Studio: Shout! Factory / MGM
Release Date: November 7, 2023
Rating: R
Film: 4/5
PlotIn this seven-time Oscar®-nominated film*, things go terribly awry when small-time Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) hires two thugs (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife so he can collect the ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. Once people start dying, the very chipper and very pregnant Police Chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) takes the case. Is she up for this challenge? You betcha.
My ThoughtsI remember watching this back on VHS sometime in either late 1996 or early 1997 and found it to be entertaining, a bit strange, and oh so very dark. Watching it now for only the second time, I knew what to expect and liked it a lot more the second time. My wife sat through it with me but she thought it went a bit too overboard in the third act, but I personally think she misses the point. That’s exactly what is supposed to happen. A simple get rich quick scheme goes off the rails and things spiral out of control with multiple murders and panic ensues.
The Coen Brothers second film,
Raising Arizona, really put them on the map and they had a run of about 20 years that included a number of hits including
The Big Labowski,
O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and arguably their best film,
No Country for Old Men. They’re known for their unique storytelling, visual style, and a willingness to experiment with different genres and tones.
Shout produced a brand new 4K scan and restoration of the original camera negative supervised by Director of Photography Roger A. Deakins and the result is spectacular. The image is very stable from beginning to end, has phenomenal depth, and the film grain is kept intact. The audio track is quite good for the genre but is mostly front-loaded. There are some occasional effects in the surround speakers for ambience as well as a wide front-soundstage, but the star of the show is the fantastic dialog and North Dakota/Minnesota accents.
Video 9.5/10
Audio 8/10 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Special Features: - Audio Commentary with Roger A. Deakins
- “Minnesota Nice” Featurette
- Interview with The Coen Brothers and Actor Frances McDormand
- American Cinematography Article
- Original Trailer and TV Spot
- Still Photo Gallery
- 4K UHD + Blu-ray
ConclusionCoen Brother films are always a bit quirky, but this may be one of their most “mass appeal” films they’ve done. The acting is spectacular throughout and its no surprise that McDormand won an Oscar for her portrayal of a small-town policeman. The 4K restoration is absolutely fantastic and definitely worth an upgrade over the previous Blu-ray releases. Highly recommended for fans.
Reference Review System:JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Kaleidescape Strato + Server
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
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