8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
A group of 1950s high schoolers come of age in a bleak, isolated, atrophied West Texas town that is slowly dying, both culturally and economically.
Drama | 100% |
Romance | 22% |
Period | 12% |
Coming of age | 6% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show (1971) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include two versions of its sequel, Texasville (1990); archival cast and crew interviews; multiple documentaries; screen tests; archival promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Criterion's release of The Last Picture Show is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked". Also included on this release, as a bonus feature, is Texasville, the sequel to The Last Picture Show.
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.
Screencaptures #1-19 are from The Last Picture Show Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #22-32 are from The Last Picture Show 4K Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #33-35 are from Texasville Theatrical Cut
Screencaptures #36-40 are from Texasville Director's Cut.
The following information appears inside the booklet that is provided with this release:
"This new digital master on the 4K Blu-ray disc was created from the 35mm original camera negative. The 4K wet-gate scanning and digital image restoration was conducted at Cineric, Inc., New York. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the magnetic track by Deluxe Audio Services in Hollywood, following original work by Chace Audio. The digital master on the Blu-ray, supervised by director Peter Bogdanovich, was created in 2009 from a 35mm fine-grain master positive, which was scanned in high-definition on a Spirit 4K DataCine scanner.
4K mastering and restoration supervisor: Grover Crisp/Sony Pictures Entertainment.
4K colorist: Sheri Eisenberg/Roundabout Entertainment, Burbank, CA.
The Last Picture Show entered the Criterion Collection in 2010 with America Lost and Found: The BBS Story, a six-disc box set. As the quoted credits above clarify, the 4K Blu-ray release introduces a brand new 4K makeover, which can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I viewed the entire native 4K presentation with Dolby Vision and then performed several comparisons with the older 1080p presentation of the film.
On my system, it was very easy for me to see a wide range of meaningful improvements. For example, in native 4K, all visuals -- daylight footage, indoor footage, and nighttime footage -- conveyed better density levels and grain exposure. These improvements remained very consistent as well, so even in areas where the original cinematography introduces native softness, the superiority of the visuals was still easy to see and appreciate. Furthermore, the improved density impact fluidity as well, so a direct comparison between the new 4K makeover and the old 1080p presentation reveals much tighter visuals, and on a big screen the uptick in quality is rather significant. The grayscale is better, too. On the previous release, the grayscale was very attractive but occasionally somewhat uneven. While it is true that the superior dynamic range of 4K makes it easier to better handle these areas, I think that the overall strength of the 4K makeover clearly contributes as well. So, again, on a larger screen, the superior grayscale is easy to see and appreciate. The Dolby Vision grade is excellent, but I am not surprised because Sony's mastering team never disappoints. On my system, darker and daylight footage looked equally impressive. Image stability is outstanding. The entire film looks spotless as well. All in all, while I think that the older presentation of The Last Picture Show is very nice and convincing, the new 4K makeover is unquestionably a more satisfying presentation of the film.
There are two versions of Texasville on this release, Director's Cut (in black-and-white) and Theatrical Cut. Both look good but somewhat dated. For example, there are some small traces of surface work, which is why grain exposure is not optimal. In some areas, the dynamic range of the visuals is average, too. I think that most viewers will find delineation and depth pleasing, but on a large screen the limitations of the two presentations become easy to identity. On the Theatrical Cut, color balance is good. However, all primaries and supporting nuances can be a little healthier and even better balanced. On the Director's Cut, the grayscale is convincing. Image stability is good. Some dirt spots and blemishes can be seen, but there are no large cuts, warped or torn frames to report.
There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
I did not encounter any anomalies to report in our review. All dialog sounded very clear and sharp. It was easy to follow, too. There are some, not many, good dynamic contrasts, but the film's original sound design does not produce any memorable moments, which is why the lossless track does not have any either. The upper register is very healthy.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
Criterion's new 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack of The Last Picture Show is a winner. It introduces a stunning new 4K makeover of the film and adds two versions of its sequel, Texasville. However, you need to keep in mind that the 4K makeover is available only on the 4K Blu-ray disc. The Blu-ray disc gives you the old presentation of the film from 2009, which was included in the America Lost and Found: The BBS Story six-disc box set. All bonus features from the previous release of the film are retained. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
1971
1971
1971
1971
1971
1972
1971
1970
2016
Pilot / In SD
1980
1979
1993
1996
1969
2017
1978
2015
2017
1955
1990
1964
2017
2012
Limited Edition to 3000
1967