One from the Heart 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 83
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
One from the Heart's 4K UHD Blu-ray release boasts stunning Dolby Vision visuals and exquisite DTS-HD 5.1 audio, making it a must-own for Coppola fans, despite its narrative unevenness.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
DTS-HD MA
Video: 93
One From The Heart's 4K UHD release, encoded in HEVC/H.265 with Dolby Vision HDR, presents a stunning 2160p transfer and a new Reprise version approved by Coppola. The vibrant color palette, deep black levels, and improved detail surpass the prior problematic Blu-ray, encapsulating Coppola's neon-drenched vision beautifully.
Audio: 91
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of *One from the Heart* provides a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 or LPCM 2.0 track, with the 5.1 mix offering a front-heavy experience where dialogue remains clear. The score by Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle fills the surrounds beautifully, though quieter scenes limit the sound stage's immersion. Dynamic range is wide, and bass is reserved but effective.
Extra: 92
The supplemental materials for the 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'One from the Heart' are comprehensive and well-rounded, including both new and vintage features such as Coppola's commentary, cinematography insights, casting secrets, choreography discussions, restoration comparisons, and extensive looks at Tom Waits' music.
Movie: 81
"One From the Heart," now available in 4K UHD, stands as a polarizing yet visually captivating work from Francis Ford Coppola. Despite its flawed narrative and underdeveloped characters, the film's artistic ambition and stunning design—especially in the "Reprise" cut with restored footage—remain its enduring legacy. Tom Waits' Oscar-nominated soundtrack elevates this imperfect but fascinating musical.
Video: 93
Lionsgate Films and American Zoetrope present "One from the Heart" in 4K UHD with an HEVC/H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.37:1, complemented by a Dolby Vision HDR grading. This new edition eradicates the visual issues of previous releases, replacing the bizarre crosshatched anomaly present in older 1080p editions with a pristine, vibrant image. The 4K restoration enhances the neon-lit Las Vegas set design, making reds, pinks, blues, greens, and purples dazzle with emotional intensity. The optical effects maintain a consistent filmic quality with rich, inky black levels and natural skin tones in properly lit scenes.
The detail in this release is strikingly sharper, exposing facial pores, individual hairs, makeup applications, and intricate set designs. Notably, the fine texture of costumes and props, such as metallic vehicle finishes, is clearly visible. However, the heavy grain resulting from old school opticals remains noticeable, especially in complex sequences, which some may find too pronounced. Despite this, the HDR/Dolby Vision enhancement breathes new life into the lighting and color grading choices by Francis Ford Coppola, providing a visually dynamic experience with exceptional blue and green hues.
This 4K release also includes a reimagined "Reprise" cut of the film, extending its length to 93 minutes with additional footage previously thought lost. The restoration process has managed to retain minimal blemishes and maintains a soft focus aesthetic preferred by Coppola. Depth of field is excellently handled throughout the film, ensuring nothing appears out of focus while preserving the director’s stylistic choices. In summary, "One from the Heart" achieves a visual renaissance through this 4K UHD release, transforming it into an essential addition to any film lover’s collection and marking it as the best-looking version to date.
Audio: 91
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "One from the Heart" offers a solid auditory experience with both DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 stereo tracks. The 5.1 track, in particular, provides a rich soundscape, ensuring clarity and depth in its audio presentation. Despite a front-heavy mix, dialogue remains impeccably clear and clean, situating itself firmly in the center channel. The dynamic range is notably wide, giving Tom Waits' score and duets with Crystal Gayle an immersive presence. Environmental sounds in scenes like the bustling Las Vegas strip sequence utilize the surround channels effectively, delivering a full-bodied yet fluid auditory experience that complements the film’s visual richness.
The sound design prioritizes fidelity and authenticity, maintaining the balance appropriate for a film of its age. While the bass extension is reserved, it aptly supports music and essential sound effects without overwhelming the primary audio elements. Ambient noises and sound effects within crowded settings, like restaurants or downtown streets, fill the surround channels convincingly, offering moments of notable immersion. This meticulous attention to detail in sound reproduction ensures that every musical note strikes perfectly, contributing significantly to the film's overall atmosphere.
Though some might find the sound field narrower than expected for a musical, the audio mix remains true to the original soundtrack's intent, delivering each aspect with precision. There are no significant issues to note; optional subtitles in English and German are available for accessibility. Overall, this release’s audio quality does justice to Francis Ford Coppola's vision, underscoring the importance of sound in enhancing the cinematic experience of this visually and musically captivating film.
