A Perfect Murder Blu-ray Review

Warner's 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray transfer of "A Perfect Murder" presents a beautifully detailed and film-like image that faithfully reproduces the cinematographic intentions of Dariusz Wolski. Known for his work on visually impactful films such as "The Crow" and "Prometheus," Wolski's approach to this dialogue-centric film is imbued with cinematic dynamism and elegance. The Blu-ray masterfully captures the rich and glossy textures of the film, with deep blacks that enhance the dark, moody locations integral to Michael Douglas' and Viggo Mortensen's characters. The Taylors' luxurious New York apartment and Steven's sophisticated office are rendered with understated intensity, highlighting the marbled hallways, visible woodgrain, and intricate details like tile veins and fabric textures.

The color palette of the Blu-ray is lush and faithfully rendered, balancing earthy tones in the Taylors' environment with vivid accents of red and yellow in Shaw's artwork. The attention to detail extends to facial features and textures, as evidenced by the visibility of Mortensen's slight harelip and the woven texture of Douglas' suits. Despite a few expected soft shots and minimal artifacting—such as occasional suit jacket shimmer—the presentation remains generally clean and satisfying. This transfer's success stands out, especially given that 90s catalogue titles often suffer from subpar video quality on Blu-ray. Overall, "A Perfect Murder" on Blu-ray delivers a highly polished visual experience that is rich in detail and true to the film's original aesthetic vision.

The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track of "A Perfect Murder" is adeptly tailored to the film's dialogue-driven nature, providing an immersive audio experience through proficient use of the full speaker array. The soundtrack stands out during pivotal scenes such as the museum gala, subway rides, and a U.N. summit meeting, where ambient sounds enhance the spatial authenticity. James Newton Howard's score is marked by solid and powerful bass extension, maintaining clean and clear dialogue throughout. The arrangement effectively situates viewers within various settings, despite the absence of ostentatious surround effects.

Subtleties in the audio presentation underscore the tension-building atmosphere, with Howard's music filling the channels and creating a constantly foreboding ambiance. Though the score occasionally exerts an overwhelming presence, it effectively uses rear channels to capture ambient sounds. Notably, the attack scene leverages directionality, making the fight sequences particularly engrossing. Dialogue clarity remains impeccable, even during Michael Douglas’s characteristic growling whispers. The LFE contributions mainly come from the tense soundtrack, with limited bass-heavy moments, ensuring that low-end frequencies do not overpower the overall pristine auditory experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "A Perfect Murder" have largely been carried over from the 1998 special edition DVD, excluding only the cast and crew bios and the production notes. These extras are highly informative, though slightly mixed in presentation quality. Two distinct audio commentaries provide detailed insights but could be redundant at points. In the first commentary, recorded in separate sessions, Michael Douglas provides engaging reflections on his role and career, while director Andrew Davis and screenwriter Patrick Smith Kelly offer more generic observations. The second commentary features producer Peter Macgregor-Scott, cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, and other crew members discussing the practical aspects of filmmaking—though dry, it delves deeply into technical details. An alternate ending is available with optional commentary by Davis, offering a fascinating look at studio-driven changes despite being somewhat inferior to the theatrical ending.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary by Director Andrew Davis, Screenwriter Patrick Smith Kelly and Actor Michael Douglas: Separately recorded insights into acting, directing, and screenwriting nuances.

• Commentary by Producer Peter Macgregor-Scott, Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, Costume Designer Ellen Mirojnick, Set Decorator Debra Schutt, and Production Designer Philp Rosenberg: Three separate interviews merged, providing technical details and creative processes.

• Alternate Ending (with Optional Commentary by Director Andrew Davis): Different motivation and state of mind of key players, with David's commentary explaining the rationale behind the alternate version.

Andrew Davis's "A Perfect Murder" brings a modern twist to Frederick Knott's stage play, originally adapted by Alfred Hitchcock in "Dial M for Murder." Set in 1990s New York instead of a London apartment, this remake retains core elements like a cheating wife, a vengeful husband, and the intrigue around latch keys. Despite a strong start, the film falters in maintaining the suspense Hitchcock achieved. The narrative hinges on arbitrary twists, making it difficult for viewers to invest in the characters. Patrick Smith Kelly's script becomes convoluted, leaning more on stylish decor than on credible character development.

The plot centers around an elaborate murder plan by Wall Street mogul Steven Taylor, played by Michael Douglas. Steven offers $500,000 to his wife Emily’s lover, artist David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen), to kill her. This significant deviation from Knott's play complicates the story, straining credulity about characters' motivations. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Emily fluctuates between cunning and implausibility, unable to consistently sell her character’s intelligence and independence. Despite the potential for a tightly wound thriller, the execution becomes erratic post-botched murder plan. Detective Karaman's investigation, led by David Suchet, while commendable, does little to drive the plot forward cohesively.

Douglas excels at portraying corporate villains, but his performance here lacks the necessary magnetism to make Steven Taylor engaging. The initial setup brims with tension but devolves into a formulaic cat-and-mouse game. The film pays homage to Hitchcock's classic but fails to replicate its chilling suspense, ultimately succumbing to cliché 90s thriller tropes. The unraveling third act accompanies a noteworthy drop in narrative coherence and emotional investment, leaving what began as a promising thriller to flounder in mediocrity.

"A Perfect Murder" on Blu-ray offers a high-quality technical experience, though the film itself may not fully satisfy thriller aficionados. The Blu-ray edition excels in both video and audio presentation. The visual quality is top-notch, capturing the film's meticulous attention to detail with sharpness and clarity. The colors are vibrant, and the contrast is well-balanced, highlighting the high production values. The audio is equally impressive, providing a clear, immersive soundscape that complements the suspenseful atmosphere of the film.

However, while the technical aspects are commendable, the movie's narrative proves less compelling. The film starts strong, setting up an engaging premise with promise, but disappointingly falters in its later stages. The storyline becomes predictable and devolves into a formulaic he-said-she-said scenario, lacking the tension and intrigue required to sustain interest through to the conclusion.

It's appropriate that the DVD and Blu-ray of "A Perfect Murder" should devote an entire commentary to the work of the craftspeople because the film's surface is most of what it has going for it. The Blu-ray is recommended on its technical merits; the film is not. If you're looking for a late 90s thriller I guess you could do worse. The beginning does set you up for a better movie, I'll say that. Once the last part of the film rolls around it devolves rather quickly. It just doesn't seem to hold up once the he-said-she-said game starts. The video presentation is surprisingly well done and the audio sounds pretty good too. I guess 'A Perfect Murder' is worth a look even if it is a less than perfect thriller.