for a fuller feel. There are some enjoyable discrete overhead effects, such as a passing vehicle in chapter 11, but it's the more dynamic moments -- a severe car accident and the concussive depth to follow in chapter 15, for example -- that make the biggest impact. Gunfire hits plenty hard, and while there's not a steady stream of it, the odd shot does make a big impact. Environmental fill satisfies requirements and listeners will always feel a part of the locations, even if the support is minor. Dialogue is steady in clarity, position, and prioritization.

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

The Gentlemen contains several brief and disappointingly vacuous extras. A Blu-ray copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

• Best Gentlemanly Quips (2160p/SDR, 3:09): A highlight reel of some of the film's more color dialogue.
• Glossary of Cannabis (2160p/SDR, 0:46): Scenes that cover the many names of May Jane.
• Behind the Scenes of The Gentlemen (2160p/SDR, 1:36): A lightning fast overview of Ritchie's style and the film's cadence.
• Photo Gallery (2160p/HDR): Several stills from the set.

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

The Gentlemen is classic, dynamic Ritche for its storytelling chops, though certainly the story proper doesn't offer a ton to chew on. The narrative tentacles stretch through a broad and diverse character roster and a number of complex moving parts. The film demands multiple viewings to fully appreciate and Ritchie ensures it holds up to several watches in close succession. Performances and the film's technical merits are the true highlights, though, and both of those components are above reproach. Universal's UHD delivers excellent 2160p/HDR video and Atmos audio. A smattering of throwaway extras are also included. Recommended.