The Long Good Friday 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 91
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
The Long Good Friday’s 4K UHD is a fantastic restoration, with Arrow’s extras rich but Criterion’s Blu-ray inclusion and superior featurettes rivaling it.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Video: 93
Criterion's 4K UHD release of The Long Good Friday, featuring Dolby Vision and HDR10, based on a 4K scan of the original camera negative, boasts excellent color reproduction, image stability, and overall spotless visuals, though darker scenes and minor color changes are noted when compared to the previous 2K restoration.
Audio: 88
The Blu-ray release of 'The Long Good Friday' features its original theatrical mix in English LPCM 1.0, providing clear dialogue and good dynamic contrasts, particularly in musical segments. While it lacks the new Atmos mix from previous releases, the audio remains stable and faithful to the source.
Extra: 94
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of 'The Long Good Friday' impresses with insightful extras, including a revealing commentary by director John Mackenzie recorded in 2002, an archival documentary on Handmade Films, and detailed segments on the film's production history and restoration processes, all underscored by Bob Hoskins' outstanding performance and Francis Monkman's debut soundtrack.
Movie: 84
A must-have 4K Blu-ray, Criterion’s release of The Long Good Friday highlights John Mackenzie's gritty storytelling, Bob Hoskins’ intense performance, and Phil Meheux’s warm cinematography. The engaging extras, including insights from key filmmakers, elevate this classic British gangster film.
Video: 93
Criterion’s 4K UHD release of "The Long Good Friday" is a technically superb offering, showcasing a meticulous 4K restoration that was scanned from the original camera negative. This restoration benefits from Dolby Vision and HDR10 grading. Cinematographer Phil Méheux shot the film on 35mm, with the frame intended to be matted to 1.85:1. The result is striking in terms of clarity, color accuracy, and image stability. Various scenes exhibit excellent density levels and color reproduction, with primary hues like blue and gray showing only minor adjustments. Overall, the visuals are tightly presented with image stability that is top-notch and a spotless presentation throughout the film.
Comparing the current 4K restoration with the previous 2K restoration introduced by Arrow Video, the new release offers slightly darker tones but maintains a consistent color temperature across all scenes. While some parts of the film, especially those captured in natural light, appear more refined in native 4K, the overall quality is comparably excellent between both restorations. Darker areas, such as the car explosion at the 0:20:00 mark, show enhanced detail and depth through Dolby Vision, although other segments remain very similar in quality to their 1080p counterparts. Each frame demonstrates an impressive retention of the original visual aesthetic, endorsed by the film's cinematographer, ensuring that this release stands out as a collector's piece for both its historic and technical merit.
Audio: 88
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Long Good Friday" features a singular English LPCM 1.0 audio track, which precisely mirrors the original theatrical mono mix. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided, accommodating viewers less familiar with the film's thick accents. The audio presentation is robust and stable, faithfully preserving the integrity of the source material. Dialogues are delivered with clarity, although non-native accents may prompt some to utilize the subtitles.
The audio dynamics are respectable considering the mono format, particularly enhancing the prominence of Francis Monkman’s iconic score. While this release lacks the Dolby Atmos mix previously offered by Arrow, purists might appreciate the adherence to the original mono mix. The overall technical execution is commendable, devoid of any noticeable encoding anomalies. Those familiar with prior 2K restorations will find this lossless track to be consistent in quality.
Extra: 94
The Extras section of the 4K UHD Blu Ray of "The Long Good Friday" is a comprehensive and varied set of features that delves deeply into the film’s innovative production and legacy. Director John Mackenzie's audio commentary provides valuable insights into the film's intricate plot development and characters, shedding light on crucial sequences and Bob Hoskins' stellar performance. The curated introduction by Ashley Clark sets a thoughtful context for the film. Archival documentaries like "An Accidental Studio" and "Bloody Business: The Making of The Long Good Friday" present rich historical perspectives, with interviews from notable industry figures like George Harrison and Helen Mirren. Additionally, programs focusing on cinematography, screenplay evolution, and original vs. Americanized sequences are included, offering technical depth and historical nuances that are essential for enthusiasts and scholars.
Extras included in this disc:
- Commentary by John Mackenzie: Director’s insightful discussion on various aspects of the film.
- Introduction: Ashley Clark’s context-setting introduction.
- An Accidental Studio: Documentary on Handmade Films’ history.
- Bloody Business: The Making of The Long Good Friday: Documenting the film’s production.
- Phil Meheux: Cinematographer’s perspective on the film’s framing and restoration.
- Barrie Keeffe: Screenwriter’s exploration of character development and film conception.
- Hands Across the Ocean: Differences between original and Americanized sequences.
- Theatrical Trailers: Original UK and U.S. trailers.
- Leaflet: Illustrated essay by critic Ryan Gilbey.
Movie: 84
John Mackenzie's The Long Good Friday (1980) offers a compelling showcase of the late Bob Hoskins as Harold Shand, a driven British gangster with grand ambitions for London's transformation. The film explores Shand's intricate real estate deal that promises to catapult him into the big leagues, aligning him with powerful American gangster Charlie. However, a series of unforeseen violent attacks—including the death of Shand's assistant and a pub bombing—threatens his carefully laid plans, plunging him into a chaotic quest for the elusive saboteur. Hoskins embodies Shand's complex transformation from confident kingpin to a fearful, resigned man facing existential threats within a rapidly changing socio-political landscape.
