Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Last Waltz 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 30, 2022

Martin Scorsese's "The Last Waltz" (1978) arrives on 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include an exclusive new program with the director; vintage promotional materials for the film; vintage commentaries; archival featurette with interviews; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz was amongst the very early titles that MGM and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment introduced on Blu-ray in North America in 2006. For an in-depth analysis of the film, please see Greg Maltz's review of the North American release here. (A review of the Region-B release from Eureka Entertainment can be accessed here.

The Last Waltz 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Criterion's release of The Last Waltz is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray offer presentations of a brand new 4K restoration of the film.

The following information appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this release:

"This new 4K digital restoration was created from a scan of the 35mm original camera negative made in 16-bit 4K resolution on a Lasergraphics Director film scanner at Roundabout Entertainment in Burbank, California. A 35mm print courtesy of Sikelia Productions was used as a color reference. On the 4K Blu-ray disc, the feature is presented in Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range). On the Blu-ray, it is presented in high-definition SDR (standard dynamic range).

The 5.1 surround soundtrack was remixed from the original two-inch 24-track magnetic masters in 2001 by Ted Hall at Pop Sound in Santa Monica, California, under the supervision of Robbie Robertson. Stereo mixes and stems made by Robertson's mixer Dam Gellert and approved by Robertson were used in the creation of the 5.1 surround mix.

Transfer supervisors: Martin Scorsese, Lee Kline, Giles Sherwood.
Colorist: Roman Hankewycz/Harbor Pictures Company, New York."

Two sets of screencaptures are included with this review. Please note that the screencaptures from the 4K Blu-ray are 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: #1-20 are from the 4K Blu-ray.
Screencaptures: #21-34 are from the Blu-ray.

Currently, I have only one Blu-ray release of The Last Waltz in my library, which is this Region-B release British label Eureka Entertainment produced in 2018. It is sourced from an older master that was supplied by MGM. (It is the same master that was used for this Special Edition DVD as well). I did some direct comparisons between the 4K Blu-ray and the Region-B release. I also used the new Blu-ray release to see what type of improvements are present in a direct 1080p to 1080p comparison.

The 4K Blu-ray release offers some pretty dramatic improvements in all but one of the areas that we typically address in our reviews. (Only in terms of image stability the improvement isn't as striking because MGM's master was already pretty solid). For example, in native 4K delineation, clarity and depth are so much better that now there really isn't a big difference between the stage footage and the close-ups. In native 4K, they both look much better defined and balanced. (For reference, on the Region-B Blu-ray release the shifts produce some pretty obvious discrepancies that reveal the age of the MGM master). Furthermore, in native 4K the lighting is substantially better captured. Highlights look better as well. On top of this, the new HDR/Dolby Vision grade produces vastly superior ranges of better saturated primaries and supporting nuances. As a result, all visuals look much richer and at the same time better balanced. Grain reproduction is much nicer, so on a a larger screen you should expect to see superior fluidity that further strengthens all visuals. (On the Region-B release some of the darker areas can't handle the grain too well and give a slightly noisy appearance). Finally, the entire film looks exceptionally clean and healthy.

The Blu-ray to Blu-ray comparison easily reveals the strengths of the new master as well. However, there are a couple of darker areas where a few light fluctuations exaggerate grain exposure. This is entirely predictable and normal because when the native 4K content is downsampled to 1080p the grain becomes a bit looser. Color balance still looks better. Shadow definition is perhaps slightly less impressive than it is on the 4K Blu-ray, but I have to be honest and write that I was able to notice the difference only because I had already spent a couple of hours with the 4K presentation. All in all, I think that the new 4K makeover that was prepared for The Last Waltz is outstanding. (Note: The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked").

The Last Waltz 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), prepared in 2001; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit), track prepared in 2001; and English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit), prepared in 1978. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

When I view older films, I usually try to stay as close as possible to the original audio. However, if you have seen our review of the Region-B release from 2018, you probably already know that I like the 5.1 track that was included on it. Well, I think that it remains my favorite track for The Last Waltz. It is very nicely done, and to be honest, when I view the film, I just don't get a contemporary vibe from it. I think that it captures the vibe in the venue really, really well. I am sure that some purists with disagree with me, so since the release offers three different audio options, you can experiment with them and choose the one that best meets your expectations. For what it's worth, I did quite a bit of switching, so I can comfortably state that I spent more than enough time with the other two tracks as well.

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

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this vintage audio commentary with director Martin Scorsese and musician/producer Robbie Robertson has appeared on a number of previous home video releases of The Last Waltz. The bulk of the information addresses nature and goal(s) of the project, specific technical choices that were made to capture the performances in the most effective way, the music and editing choices, and the spirit of the era in which the project was conceived as well as some of the cultural trends that defined it.

• Commentary Two - this vintage audio commentary features members of The Band, other crew members, some fans, and folks that assisted Martin Scorsese before and during the making of The Last Waltz. There is a lot of interesting information here about the manner in which different tunes were conceived, the performing styles, Martin Scorsese's initial idea(s) for The Last Waltz, the manner in which the film was edited, the management of the live sound, etc.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this vintage audio commentary with director Martin Scorsese and musician/producer Robbie Robertson has appeared on a number of previous home video releases of The Last Waltz. The bulk of the information addresses nature and goal(s) of the project, specific technical choices that were made to capture the performances in the most effective way, the music and editing choices, and the spirit of the era in which the project was conceived as well as some of the cultural trends that defined it.

• Commentary Two - this vintage audio commentary features members of The Band, other crew members, some fans, and folks that assisted Martin Scorsese before and during the making of The Last Waltz. There is a lot of interesting information here about the manner in which different tunes were conceived, the performing styles, Martin Scorsese's initial idea(s) for The Last Waltz, the manner in which the film was edited, the management of the live sound, etc.

• Martin Scorsese and David Fear - in this exclusive new program, Martin Scorsese discusses The Band and their sound, The Last Waltz and the era in which it was shot with critic and Rolling Stone senior editor David Fear. The program was produced for Criterion in 2021. In English, not subtitled. (32 min).

• Martin Scorsese and Robbie Robertson, 1978 - this archival interview with Martin Scorsese and Robbie Robertson was originally broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's 90 Minutes Live on April 14, 1978. The bulk of the comments address the conception of The Last Waltz and why it was necessary to immortalize The Band's last concert. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Revisiting The Last Waltz - this archival program focuses on the genesis of The Last Waltz. Included in it are extensive interviews with Martin Scorsese and Robbie Robertson. The featurette was produced and directed by Stephen Altobello. The program was produced in 2002. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• Archival Outtake: Jam Session 2 - this archival footage from The Last Waltz features Paul Butterfield, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Carl Radle, Robbie Robertson, Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills, Ronnie Wood, and Neil Young. Music only. (13 min).

• Trailer - an original theatrical trailer for The Last Waltz. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• TV Spot - an archival TV spot for The Last Waltz. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring critic Amanda Petrusich's essay "Long, Hard Road" and technical credits.

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

I had a pretty good feeling that The Last Waltz will be properly restored in 4K, but to be honest, I did not expect to see a 4K Blu-ray release of it so soon. The new 4K restoration that was completed with Martin Scorsese's involvement is gorgeous and its technical presentation on 4K Blu-ray is top-notch. Needless to say, Criterion's 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack will be the definitive home video release of this film. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

*I was so impressed by the great work that was done for The Last Waltz that after I was done viewing the 4K Blu-ray release last night, I did a bit of dreaming. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Depeche Mode: Devotional, directed by Anton Corbijn. Wouldn't it be great if it was restored by the folks at Criterion and released on 4K Blu-ray?