The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.1 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown June 4, 2014

With Disney's two-volume, four-movie Spike Lee Joint Collection, three additional films from the prolific director make their Blu-ray debut. Both sets are something of a mixed bag, albeit for different reasons. Vol. 1 features masterfully written and performed, low-key character study 25th Hour (2002) and the mismatched but compelling He Got Game (1998), each of which showcase a distinct side of Lee's talents and vision. Easily the most tempting of the collection, Vol. 1 may be an odd pairing, but it's one that represents the filmmaker at an interesting intersect in his career; before the likes of Oldboy (2013) -- an abysmal remake in every conceivable way -- left viewers questioning whether Lee still, erm, got game. Vol. 2 is the trickier collection, with excellent but oft-overlooked period piece Summer of Sam (1999) dragged down by misguided war drama Miracle at St. Anna (2008), a late career misfire first released in high definition in 2009 (the only film previously available on BD).

Completests will no doubt want to acquire Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, while other longtime Lee fans will lament the fact that the films haven't been granted individual releases (particularly for those who already own Miracle and are only looking to pick up Summer). Thankfully, notable AV presentations and newly recorded audio commentaries will help ensure almost everyone get's their money's worth.

Disc One: 25th Hour

In 24 short hours Monty Brogan (Ed Norton) will go to prison for seven long years. Once a king of Manhattan, Monty is about to say good-bye to the life he knew; a life that opened doors to New York's swankest clubs but also alienated him from the people closest to him. In his last day on the outside, Monty tries to reconnect with his father (Brian Cox), gets together with two old friends, Jacob (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Slaughtery (Barry Pepper), and tries to figure out if his girlfriend, Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), was the one who tipped off the cops. Monty's not sure of much, but with time running out, there are choices to be made as he struggles to redeem himself.

Filmed with focused intention and pulsing with quiet intensity, 25th Hour is more restrained and introspective than many of Lee's more socially volatile dramas. It also remains one of his most powerful, relying on little more than a loosely wound, smartly cast ensemble and a script rife with strained relationships to explore a variety of issues. All in the course of a single night no less. Though small in scale, the film is rarely small in scope. Though reserved in narrative, it's rarely, if ever, reserved in its potency. Monty is all at once unlikable and sympathetic, as are his friends, who could have easily found themselves in the same predicament if circumstances were even the slightest bit different. But 25th Hour isn't really about Brogan or his ex-cohorts. It's the perseverance of the human spirit that interests Lee. Man's drive to reflect and change in the face of fear and regret.

Nestled in New York in the aftermath of 9/11, story and setting merge to decidedly poignant ends, all of which resonates with startling depth thanks to author/screenwriter David Benioff's precisely threaded screenplay and standout performances from Norton, Hoffman, Pepper, Dawson and Cox. A handful of subplots feel a bit forced (among them Jacob's love of a high school student, played competently by Anna Paquin), but only the timing of their reveal is suspect; none prove to be wholly random or unnecessary. By film's end, Monty's desperation pushes his final hours in an unexpected direction that allows everything that comes before it to reverberate even further and, more importantly, matter. Monty could have been a disposable plot device. Instead, he stands among Lee's most unforgettable characters, many of whom, like Monty, are victims of their own making.

Disc Two: He Got Game

With the promise of a reduced sentence, Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) is granted temporary release from state prison in order to persuade the nation's top basketball recruit, his estranged son Jesus (NBA star Ray Allen), to play ball for the governor's alma mater. But as Jesus faces intense pressures and irresistible temptations while contemplating his big decision, Jake is also forced to consider not only what's best for himself but what's best for his son. The film features a soundtrack by Public Enemy and appearances by John Turturro and basketball personalities Dick Vitale, John Thompson and Dean Smith.

With He Got Game, Lee tends to overindulge and overextend, delivering a mesmerizing but frustrating film that's too long, occasionally too enamored with itself, and all too willing to hedge its bets on a paper-thin premise. Not that it represents a lesser effort by any stretch of the imagination. Washington hoists the weight of Lee's busy script on his shoulders with a powerhouse performance as magnetic as it is heartbreaking. Allen matches Washington too, if you can believe it... which isn't something that can be said for the other athletes and sports professionals that wander on set. (You might even mistake the young basketballer for a veteran thesp when, in fact, He Got Game was Allen's acting debut.) The oft-erratic Milla Jovovich turns in fine work as well, withdrawing inward rather than fidgeting outward. The result is a terribly flawed film that isn't remotely terrible. It's rather gripping actually, with a heft to its movements that elevates it above an ordinary genre pic. Lee's passion for the sport is palpable and, like every subject he's ever tackled, he uses it to explore every avenue and alley he passes, no matter how dark or dangerous it might seem. Still, without Washington and Allen, it isn't hard to envision the mess that could have been, leaving this one without the classic status some of Lee's other films have earned with their blood, sweat and tears.

