Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “Se7en”
It’s wild to think that it’s been 30 years since “Se7en” was first released in theaters because it doesn’t feel that old, despite how young everyone in the movie looks. Though it’s far from David Fincher’s best work, “Se7en” is a riveting, first-rate crime thriller that pulls the audience into its dark and grimy world with no promises of a happy ending. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt deliver solid performances as the two detectives tasked with solving a series of gruesome murders, and Kevin Spacey is excellent as the deranged serial killer in what basically amounts to an extended cameo. However, the real star of the show is Fincher and his crew, who elevate the story into something more than your average crime film with its gritty visuals, stunning production design and ominous score, creating a brooding atmosphere that hangs over every scene. The new 4K release only enhances the movie’s unique aesthetic, emphasizing all that’s great about the film while reasserting the brilliance of Fincher both as a filmmaker and storyteller.
Extras include four audio commentaries (one of which features Fincher, Pitt and Freeman), as well a collection of behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes and two alternate endings. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Also Out This Week:
“Saturday Night” — It’s been a while since director Jason Reitman’s last truly great film, and although this true-to-life reenactment of the behind-the-scenes chaos leading up to the first broadcast of “Saturday Night Live” certainly had the potential to change that, it’s even more hit-and-miss than a typical episode of “SNL.” While the frenetic pacing helps capture the mayhem of putting together a live show, there’s simply too much ground to cover in the 109-minute runtime to give the story its due justice. The actors provide some entertainment with their spot-on impressions of the show’s iconic cast (especially Michael Corey Smith as Chevy Chase), but sadly, the film never rises above these basic caricatures to say anything of actual substance. Extras include an audio commentary by Reitman, director of photography Eric Steelberg, costume designer Danny Glicker, production designer Jess Gonchor and sound engineer Steve Morrow, as well as a making-of featurette, cast interviews and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
