Tag Archives: Harvey Keitel

1993 film The Piano on 4K and Blu-ray in January

Amazon Commissions Earned

The 1993 film “The Piano” is officially coming to both 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc on January 25th, 2022 via The Criterion Collection. The film, winner of 3 Academy Awards (“Oscars”), was written & directed by Jane Campion, and it starred Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin.

This movie has received a new 4K restoration, as described below.

“New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Stuart Dryburgh and approved by director Jane Campion”

The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless surround sound. Tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1080p HD video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect with the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound. The 4K UHD Blu-ray release will come in the form of a “combo pack” meaning that it will include the Blu-ray Disc counterpart.

You can now find both the 4K UHD Blu-ray and the Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon, as well as directly via Criterion’s website. The details about the releases and bonus materials set to be included are listed below.

  • New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Stuart Dryburgh and approved by director Jane Campion, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
  • In the 4K UHD edition: One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
  • New conversation between Campion and film critic Amy Taubin
  • New interviews with Dryburgh and production designer Andrew McAlpine
  • Interview with actor Holly Hunter on working with Campion
  • “The Piano” at 25, a program featuring a conversation between Campion and producer Jan Chapman
  • Excerpts from an interview with costume designer Janet Patterson
  • Water Diary, a 2006 short film by Campion
  • Trailer
  • New English subtitle translation and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Carmen Gray
  • New cover by Greg Ruth

Romero and Argento film Two Evil Eyes on 4K in August

Amazon Commissions Earned

The 1990 film “Two Evil Eyes” co-directed by George A. Romero and Dario Argento is getting a 4K UHD Blu-ray release on August 24th via Blue Underground. The film featured a cast of Adrienne BarbeauHarvey Keitel, Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshall, John Amos, and Tom Atkins. Tech specs for the release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio from a new 4K restoration in both Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos sound, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono sound. The new 4K restoration here came from the uncensored original camera negative.

UPDATE #2: You can now find that the 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for preorder over at Amazon, as well as over at DiabolikDVD. Bonus materials set to be included with this new 2-disc 4K UHD Blu-ray Blu-ray are listed below.

Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:

  • Audio Commentary with Troy Howarth, Author of Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Poster & Still Gallery

Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Extras:

  • Two Masters’ Eyes – Interviews with Directors Dario Argento & George Romero, Special Make-Up Effects
  • Supervisor Tom Savini, Executive Producer Claudio Argento, and Asia Argento
  • Savini’s EFX – A Behind-the-Scenes look at the film’s Special Make-Up Effects
  • At Home With Tom Savini – A personal tour of Tom Savini&’s home
  • Adrienne Barbeau on George Romero
  • Before I Wake – Interview with Star Ramy Zada
  • Behind The Wall – Interview with Star Madeleine Potter
  • One Maestro And Two Masters – Interview with Composer Pino Donaggio
  • Rewriting Poe – Interview with Co-Writer Franco Ferrini
  • The Cat Who Wouldn’t Die – Interview with Assistant Director Luigi Cozzi
  • Two Evil Brothers – Interview with Special Make-Up Assistant Everett Burrell
  • Working With George – Interview with Costume Designer Barbara Anderson

Further below, after the break, you can find the trailer for the film, the sales sheet for the 4K UHD Blu-ray release, and the full details about the release.

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2019 Scorsese film The Irishman on Blu-ray November

the_irishman_criterion_bluray– Amazon Commissions Earned –

The 2019 The Irishman film directed by Martin Scorsese is officially coming to Blu-ray Disc on November 24th via The Criterion Collection. The movie originally debuted both in theaters and streaming on Netflix, and it was nominated for 10 Academy Awards (“Oscars”). The Irishman starred Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, as well as co-starred Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, and Stephen Graham. The Criterion Blu-ray will feature a “new 4K digital master, approved by director Martin Scorsese” in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio (presented in 1080p HD) with Dolby Atmos sound. Right now, you cannot yet find the Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon but stay tuned for an update on that. You can now however find the Blu-ray available for preorder directly from The Criterion Collection website. Details about the release and the bonus materials can be found listed below.