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I was more pleased with 25th Hour's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer than that of any other presentation in the two-volume Spike Lee Joint Collection. True to its source elements and faithful to Lee and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto's every last grainy, gritty intention, the film looks as good as it conceivably could. The only issue being the slightest hint of ringing, which is both infrequent and negligible. Lee's bleached palette and color timing has been preserved, backed by perfectly fitting saturation and deep, inky black levels. Contrast is cooked to the point of severely crushing shadows but, again, it traces back to aesthetic choices, not a shortcoming in the remaster or encode. Detail is quite striking too; more so than I anticipated. Edges are clean, natural and nicely defined, textures are refined and revealing, and grain is intact and unhindered. Softness plays a role, but only as Lee and Prieto dictate. Moreover, macroblocking, banding, aliasing and other distractions are MIA. Like most of the director's films, 25th Hour isn't a polished, pristine, digitally shot picture. It's cinematic. Filmic. An utterly entrancing work of 35mm art.

Read the full review and view additional screenshots here.

He Got Game sports an attractive but imperfect 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation that, relatively minor issues aside, fares pretty well. Contrast comes on a bit too strong at times and slight edge halos creep into a few scenes, but otherwise the film has never looked better. Colors are confident and capably saturated, skintones are generally lifelike, primaries pack some punch and black levels are satisfying. Detail doesn't disappoint either. Close-ups feature particularly well-resolved textures and overall clarity comes as something of a relief. Add to that a lack of any troubling anomalies (artifacting, aberrant noise et al) and you have a fifteen year old film that's been given new life.

Read the full review and view additional screenshots here.

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Though a touch front-heavy, the DTS-HD Master Audio that accompanies 25th Hour complements Disney's video presentation wonderfully. Dialogue is intelligible and carefully prioritized at all times, even when threatened by the huffing and puffing of the living, breathing organism that is Spike Lee's New York. LFE output is subdued but assertive, lending itself fully when called upon, and the rear speakers follow suit; dutifully and diligently delivering ambient effects until the film's sound design requires more aggression. The soundfield is quite immersive, despite its low-key nature, and directionality and channel pans are reliable and effective.

He Got Game features a fairly involving DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, despite drawing upon an even more noticeably front-focused soundscape. That doesn't mean the rear speakers don't have a role to play -- busy basketball courts, bustling streets and crowded hot spots thankfully expand the experience -- but those expecting a fully inhabitable city will raise an eyebrow during scenes that sound a touch flat. Even so, dialogue is clean and neatly prioritized throughout, LFE output is more than commendable (despite primarily supporting the film's music) and dynamics don't disappoint.

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One: 25th Hour

• Audio Commentaries: Three audio commentaries are included, chief among them a newly recorded track with director Spike Lee and actor Ed Norton. The duo discuss the palpable impact of 9/11 as felt in the film, differences between screenwriter David Benioff's original novel and his screen adaptation, casting and performances, the themes explored over the course of the story, Rodrigo Prieto's cinematography, Terence Blanchard's music and more. Few stones are left unturned. Two additional commentaries -- a solo track with Lee and a second solo track with Benioff, both excellent -- are ported over from the film's DVD release.
• The Evolution of an American Filmmaker (SD, 22 minutes): This blend of career retrospective and 25th Hour behind-the-scenes documentary delves into the films of Spike Lee, as examined by members of the 25th Hour cast and crew, legendary filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Academy Award-winning actors like Denzel Washington and Halle Berry, and many others who offer unique, often personal insights into Lee's work and style.
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 10 minutes): Six less-than-notable deleted scenes are available, including "Sway," "Little Odessa," "Naturelle, Mom and Monty," "Party Plans," "Sneaking Mary In" and "Mary's Death Scene."
• Ground Zero: A Tribute (SD, 6 minutes): Footage of the clean-up efforts at Ground Zero.

Disc Two: He Got Game

• Audio Commentary: The sole extra available on the Blu-ray edition of Het Got Game is a newly recorded audio commentary with director Spike Lee and actor Ray Allen. While far from a disappointing track, this was my least favorite of the four Joint Collection commentaries, if only because Lee seems more distracted and Denzel Washington would have made for a more engaging participant than Allen. Still, fans of the film will quickly realize there's plenty of solid information and insight to be had, so long as you have the patience to get to them all.

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Of the four movies available as part of two-volume Spike Lee Joint Collection, 25th Hour is perhaps the most deserving of a standalone Blu-ray release. Not only because of the merits of the film, which are many, but because the BD is loaded with value thanks to a terrific video presentation (the best of the bunch by my estimation), a strong DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and a lengthy supplemental package that includes three audio commentaries (the most enticing of them newly recorded). Disney missed an opportunity here. Although being forced into also purchasing He Got Game -- a fine film in its own right that also boasts a great AV presentation and newly recorded audio commentary -- shouldn't be cause for any real concern.