Five Miles to Midnight Blu-ray Review

The newly remastered HD transfer of 'Five Miles to Midnight' exhibits exceptional clarity with its AVC encoded 1.67:1 aspect ratio presentation. The fine details in costuming, facial features, and urban settings come through crisply, adding depth and dimension to the image. While the source material shows minor wear such as occasional speckling and scratches, these artifacts are scarcely distracting. Additionally, the black and white cinematography is well-balanced, maintaining visual integrity and without any major delineation issues.

Offering a 1.66:1 1080p transfer, 'Five Miles to Midnight' stands out with a visible amount of fine film grain that enhances detail retention. From the Macklin apartment’s impressive production design to the nuanced facial features and intricate costuming, every element is rendered with precision. Black levels, shadows, and greyscale are stable and well-defined, providing a realistic three-dimensional depth to the image. Overall, despite a few minor imperfections in the source print like mild speckling, this Blu-ray release is a superb visual treat.

The English DTS-HD MA 2.0 track for "Five Miles to Midnight" presents a range of audio challenges. Distinctly, sync issues emerge periodically, disrupting dialogue and creating a noticeable disconnect that's compounded by sloppy ADR throughout the film. While the dialogue remains clean and audible, background atmospherics lack character and fail to elevate the engagement experience. The scoring by Mikis Theodorakis, impactful as it may be, tends toward harshness at various points, contributing to an overall shrill auditory impression.

Atmospheric details are thick but unremarkable, devoid of the nuance that would enhance the soundtrack's immersive quality. While hiss and pops are commendably minimized, the mix suffers from an imbalance where sound effects feel leaden. This inconsistency can detract from the overall viewing experience, proving to be more than a mild distraction at times. The track functions adequately but could significantly benefit from a thorough rebalancing to rectify its disparate components and address the frequent jarring moments caused by the audio sync problems.

The Blu-ray release of "Five Miles to Midnight" comes packed with a commendable array of extras that enhance the viewing experience and provide valuable context for the film. The inclusion of the Alternate French Scene offers an interesting glimpse into the film's presentation in another language, enriching the viewer's understanding of its international version. The collection of theatrical trailers from related films like 'Boccaccio '70,' 'Sunflower,' 'Marriage Italian Style,' and 'Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow' provides a fascinating look at contemporary cinema of the time. Each extra is presented in high-definition, ensuring top-notch visual clarity that will be appreciated by cinephiles and technical enthusiasts alike. These supplements collectively illuminate the cultural and cinematic landscape surrounding "Five Miles to Midnight," making them indispensable for an in-depth appreciation.

Extras included in this disc:

• Alternate French Scene: Serves as a means of showing how the film looked in French.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer.
• 'Boccaccio '70' Trailer: Promotional trailer for Boccaccio '70.
• 'Sunflower' Trailer: Promotional trailer for Sunflower.
• 'Marriage Italian Style' Trailer: Promotional trailer for Marriage Italian Style.
• 'Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow' Trailer: Promotional trailer for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

Anatole Litvak's 1962 film "Five Miles to Midnight" is an ambitious thriller that unfortunately falls short of its full potential due to a few critical missteps. The plot centers on Robert Macklin (Anthony Perkins), who miraculously survives a plane crash and returns to enlist his estranged wife, Lisa (Sophia Loren), in a duplicitous insurance scam. The tension is meant to brew from the convoluted dynamics of their fractured relationship and the involvement of an astute insurance investigator, David Barnes (Gig Young). However, despite a unique premise and promising individual performances, the film struggles to maintain the needed suspense, largely due to the mismatched chemistry between its leads.

One of the fundamental issues plaguing "Five Miles to Midnight" is the ineffectual pairing of Loren and Perkins. Their portrayal of a deteriorating marriage lacks the required spark and emotional depth, resulting in stiff interactions that fail to engage. Perkins embodies the unscrupulous Robert convincingly, while Loren performs adeptly as the beleaguered Lisa. Similarly, Young holds his own as the suspicious investigator. Yet, collectively, their scenes fall flat, unable to coalesce into a gripping narrative. The film also misses out on substantial tension-building opportunities, opting for a conversational tone over high-stakes drama. This choice leaves many potentially thrilling moments feeling unfulfilled.

Despite these shortcomings, "Five Miles to Midnight" remains an interesting watch for those intrigued by classic thrillers. The narrative framework has all the elements necessary for an intense drama: a man back from the dead, an uncooperative spouse drawn into deception, and a detective closing in on their scam. While it does not deliver a wholly satisfying experience, the individual performances and unique story concept provide enough merit to warrant a viewing—particularly for fans of Loren and Perkins. However, approach with tempered expectations, as the film does not reach the thrilling heights it aspires to.

"Five Miles to Midnight" is an intriguing yet ultimately flawed film that features a commendable cast and distinct design elements. Unfortunately, the movie's potential is hampered by a lack of chemistry between the actors and some awkward plotting. The storyline attempts to build tension through psychological gamesmanship, but it often pulls back just as it nears genuine excitement. While the cinematography is notably well-executed, the film struggles to take full advantage of its suspenseful premise, letting both domestic unease and criminal intrigue dissipate rather than crescendo.

Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray release of "Five Miles to Midnight" is marked by an excellent image transfer that breathes new life into the film’s visual appeal, offering crisp and clear picture quality that does justice to the original cinematography. However, the audio track, while serviceable, is somewhat muddled and detracts from the overall experience. The disc also includes an alternate scene and some trailers, which are modest yet appreciated extras that will appeal to dedicated fans of the movie.

In conclusion, "Five Miles to Midnight" is a watchable piece that contains moments of visual and narrative promise but ultimately falls short of being a standout thriller due to its inability to maintain consistent tonal and emotional engagement. Fans of the film will find the Blu-ray release satisfying in terms of image quality, though newcomers might want to rent it first to determine if it aligns with their tastes before making a purchase.