Extra: 92
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "One from the Heart" is brimming with extensive extras, making it a must-have for Coppola enthusiasts. The commentary track by Francis Ford Coppola offers an insightful journey into the film’s unique production. The featurettes capture an in-depth look at various aspects of the film, from its stunning cinematography to the eclectic cast and intricate choreography. Baz Luhrmann's engaging take on the musical's modern relevance adds a fresh perspective. The restoration comparison showcases the remarkable visual improvements, emphasizing the transition to 2160p and providing a clearer representation of the film's vibrant scenes. With over four hours of additional content, this release deeply immerses viewers into the universe of "One from the Heart."
Extras included in this disc:
Francis Ford Coppola Feature Commentary: An insightful journey into the film’s production. The Look of One From the Heart: Focus on cinematography and production design. The Cast of One From the Heart: Analysis and interviews on the movie’s eclectic cast. The Choreography of One From the Heart: Kenny Ortega and Gene Kelly’s contributions. Reinventing the Musical: Baz Luhrmann on One From the Heart: Baz Luhrmann’s perspective on modern musicals. One From the Heart: Reprise Restoration Comparison: Split-screen comparison of restorations. 2024 Trailer: Trailer for the 4K release.
Movie: 81
Francis Ford Coppola’s "One from the Heart" emerges as a unique and ambitious cinematic experiment, blending elements of gritty televisual melodrama with Technicolor Broadway musicals in an innovative, if uneven manner. Set against the vibrant backdrop of a stylized, studio-bound Las Vegas, the narrative follows Hank (Frederic Forrest), a down-to-earth pragmatist, and Frannie (Teri Garr), an adventurous dreamer, as their relationship disintegrates over the course of a fantastical Fourth of July evening. Coppola’s decision to have most of the film’s music narrated by Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle rather than performed by the actors themselves adds an additional layer of narrative detachment. The film’s visual design is audaciously artificial, with meticulously constructed sets and miniatures enhancing its theatricality. Despite these bold artistic choices, the characters often feel like secondary players in their own story, struggling to connect amidst the opulent production.
Technically, "One from the Heart" showcases Coppola’s flair for innovation, particularly noted in his development of the 'video village' to streamline filmmaking processes. However, these advancements do little to mask the disconnect between the film’s musical aspirations and its character-driven drama. The cast, including luminaries like Raul Julia and Nastassja Kinski, deliver notable performances, but the screenplay offers minimal backstory or depth, leaving their actions and emotions feeling erratic. The film oscillates between stunning set pieces, such as Garr’s strip dance and Kinski’s circus performance, and more mundane character interactions that lack coherence.
In retrospect, "One from the Heart" stands as a testament to Coppola’s relentless pursuit of cinematic innovation and storytelling against the grain of traditional filmmaking norms. Its legacy is one of artistic risk-taking that has influenced contemporary filmmakers, despite its commercial failure and critical ambivalence. The film’s restored 4K UHD release captures the vibrant aesthetics and meticulous set designs with newfound clarity, offering a fresh appreciation for Vittorio Storaro's stunning cinematography and Tom Waits' Oscar-nominated score. Nonetheless, the revised “Reprise” version attempts to resolve structural issues but may still leave some viewers disconnected from the core narrative—a love story both familiar and radically reimagined.
Total: 83
"One from the Heart" comes to 4K UHD Blu-ray with a divisive mix of admiration and disdain, reflective of its reception over the years. The film represents Francis Ford Coppola’s bold attempt to reinvent the musical genre, though it occasionally stumbles in narrative execution. Despite these shortcomings, Coppola's unique approach creates a captivating visual and auditory experience. The restoration efforts put forth by Studiocanal result in a stunning 4K presentation, further enhanced by Dolby Vision, which showcases the vibrant visuals and intricate set designs in their full glory.
The audio quality is equally impressive, featuring DTS-HD 5.1 tracks that deliver Tom Waits's iconic voice and the film's soundtrack with exceptional clarity and depth. The inclusion of both 1080p and 4K versions ensures accessibility for different viewers while maintaining consistent technical excellence across formats. The release also boasts an array of supplemental materials, including legacy features and new additions, providing comprehensive insights into the film's production and historical context.
In conclusion, "One from the Heart" may not resonate with everyone due to its unconventional storytelling and somber musical style. However, for fans of Coppola or those with an appreciation for experimental cinema, this 4K release is an invaluable addition. The meticulous restoration and rich bonus content make it a highly recommended purchase, ensuring that Coppola’s vision receives the high-quality presentation it deserves. This is a must-have for collectors and cinephiles eager to explore Coppola’s elaborate but flawed masterpiece.
avforums review by Mark CostelloRead review here
Video: 100
Unfortunately, AVF were only sent two UHD check-discs for this set which I believe is going to be a 4-disc final retail set, comprising of: UHD Disc #1 is a region-free UHD blu-ray featuring the newly...
