Tag Archives: Joe Pesci

Martin Scorsese film Raging Bull on 4K in July

Amazon Commissions Earned

The 1980 film Raging Bull is officially getting new releases on the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray formats on July 12th via The Criterion Collection.  The film, directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the life story of boxer Jake LaMotta, starred Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, and Mario Gallo.

This comes from a “new 4K digital master, approved by director Martin Scorsese.”  Tech specs for the 4K release include a 2160p Black & White video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range, spanning across a 2-disc “combo pack,” with DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 surround lossless sound.  The tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1080p HD video  Black & White presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 surround sound.

You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc versions available for preorder over at Amazon, as well as directly via Criterion‘s website.  The bonus materials set to be included with the release, included on the Blu-ray, are listed below as well as some physical extras and info regarding the cover artwork.

  • In the 4K UHD edition: One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
  • New video essays by film critics Geoffrey O’Brien and Sheila O’Malley on Scorsese’s mastery of formal techniques and the film’s triumvirate of characters
  • Three audio commentaries, featuring Scorsese and editor Thelma Schoonmaker; director of photography Michael Chapman, producers Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler, casting director Cis Corman, music consultant Robbie Robertson, actors Theresa Saldana and John Turturro, and sound-effects supervising editor Frank Warner; and boxer Jake La Motta and screenwriters Mardik Martin and Paul Schrader
  • Fight Night, a making-of program featuring Scorsese and key members of the cast and crew
  • Three short programs highlighting the longtime collaboration between Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro
  • Television interview from 1981 with actor Cathy Moriarty and the real Vikki La Motta
  • Interview with Jake La Motta from 1990
  • Program from 2004 featuring veteran boxers reminiscing about La Motta
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: Essays by poet Robin Robertson and film critic Glenn Kenny
  • New cover by Eric Skillman

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.

“Goodfellas” getting 4K SteelBook in September

goodfellas_4k_steelbookThe 1990 Martin Scorsese directed film Goodfellas will be getting a 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook release, on September  15th, which will be exclusive to retailer Best Buy. The tech specs will remain identical to the original 4K release, with the video in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio presented in the HDR10 form of High Dynamic Range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound. The release will come as a “combo pack” meaning that it will come with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart, a second Blu-ray (for special features), and a digital code (copy) of the film. The bonus materials will be, again identical to those found on the previous (original) 4K release. You can now find this 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook listed for preorder over at Best Buy.

“Home Alone” comes to 4K UHD Blu-ray September

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The 1990 film Home Alone is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on September 15th, via Fox, in the 30th Anniversary Edition — according to multiple retailers. The film, which was directed by Chris Columbus & written by the late John Hughes, starred Macaulay CulkinJoe PesciDaniel Stern, John Heard, Catherine O’Hara, Roberts Blossom, and John Candy. The tech specs and bonus materials for the release have not yet been detailed, but stay tuned for an update on that once the studio [Fox] does an official announcement. The art (pictured above) tells us the release will come in the form of a “combo pack” with its original Blu-ray Disc counterpart and a digital code (copy) of the film included. That said, you can bet on getting all of the previous bonus materials from the original 2008 Blu-ray release. There’s no preorder listing for this 4K UHD Blu-ray yet over at Amazon but you can find it already listed over at retailer Best Buy, retailer Target, and online retailer Deep Discount. Finally, it’s certainly worth noting that there will be an exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook for the film available over at retailer Best Buy. Sadly, the cover art for that hasn’t yet been unveiled.

Scorsese’s “Casino” rolls to 4K in September

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The 1995 Martin Scorsese directed film Casino is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on September 10th via Universal. This info came the other day via the film’s social media account on Facebook. The film, nominated for an Academy Award, starred Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Don Rickles, Alan King, Kevin Pollak, and Frank Vincent.

There were no further details about the release aside from the date and cover art (pictured above). We can say from the artwork that the release will come as a “combo pack” with the original Blu-ray Disc also included but perhaps no digital copy? So, we shall wait for an official press release from the studio (Universal) regarding the release tech specs, bonus materials and such as well as when the pre-order is to become available on Amazon.

UPDATE: The 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available to pre-order over at retailer Best Buy. Also, it seems that Best Buy will have a 4K Steelbook coming out on the same day that will be exclusive to the retailer. There’s no artwork for said Steelbook yet but stay tuned. Lastly, thanks to our friend Justin M. Persutti for this news tip about that Steelbook.