Cinematographer Phil Meheux's preference for earthy and warm tones complements the film's gritty realism, reflecting the raw brutality of London’s underworld. Unlike many crime dramas, the violent episodes in The Long Good Friday abstain from glamour, opting instead for stark authenticity. The tension is underscored by composer Francis Monkman's eclectic soundtrack, blending smooth jazz, electronica, and funk to impart a distinctive retro vibe that reinforces the film's period setting.
The acting is relentless and impressive. Helen Mirren as Victoria, Shand's mistress, offers a dynamic presence that strengthens the film considerably. Eddie Constantine’s portrayal of Charlie adds depth, while a young Pierce Brosnan delivers a sharp, memorable cameo. The juxtaposition of business ambitions against dated ideological conflicts provides an incisive commentary on this clash of ideals. Overall, The Long Good Friday triumphs as a blade-sharp narrative of criminal ambition thwarted by unforeseen forces, punctuated by compelling performances and a richly textured visual and auditory landscape.
Total: 91
"The Long Good Friday" makes a triumphant return to the physical media scene with its recent 4K UHD Blu-ray release, offering an impeccable visual and auditory experience. Although the film was already beautifully restored in 2K nearly a decade ago, this new 4K restoration elevates it to a level of vivid clarity and detail that aficionados will find compelling. The HDR presentation significantly enhances the contrast and color saturation, providing a nuanced and immersive visual experience that does justice to John Mackenzie’s direction and Bob Hoskins' formidable performance.
While the video quality of both the Criterion Collection and Arrow Video editions are commendably on par, where they diverge is in their supplementary features. Arrow Video presents a robust selection of extras, including an Atmos remix, enriching Francis Monkman’s score with dynamic range, and nearly all the content from their previous Blu-ray release—save for "The HandMade Story" featurette. In contrast, Criterion includes a noteworthy documentary, "An Accidental Studio," but lacks the comprehensive extras of the Arrow edition. Notably, Criterion's bundle also provides a Blu-ray copy of the film, a practical consideration for those without 4K players.
Die-hard fans may find it difficult to choose between these two stellar editions, each offering unique advantages. Ultimately, it comes down to individual preference and whether one values additional extras over a broader spectrum of supplemental features. For some, owning both editions may be appealing to ensure no sought-after content is missed.
A visionary gangster, played with an incredible intensity by the late Bob Hoskins, tries to transform London but faces a powerful enemy in director John Mackenzie's classic film "The Long Good Friday." Nearly a decade ago, "The Long Good Friday" was beautifully restored in 2K, but this combo pack introduces a recent 4K restoration, which is also fantastic. I really, really like this film and could not be happier that it has been treated with such great care and attention so that it looks as it should. A standard Blu-ray release is available for purchase as well. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Blu-ray.com review by Dr. Svet AtanasovRead review here
Video: 100
Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content....
Audio: 100
However, I suspect that North American viewers will use the optional English SDH subtitles because some of the accents are quite thick, and it is not always easy to get everything that is said....
Extras: 100
4K BLU-RAY DISC Commentary by John Mackenzie - in this audio commentary, director John Mackenzie explains how multiple sequences from The Long Good Friday were shot and edited, and discusses the manner...
Movie: 80
In the original script, Mirren's character apparently had different qualities and a secondary role, but her strong presence is one of the film's biggest strengths....
Total: 100
Nearly a decade ago, The Long Good Friday was beautifully restored in 2K, but this combo pack introduces a recent 4K restoration, which is also fantastic....
The Digital Bits review by Stephen BjorkRead review here
Video: 95
(Note that this is the British version of the film, so the title card that was added to international prints in order to explain some of the gangster slang hasn’t been included here.)...
Audio: 85
The biggest beneficiary was Francis Monkman’s iconic score, even though it does appear to have originally been recorded and/or mixed in mono....
Extras: 95
Mackenzie does his best to untangle the convoluted plot construction of the film, including how the story evolved over the course of eight different drafts of the script and even during the editorial process...
Movie: 95
Harold is the king of his world, a gangster who stepped into the void left by the arrest of Ronald and Reginald Kray in 1968, and he’s maintained a tenuous peace in London’s underworld ever since, all...
Total: 93
The only significant thing that’s missing from any previous releases is The HandMade Story, a featurette about HandMade Films that was included on a few different releases overseas....
Director: John Mackenzie
Actors: Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Paul Freeman
PlotA powerful underworld boss, Harold Shand, is on the brink of completing an immense deal with an American Mafia organization, hoping to transform his untouchable empire in East London into a legitimate business venture. As Harold prepares to impress his American investors with a celebratory weekend on his yacht, a series of unexpected and violent events threaten to derail his plans. Bombings and murders occur with seemingly no explanation, undercutting Harold's authority and shaking his confidence. He finds himself unable to pin down who is behind the attacks. This volatile situation is exacerbated by the pressure from his American visitors, who are growing increasingly skittish about getting involved with him.
Harold’s determination to root out the traitors within his organization escalates into a full-blown, desperate investigation. As he delves deeper, Harold's world unravels at a rapid pace. His companions and closest allies are tested as they navigate layers of deception and treachery. The grim and relentless pursuit for truth takes Harold through the dark underbelly of London, exposing the volatile intersection between loyalty and ambition. Faced with mounting betrayals, Harold struggles to maintain his grip on power and ultimately confronts the devastating impact of his own brutal rise to prominence.
Writers: Barrie Keeffe
Release Date: 02 Apr 1982
Runtime: 114 min
Rating: R
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English, French