Audio: 80
The film also boasts a perfectly fine and even grain field throughout – the digital artefacts introduced in previous restorations and buried in the inherent grain structure (as seen on the restoration...
Extras: 90
And the more the film went on, the more switching away from the stereo track back to the surround one just felt wrong – it really did leave the impression that despite its obvious technical abilities,...
Movie: 60
The cast are a huge part of this – alongside Forrest and Garr you have the luminescent Kinski, the hyper masculine and louche Raul Julia, and the deliciously seedy Harry Dean Stanton rocking the most audacious...
Total: 70
The 4K restoration looks sublime – again, having never seen the film, the accuracy of the visuals cannot be confirmed nor denied – and with the inclusion of new supplementals on top of almost all of the...
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 80
The film is awash in old school opticals, especially as it gets more and more convoluted in its third act, and as a result grain can be quite heavy at times, to the point that this is yet another dual...
Audio: 100
Some of the crowd scenes, as in the big Las Vegas strip sequence, also feature good immersion, but the bulk of this film is really quieter dialogue segments and therefore doesn't provide a lot of "wow"...
Extras: 0
2024 Trailer (HD; 1:01) 1080 Disc (1982 Cut) (1:43:07) features the supplements from the first 1080 disc, with some different timings and a few additions: The Making of One From the Heart (HD; 23:21)...
Movie: 60
It's a bit confounding in terms of the verbiage about the negative on the back of this release as well as various running times on both releases of the film, to wit: the original 1080 ran 1:38:54, while...
Total: 70
My first One From the Heart review got an avalanche of responses at the time, and as I joked above, dangled a mystery that was never solved to my personal knowledge, other than to say whatever went wrong...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
The lighting goes a long way to show those emotional colors of what the characters are feeling that now with the help of Dolby Vision are allowed to breathe in their lighting conditions or darker interiors...
Audio: 80
The score and song list give life to this film and is easily the best part of the audio track with each note hitting the perfect pitch....
Extras: 80
The Choreography of One From The Heart (HD, 25 Mins.) - Kenny Ortega and Gene Kelly himself worked on the dance numbers for this movie and they are both here in this archival interview discussing their...
Movie: 80
This is a one-of-a-kind movie where one of the biggest directors of all time after the two Godfathers and Apocalypse Now was released, decided to take his own money and make a bizarre musical with nobody...
Total: 80
The two-disc set of 4K and Blu-ray that have the correct video presentations look amazing with its new Dolby Vision....
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 100
Featuring breathtaking design, show-stopping set pieces, the stunning photography of Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now, The Last Emperor) – and accompanied by the wonderful Oscar®-nominated music of the...
Audio: 80
Height: N/ALow-Frequency Extension: Bass is reserved as it should be for a movie from over 40 years ago....
Extras: 100
The Cast of One from the Heart NEW The Choreography of One from the Heart NEW Reinventing the Musical: Baz Luhrmann One from the Heart NEW One from the Heart: Reprise, Restoration Comparison NEW 2024 TrailerBLU-RAY...
Movie: 60
The music by Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle is rather nice, with an easy jazz sound, but the songs aren’t typically romantic either, and sometimes play against the hopefulness we’re supposed to be wanting...
Total: 60
Performances and filmmaking ambitions are better than the material, and this is hard to recommend to casual viewers, but an easy one to recommend to fans of Francis Ford Coppola, musicals or films that...
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Actors: Frederic Forrest, Teri Garr, Raul Julia
PlotIn Las Vegas, a couple, Hank and Frannie, find themselves on the eve of their fifth anniversary, questioning their relationship and the depth of their love. Their seemingly mundane life is filled with dreams of greater passion and adventure. Frannie yearns for a more romantic and exciting existence, while Hank, a mechanic by trade, is content but struggles to understand Frannie’s desires. Feeling misunderstood and confined by their life together, Frannie decides they should take a break, believing it might rekindle their passion and love for one another. This decision sets them both on individual paths of self-discovery and exploration in the vibrant and neon-lit city.
Throughout the night, as they venture separately through the lively streets of Las Vegas, they encounter new and alluring figures that represent what they believe is missing in their lives. Hank meets Leila, a sultry and adventurous circus performer, who captivates him with her zest for life. Meanwhile, Frannie is swept off her feet by Ray, a suave and charismatic musician, offering her the romance and excitement she craves. As they immerse themselves in these new experiences, both begin to reflect on their relationship and whether these newfound connections can truly replace what they have with each other.
Writers: Armyan Bernstein, Francis Ford Coppola, Luana Anders
Release Date: 11 Feb 1982
Runtime: 107 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English, German