The Long Good Friday Blu-ray Review

Arrow Video's restoration of "The Long Good Friday" is presented in its original 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio, featuring a 1080p transfer encoded via MPEG-4 AVC. This meticulously crafted 2K restoration has been supervised by the film’s original Director of Photography, Phil Méheux, and leverages cutting-edge digital restoration tools to remove thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and light scratches. The refined detail and color grading in this release are commendable, achieving unprecedented clarity and stability. Particularly in outdoor scenes and sequences with abundant natural light, the improvements are most striking, with well-defined textures in skin, clothing, and skylines.

The overall color balance has been expertly readdressed. Previous releases displayed a pervasive red push, which has now been adjusted to a more natural palette, enhancing primaries without sacrificing the film's gritty authenticity. The greens now provide a more balanced, albeit subtle, natural look. This well-calibrated coloring is evident in scenes such as Harold’s boat ride early in the film, where the whites of the boat and Victoria’s suit are now crisp and detailed, without the previous issue of clipping. Shadow definition has significantly improved, ensuring depth in darker sequences while maintaining brightness and contrast uniformly without compromising detail.

Technically, this restoration excels with no signs of digital imperfections like compression issues, edge enhancement, banding, or smearing. The corrected brightness and contrast eliminate the crushing blacks and blooming issues present in older versions, advancing the visual integrity to align closely with its intended theatrical presentation. The film's grain structure remains intact and organically resolved, providing a cinematic feel over a documentary-style presentation. Overall, "The Long Good Friday" looks remarkably better than any previous releases, thanks to Arrow's exemplary technical execution in this Blu-ray presentation.

The audio presentation on the Blu-ray of "The Long Good Friday" is anchored by its singular English LPCM 1.0 mono track. This track has been meticulously transferred from the original magnetic reels, ensuring that any audio imperfections such as bumps, clicks, and audible buzz were expertly repaired, minimized, or removed. The result is a masterfully clean and uncompressed soundtrack. Remarkably clear and precise dialogue stands out, layered naturally into the mix without any sense of artifice. While the film's budgetary constraints limit the extent of its sound effects, gunshots and explosions maintain a credible depth, with ancillary elements like vehicle noises benefiting from reasonable bass. Notably, the background remains free from any hiss or damage, such as pops or cracks.

What truly sets this audio experience apart is Francis Monkman's outstanding score. This theme manages to convey joy and happiness while underlying tones of violence and horror seep through, making it the undeniable highlight of the sound mix. The remastering work done here is exceptional; Monkman's music is balanced with remarkable crispness and excellent separation, allowing listeners to distinguish every nuance from synthesizers to strings effortlessly. Despite the powerful accents that may challenge North American viewers to understand without subtitles, the dialogue remains crisp and stable throughout. Overall, there are no audio dropouts or distortions, making this remastered soundtrack a superior auditory experience compared to its predecessors.

Arrow Video’s Blu-ray release of "The Long Good Friday" boasts an impressive and comprehensive set of extras that delve deeply into the film’s production and legacy. The supplements are a solid blend of archival content and newly recorded material, providing insightful perspectives from key contributors such as director John Mackenzie, producer Barry Hanson, screenwriter Barrie Keeffe, and cinematographer Phil Méheux. Highlighted features include the extensive documentary "Bloody Business: The Making of The Long Good Friday" and engaging commentary from Mackenzie, among diverse interviews that enrich the viewer's understanding of the film. Additionally, the intriguing short film "Apaches," and various comparative analysis pieces such as “Hands Across the Ocean,” further enhance the package's appeal to film enthusiasts and scholars.

Extras included in this disc:

Director’s Commentary: John Mackenzie's informative discussion on the film.

Bloody Business: The Making of The Long Good Friday: Comprehensive documentary with interviews from key cast and crew.

Interviews:

• Barry Hanson
• Barrie Keeffe
• Phil Méheux

Hands Across the Ocean: Comparison of UK and US soundtracks.

Theatrical Trailers: Original trailers for the film.

Apaches (1977): Mackenzie’s farm safety film in HD.