  • New 4K digital master, approved by director Martin Scorsese, with Dolby Atmos soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • Newly edited roundtable conversation among Scorsese and actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, originally recorded in 2019
  • New documentary about the making of the film featuring Scorsese; the lead actors; producers Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Jane Rosenthal, and Irwin Winkler; director of photography Rodrigo Prieto; and others from the cast and crew
  • New video essay written and narrated by film critic Farran Smith Nehme about The Irishman’s synthesis of Scorsese’s singular formal style
  • The Evolution of Digital De-aging, a 2019 program on the visual effects created for the film
  • Archival interview excerpts with Frank “the Irishman” Sheeran and International Brotherhood of Teamsters trade union leader Jimmy Hoffa
  • Trailer and teaser
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien
  • New cover by Gregory Manchess

EDITORIAL NOTE: First off, yes, I know the movie itself actually aired in 4K Ultra HD with HDR (high dynamic range) on Netflix but we’re not receiving a 4K physical release here for yet another title from Criterion. That’s pretty much a sign that Criterion really has no plans for releasing to the 4K UHD Blu-ray format, at least anytime soon. I hate that, but it is still great to see this film getting a physical release, and from the folks at The Criterion Collection, nonetheless — even if it is only in 1080p, as it is. It is what it is. Yes, I just went there. I’ll end this by stating the obvious: it’s 2020 and I think that it’s about time that maybe Criterion got with the whole 4K UHD Blu-ray game.

The Grand Budapest Hotel gets Criterion Blu-ray

the_grand_budapest_hotel_criterion_bluray– commissions earned-

The 2014 Wes Anderson directed-film The Grand Budapest Hotel will be getting a Blu-ray Disc release from The Criterion Collection on April 28th. The film, previously released on Blu-ray from Universal back in 2014, featured a cast of Ralph FiennesF. Murray AbrahamMathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Bill Murray. The tech specs for the new Criterion Blu-ray include a 2K digital transfer, supervised by Wes Anderson, presented in 1080p HD video in a variety of aspect ratios (1.37:1, 1.85:1, and 2.40:1) with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound. The Criterion Collection Blu-ray of the film is now available for preorder over at Amazon and directly via the Criterion website. Bonus materials set to be included on the release are listed below.

  • New audio commentary featuring Anderson, filmmaker Roman Coppola, and actor Jeff Goldblum
  • Selected-scene storyboard animatics
  • The Making of “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” a new documentary about the film
  • New interviews with the cast and crew
  • Video essays from 2015 and 2020 by critic Matt Zoller Seitz and film scholar David Bordwell
  • Behind-the-scenes, special-effects, and test footage
  • Trailer
  • PLUS: Two pieces by critic Richard Brody and (with the Blu-ray) a double-sided poster and other ephemera
  • New cover by Emma Wesley

Two Evil Eyes Limited Edition Blu-ray October

two_evil_eyes_limited_edition_bluray

The 1990 film Two Evil Eyes directed by George A. Romero and Dario Argento is getting a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray Disc release on October 29th via Blue Underground. The film featured a cast of Adrienne BarbeauHarvey Keitel, Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshall, John Amos, and Tom Atkins. Tech specs for the release include 1080p HD video in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio from a new 4K restoration with DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono, and Dolby Digital Mono sound. The new 4K restoration here came from the uncensored original camera negative. The “limited edition” Blu-ray is now available for pre-order over at Amazon. Bonus materials set to be included on this new 3-disc “limited edition” Blu-ray are listed below.

  • Disc 1 (Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:
    • NEW! Audio Commentary with Troy Howarth, Author of Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • Poster & Still Gallery
  • Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Extras:
    • Two Masters’ Eyes – Interviews with Directors Dario Argento & George Romero, Special Make-Up Effects Supervisor Tom Savini, Executive Producer Claudio Argento, and Asia Argento
    • Savini’s EFX – A Behind-the-Scenes look at the film’s Special Make-Up Effects
    • At Home With Tom Savini – A personal tour of Tom Savini’s home
    • Adrienne Barbeau on George Romero
    • NEW! Before I Wake – Interview with Star Ramy Zada
    • NEW! Behind The Wall – Interview with Star Madeleine Potter
    • NEW! One Maestro And Two Masters – Interview with Composer Pino Donaggio
    • NEW! Rewriting Poe – Interview with Co-Writer Franco Ferrini
    • NEW! The Cat Who Wouldn’t Die – Interview with Assistant Director Luigi Cozzi
    • NEW! Two Evil Brothers – Interview with Special Make-Up Assistant Everett Burrell
    • NEW! Working With George – Interview with Costume Designer Barbara Anderson
  • Disc 3 (CD):
    • TWO EVIL EYES Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Pino Donaggio
  • BONUS! Collectible Booklet with a new essay by Michael Gingold

Further below, after the break, you can find the full announcement regarding this upcoming Blu-ray release.

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