6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A concentration camp survivor discovers her former torturer and lover working as a porter at a hotel in postwar Vienna. When the couple attempt to re-create their sadomasochistic relationship, his former SS comrades begin to stalk them.
Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Charlotte Rampling, Philippe Leroy, Gabriele Ferzetti, Giuseppe AddobbatiDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Liliana Cavani's "The Night Porter" (1974) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Cult Films. The supplemental features on the disc include new programs with the director and Charlotte Rampling. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Night Porter arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Cult Films.
The release is sourced from a recent 4K master, which isn't the same master Anchor Bay UK worked with to produce the first release of The Night Porter in 2012. (You can see our listing and review of the first release here). According to technical credits that appear on the release, the new 4K master was prepared after the film was restored in 4K under the supervision of director Liliana Cavani. I was eager to test it on my system because I think that the 2K master Criterion prepared a couple of years ago, again under the supervision of Cavani, is very good. (You can see our listing and review of the U.S. release here). Unfortunately, the new 4K master has a number of familiar issues, so below I am going to list what I like and dislike about it.
The Good: Density levels are very strong. While this isn't going to be immediately obvious, especially to those who have seen the Criterion release, there is a difference. In many areas the visuals basically look much 'tighter', so I am assuming that in native 4K the uptick in quality will be undeniable. Additionally, there are a few areas with daylight footage where highlights are managed better. (See screencapture #5). The entire film looks simply spotless as well, but the 2K master was equally healthy.
The Bad: The restored 4K master produces substantially flatter visuals, when exactly the opposite should be happening. Why? It is graded in a very particular and very familiar manner which basically destabilizes the film's native dynamic range. For example, if you compare screencapture #15 with the corresponding screencapture from the U.S. release, you should immediately notice how fine nuances begin to disappear. In darker visuals, where there should be a wide range of nuances that strengthen the perception of depth, the new master actually looks worse. See an example in screencapture #11 where there is basically a lot of digital flatness instead of proper shadow details. So, on a large screen the new 4K master reveals problematic depth and in very dark footage unconvincing clarity. There are minor but notable adjustments in the color scheme as well, but I am unwilling to offer an opinion on them because I am quite certain that in native 4K the true color values are actually different. So, it could be that the new color scheme is superior, or it could be that certain color values are simply not entirely correct. As seen on this release, darker nuances and blacks in particular do not appear properly balanced. Finally, the encoding on this release should be much better. Not only does the grain look very loose and blotchy, but in darker areas there is quite a bit of distracting macroblocking. (See examples in screencaptures #4 and 11). My score is 3.25/5.00.
This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.
The audio is excellent. It is sharp and clear, making the dialog very easy to follow. Some unevenness does exist, but it is from the original overdubbing that was done for some actors. I did a few quick comparisons with the lossless track from the Criterion release, but I could not hear a meaningful difference to report in our review.
First, I am glad that The Night Porter was restored in 4K. However, like so many recent restoration projects that are color-graded in Italy and France, this 4K restoration comes with a new color scheme that is problematic. Even if it is endorsed by Liliana Cavani because it reflects a new vision of her film, it introduces digital flatness that should not be on the 4K master. It is possible that in native 4K the restoration looks better, but it is also possible that in higher resolution the same issues are actually exacerbated. Second, the technical presentation reveals encoding anomalies. Perhaps some viewers will not notice them, but these are the type of anomalies that easily could have been avoided. The release has two very good exclusive new programs with director Cavani and Charlotte Rampling, so I think that fans of the film should consider picking it up when it goes on sale.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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