When Harry Met Sally... Blu-ray Review

Shout Factory's 30th Anniversary release of "When Harry Met Sally..." showcases a remarkable new 4K scan from the original camera negative, elevating this beloved film's visual presentation to new heights. This 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer, framed in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, offers an impressive boost in detail and color fidelity over the previous 2011 MGM release. The detail is impeccable, highlighting the textures of costumes and the urban backdrop of New York City with crystal clarity. The enhanced sharpness reveals a more defined and cleaner look, with a film-like grain that remains well-preserved and natural.

The color palette stands out with vividly saturated primaries—reds, blues, and autumnal hues appear rich and vibrant, maintaining warmth and consistency throughout. The color grading adds depth to the cinematography, enhancing both the whimsical and urban settings of the film. Facial textures are finely rendered, capturing subtle details such as wrinkles and fine hairs with exceptional delineation. Skin tones appear natural and consistent, ensuring a visually pleasing experience from start to finish.

This release also boasts excellent black levels and contrast, avoiding issues of crush while retaining discernible details in darker scenes. The nuances in shadow delineation and the absence of significant video processing artifacts or unwanted noise reduction effects ensure an authentic visual representation. Despite minor speckles apparent in the film's initial moments, they are virtually unnoticeable on smaller or medium screens. Overall, Shout Factory's meticulous transfer offers significant improvements in picture quality, resulting in a presentation that will delight fans and cinephiles alike.

The audio presentation of Shout Factory's Blu-ray release of "When Harry Met Sally..." offers both a 5.1 DTS-HD MA surround mix and a 2.0 DTS-HD MA stereo mix. The 5.1 track, while not overly immersive, creates a fuller and richer sonic environment, especially through its musical score which benefits from additional surround channel use. The audio predominantly resides in the front soundstage, focusing on clear and crisp dialogue that maintains the comedic timing and emotional beats of the film. Surround activity is minimal, primarily contributing to ambient sounds and occasional effects in scenes such as football games and split-screen sequences.

The original 2.0 stereo mix, often lamented for its omission in previous releases, is presented here in a notable DTS-HD MA format. Although the difference between the 2.0 and 5.1 mixes is subtle, the fronts-heavy stereo mix retains simplicity while still offering effectiveness. Dialogue remains consistently clean and defined, with ambient sounds of New York City adding texture to scenes. The low-frequency extension (LFE) supplements the musical selections, featuring classic tunes from artists like Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr., but does not dominate the audio space.

While the rear channels in the 5.1 mix offer limited engagement, their contributions enrich the film's auditory experience during specific scenes, enhancing the overall intimacy of the narrative. Both tracks provide an adequately balanced audio experience suitable for the dialogue-driven nature of this romantic comedy, ensuring that every quotable line is intelligible and that music fills out the soundtrack effectively without overpowering the primary auditory elements. This Blu-ray edition makes a faithful effort to honor the film's original audio while providing modern enhancements for a more enveloping listening experience.

Shout Factory’s 30th Anniversary edition of "When Harry Met Sally..." Blu-ray delivers an exemplary collection of extras, epitomizing the film's legacy with both fresh and archival material. The standout new segment, "Scenes from a Friendship," is an engrossing 44-minute HD interview featuring Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner, delving into their dynamic friendship and film insights. This comprehensive package includes dual commentaries, the perceptive "How Harry Met Sally" documentary, and an array of vintage featurettes that explore the film's production intricacies, character studies, and the pivotal role of New York City. Collectively, these additions make this release definitive for fans and cinephiles alike, offering enriching context and behind-the-scenes revelations.

Extras included in this disc:

• Scenes from a Friendship: Interview with Rob Reiner and Billy Crystal.
• Audio Commentary with Rob Reiner, Nora Ephron, And Billy Crystal: Informative yet relaxed discussion.
• Audio Commentary with Rob Reiner: Director's insights.
• How Harry Met Sally Documentary: Making-of featurette.
• Vintage Featurettes: Assorted retrospective content.
• Deleted Scenes: Extended and cut sequences.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional content.
• Music Video by Harry Connick Jr.: "It Had to Be You."

"When Harry Met Sally..." stands out as a benchmark in the romantic comedy genre, deftly avoiding many of the clichés that typically afflict its peers. Directed by Rob Reiner with a screenplay by Nora Ephron, the film is imbued with intelligence, humor, and authenticity, capturing the complexity of relationships in a way that's both deeply relatable and enduring. The narrative structure cleverly alternates between comedic vignettes and poignant moments, chronicling the evolving relationship between Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) over several years. The premise—whether men and women can just be friends—is explored with nuanced character development and sharp dialogue, contributing to the film's timeless appeal.

What sets this film apart is the impeccable chemistry between Crystal and Ryan, whose contrasting personalities perfectly play off each other. Crystal's portrayal of Harry as a cynical yet endearing character complements Ryan's performance as the optimistic yet meticulous Sally. Their interactions are not only captivating but also highlight their personal growth throughout the film. The iconic diner scene, where Sally demonstrates a fake orgasm, is emblematic of the movie’s blend of humor and realism, becoming a cultural touchstone that transcends the film itself. Supporting performances by Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby add depth to the primary narrative without overshadowing it.

Technically, Reiner's direction wisely opts for understated aesthetics, allowing the focus to remain on the characters' dialogue and interactions. Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld's subtle yet engaging visual style enhances the storytelling without distracting from it. Innovative uses of split-screen and interview segments with elderly couples offer humorous and heartwarming counterpoints to Harry and Sally's tumultuous journey. Overall, "When Harry Met Sally..." exemplifies masterful filmmaking in the romantic comedy genre, seamlessly blending wit, charm, and genuine emotion in a way that remains fresh and compelling decades after its release.

"When Harry Met Sally," directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron, stands as a paragon in the romantic comedy genre. The film's new 4K remastering, offered by Shout Select on Blu-ray, elevates an already exemplary disc release to new heights. Cinematography by Barry Sonnenfeld and a soundtrack featuring Harry Connick Jr. are harmoniously enhanced in this edition. The evocative footage of New York City, used artfully to demonstrate seasonal changes, retains its original charm and adds depth to the storytelling. This edition includes both revised audio options—DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0—and maintains the balanced charm of previous releases.

Featuring compelling performances by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, "When Harry Met Sally" transcends the often formulaic romantic comedy landscape through witty dialogue and authentic chemistry. The new transfer from the original camera negative results in an unprecedented visual quality, ensuring that fans can appreciate every nuance of the film’s expert direction and cinematography. The supplementary materials include a new retrospective conversation with director Rob Reiner and Billy Crystal that adds valuable insights, although it is unfortunate that Meg Ryan is missing from these discussions.

This upgrade is a judicious investment for both collectors and new viewers alike. Shout Select's 4K restoration is both meticulous and striking, breathing new life into an enduring classic. Though some minor drawbacks exist, such as the omission of foreign language tracks and subtitles from the previous MGM release, this edition more than compensates with its superior video quality and engaging bonus content.

In conclusion, "When Harry Met Sally" remains a definitive example of its genre, made even more impressive by Shout Factory's consummate Blu-ray release. It is highly recommended for anyone seeking a timeless romantic comedy presented in the finest possible quality.