Introduction to Apaches by Phil Meheux: Brief presentation on the short film.

Q&A with Bob Hoskins and John Mackenzie: Archival session moderated by Richard Jobson.

Extended Interviews:

• Barry Hanson
• Barrie Keeffe
• Phil Méheux
• Simon Hinkly
• Carlotta Barrow

100 Page Hardback Book: In-depth writings about "The Long Good Friday" and "Mona Lisa".

Collector's Booklet: Featuring new writing by Mark Duguid, with original production stills.

"The Long Good Friday," shot on a shoestring budget, stands as an epitome of gritty British crime cinema. Bursting into acclaim in 1980 under George Harrison’s Handmade Pictures, it captures the stark economic and social climate of post-seventies Britain. Helmed by director John Mackenzie, writer Barrie Keeffe, and cinematographer Phil Méheux, this film channels the raw, boundary-pushing energy of '70s TV drama, manifesting a world where intense performances compensate for a limited budget, except for a few large-scale explosions. Bob Hoskins delivers a larger-than-life portrayal of Harold Shand, navigating a complex plot wrapped tightly around his ambitions to legitimate his criminal empire. His character’s discussions framed by iconic London backdrops emphasize a distinctly British narrative with international relevance.

In terms of technical prowess, the cinematography by Phil Méheux accentuates a warm, earthy palette that grounds the film in its urban landscape. The explosive scenes and gritty realism maintain a documentary-like authenticity, pulling the viewer deeper into Shand's chaotic downfall. Francis Monkman's eclectic soundtrack fuses smooth jazz, funk, and electronica, bestowing a unique retro vibe that accentuates the era's spirit. The narrative intricately weaves socio-political commentary, contrasting entrepreneurial ambitions against dated ideological conflicts, highlighting strikingly modern observations about unified Europe.

The film's strength lies significantly in its cast's palpable chemistry. Hoskins' transformative performance commands the screen; his explosive outbursts and profound vulnerability create unforgettable cinematic moments. Helen Mirren’s role as Shand's mistress, initially scripted as secondary, emerges powerfully due to her captivating presence. Eddie Constantine brings compelling gravitas as the American gangster Charlie. Even the brief cameo by a young Pierce Brosnan leaves a lasting imprint, rounding out a stellar ensemble that collectively elevates the film to a classic status.

Arrow Video’s latest Blu-ray release of "The Long Good Friday" is nothing short of a revelation. This classic film, directed by John Mackenzie and starring the late Bob Hoskins, has been meticulously restored in 2K, elevating its presentation to a level of unprecedented clarity and detail. The remastering process significantly improves brightness and contrast, bringing a cinematic vibrancy that was previously lost in older formats. The monaural sound has undergone a clean-up and now delivers clear, bright audio that effectively conveys the story's intensity without any issues. This Blu-ray release also boasts an extensive array of both new and archival supplemental features, making it a must-have for cinema enthusiasts.

At the heart of "The Long Good Friday" is its brilliant narrative and character development. Keeffe’s script is rich with well-rounded characters, notably the leads Harold, played by Bob Hoskins, and Victoria, played by Helen Mirren. Harold’s character is a distinctive blend of toughness and intelligence, a role that has forever marked Hoskins’ career. Mirren’s portrayal of Victoria adds depth and complexity, transforming her part into a robust character that stands toe-to-toe with Harold. The chemistry between Hoskins and Mirren provides a strong backbone to the film’s narrative, further complemented by Francis Monkman’s exceptional score that intertwines perfectly with the film's thematic elements.

Arrow Video’s version revitalizes this titan of the gangster genre for contemporary audiences, ensuring its legacy endures. The meticulous restoration coupled with comprehensive extras makes it an essential addition for collectors and film aficionados alike.

As film titles go, “The Long Good Friday” is a bit of a misnomer. It gives no clue as to what the film is about, neither does it hint at the genre. The fact that it was thought up late in the day and purportedly chosen due to the Easter setting and resemblance to The Long Goodbye probably account for much of this. But one thing is for sure, once you’ve seen the film, the title is not only apt, it’s unforgettable.