The Last Supper Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Last Supper" offers a commendable 1080p transfer that meticulously captures the film’s intricate details and sets a solid visual foundation. The presentation excels in rendering the diverse elements within the house, from furnishings to character attire, maintaining a distinctly film-like essence throughout. Facial textures, clothing lines, and close-ups are particularly well-defined, benefiting from a light grain that contributes to a pleasingly authentic filmic feel. Despite a few softer shots, the print remains free of significant wear or encoding issues. Colors are predominantly warm and well-calibrated, especially in the low-light interior shots around the dinner table, which is a focal setting. Outdoor scenes benefit from more even saturation and brightness with highlighted elements like the vivid red tomatoes playing a crucial visual role. Black levels remain reasonably stable, while skin tones are true to actor complexions.

However, the inherent limitations of the original source material do present themselves intermittently. As a mid-1990s independently produced film operating on a modest budget, there are moments where the image slightly falters. Certain shots are noticeably out of focus, and there is an overall softness that underscores some scenes due to probable production constraints rather than the transfer itself. Instances of fine detail stand out sporadically, such as stray hairs or detailed fabric textures, offsetting some of the softness. Contrast is generally decent, though some scenes appear under lit, hinting at the original cinematographic challenges rather than any deficiencies in the Blu-ray transfer. Despite these minor drawbacks, "The Last Supper" on Blu-ray is an adept presentation that honors its source material with clarity and attention to detail.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack for "The Last Supper" is executed impressively within its limited speaker configuration. The opening title music is notably lively, with precise instrumental and vocal clarity. The soundtrack delivers a solid front-end width that immerses the listener. Atmospheric elements, though sparse, are effective; scenes featuring thunder and rain add a dimension of realism and engagement to key moments throughout the film. Dialogue, central to the film's delivery, is handled expertly. It images to the middle with such precision, there's almost an illusion of a center channel—showcasing impeccable vocal clarity and prioritization without any noticeable issues.

The incorporation of period-specific music elevates the stereo track further. The soundtrack's rendition of 1980s and 1990s hits, including I’m Your Boogie Man and Get Down Tonight by KC and the Sunshine Band, Contaminated Minds by UB40, and Shonen Knife’s cover of the Carpenter’s Top of the World, creates a vibrant and deeper soundstage, enhancing the viewing experience. This thoughtful track selection not only underscores crucial scenes but also contributes to the overall nostalgic atmosphere of the film. The DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo track thus excels in both clarity and depth, significantly enriching the film's audio presentation without overreaching its two-channel limitations.

The Blu Ray release of "The Last Supper" is disappointingly sparse, offering no special features such as behind-the-scenes content, interviews, or audio commentaries. It does not include any DVD or digital copies and lacks a slipcover. This simplicity may leave avid collectors and fans yearning for more in-depth and engaging extras that typically accompany such releases. The absence of trailers and interactive content further emphasizes its barebones nature, making it a straightforward package with just the film itself.

Extras included in this disc:

• Special Features: None
• DVD/Digital Copies: None
• Slipcover: None

Review of "The Last Supper" (Blu-ray Movie Section)

"The Last Supper" (1995), directed by Stacy Title and written by Dan Rosen, offers a darkly humorous exploration of political divides and moral extremism through the lens of a group of graduate students. Marc (Jonathan Penner), Paulie (Annabeth Gish), Luke (Courtney B. Vance), Jude (Cameron Diaz), and Pete (Ron Eldard) share both a home and strong left-wing convictions. Their lives take a violent turn when they inadvertently kill Zack (Bill Paxton), a right-wing extremist, during a dinner gone wrong. What follows is a series of morally complex and deeply disturbing events as the friends rationalize their actions, leading them down an increasingly dark path.

The film meticulously establishes its tone in the opening scenes, where Bill Paxton delivers a compelling portrayal of Zack, embodying every far-right conspiracy and racist ideology, thus igniting the plot’s dramatic momentum. The narrative deftly transitions into a macabre satire, highlighting the dangerous hypocrisy and radicalization on both ends of the political spectrum. The juxtaposition is clear: the students' righteous indignation leads them to enact their own form of extremist justice, paralleling their fantasies of eliminating a nascent Hitler. Consequently, we witness their descent into moral ambiguity, as they indiscriminately target those who oppose their beliefs.

Title and Rosen's film shines in its balanced satire, with a cast that fiercely dives into their roles, portraying characters that teeter on the edge of sanity. The dialogue is sharp and loaded with political commentary, escalating the tension between the characters and their victims. "The Last Supper" navigates complex themes with an engaging fervor, though it tends to lean heavily into broad humor at times, potentially diluting its impact. Despite its 91-minute runtime, the film might have benefited from a more concise format, occasionally feeling like a stage play adapted for the screen.

The Last Supper’s Blu-ray release brings this unconventional dark comedy into the high-definition era with a mixed bag of results. The 1080p video presentation offers a crisp and clean viewing experience, revealing details that standard definition could not capture. Colors are balanced and vibrant, though some minor inconsistencies in darker scenes may be noticed by discerning viewers. However, the overall visual quality is quite commendable, bringing a new life to the film's unique aesthetic.

Audio performance is limited but effective with a two-channel lossless soundtrack that delivers clear dialogue and an immersive atmosphere. While a more dynamic audio mix could have better emphasized the film's tense and humorous moments, this release does the job adequately. The lack of additional content or special features is a notable downside, especially for dedicated fans hoping for behind-the-scenes insights or historical context explanations.

The Last Supper is off-the-wall weird yet weirdly magnetic. It's vile in every way but in every way the near-perfect dark comedy. It deals in the fringes of violent human nature, extreme political partisanship, and sets it against an interesting historical juxtaposition. The movie makes everyone a bad guy, ultimately, and in this political climate, that rings fairly true. At least in the real world everyone's not killing everyone else (yet). Sony's Blu-ray delivers highly agreeable 1080p video and a quality two-channel lossless soundtrack. Unfortunately, no extra content is included. Highly recommended.