Contagion (UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio:  Warner
 Release Date: February 27, 2023
 Rating: PG-13
 Film: 4/5
 
 Plot
 An international traveler reaches into the snack bowl at an airport bar before passing her credit card to a waiter. A business meeting begins with a round of handshakes. A man coughs on a crowded bus... One contact. One instant. And a lethal virus is transmitted.

When Beth Emhoff (Paltrow) returns to Minneapolis from business in Hong Kong, what she thought was jet lag takes a virulent turn. Two days later, she’s dead in the ER and the doctors tell her shocked and grieving husband (Damon) they have no idea why. Soon, others exhibit the same mysterious symptoms: hacking coughs and fever, followed by seizure, brain hemorrhage... and ultimately, death. The numbers quickly multiply as the contagion sweeps across all borders, fueled by the countless human interactions that make up the course of an average day. A global pandemic explodes.

As the death toll escalates and people struggle to protect themselves and their loved ones in a society breaking down, one activist blogger (Law) claims the public isn't getting the truth about what's really going on and sets off an epidemic of paranoia and fear as infectious as the virus itself.

 My Thoughts
 I remember seeing this film back in 2011 and wondering how close to reality it would be. Turns out, pretty damn close. While this film depicts a naturally occurring virus whereas Covid-19 is most-likely to have come from a Chinese lab in Wuhan. Regardless, it shows how a virus can spread through the world almost instantly from patient zero to all corners of the Earth with devastating consequences. As the old saying goes, don’t mess with mother nature!

I found it somewhat funny watching the film that Jude law’s character ends up profiting on the misery of others in a fraudulent way, but he was correct that Big Pharma would become rich from such a pandemic—just look at how many new billionaires were minted during 2020/2021. I also laughed when you see that government officials certainly had a “rules for thee, but not for me” attitude as well—yes, I’m talking to you Gavin Newsom. The final laugh came from the masks and social distancing “rules,” which Anthony Fauci stated recently that they “just appeared and took a life of their own” without any true scientific evidence. Masking does not work for respiratory viruses based upon years of research. The closest study stating they do came from Japan which stated if you wore a custom fitted N95 for no more than 2 hours without touching it once, that may keep you safe (Per Ian Miller’s excellent book, “Unmasked”).

The film itself is very entertaining and the cast is excellent. Director, Steven Soderbergh is able to weave a complicated tale with brisk two-hour pacing and keep it interesting up until the end. Furthermore, the presentation is very good and it looks like Warner put some TLC into the newly created 4K encode sourced from the original 35mm print. Details in clothing and facial pores are exquisite and the color palette is very accurate. The DTS-MA 5.1 track is somewhat subdued given the dramatic nature of the production and delivers the goods.

Video 10/10
Audio 8.5/10 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
 
 
 Special Features:

• The Reality of Contagion
• The Contagion Detectives
• Contagion – How a Virus Changes the World
• UHD + Digital Copy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sYSyuuLk5g&ab_channel=RottenTomatoesTrailers


 Conclusion
 If it’s been a while since you’ve seen this, be sure to check it out know how the last 4+ years has played out. Warner did an excellent job with the 4K restoration and it’s a film I’ll gladly keep in my collection. Highly recommended.
 
 
 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

[bmoney]

It’s amazing how accurate this film
Is. And I still can’t believe we dealt with it in real time 

[Craig Peer]

Great movie - my 4K copy should arrive soon! Blu-ray.com gave this remaster high marks too for the transfer - 

Contagion 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

Same audio mix apparently which is fine by me.