High Crime 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Blue Underground's release of High Crime on 4K UHD Blu-ray boasts a meticulous restoration that presents the film in its fully uncut form. Featuring Dolby Vision and HDR, the native 4K presentation delivers substantial delineation, clarity, and depth. The film's visuals exhibit impressive fluidity, with the grain appearing remarkably natural and consistent. However, certain stylized elements present challenges in evaluation, predominantly where color representation diverges between the 4K and 1080p versions due to conversion anomalies. Despite these issues, the 4K restoration provides overall superior visuals with solid organic qualities and a more plausible color scheme, though sporadic color grading choices can occasionally detract from its authenticity.

Texture and fine detail especially stand out; close-up shots and cityscape captures are rendered sharply, capitalizing on the full 4K scan. The Dolby Vision enhancements contribute brilliantly bright peaks and rich contrast, though some color tones lean towards green/yellow, fitting the '70s aesthetic. Interestingly, there is a notable divergence in the grain’s appearance between formats; in 1080p, it occasionally acquires a less convincing powdery texture. It should also be noted that the film's final reel experiences a visible decline in sharpness and fidelity, likely due to multi-generational elements and aggressive processing aimed at maintaining consistency. This segment does distort the otherwise cohesive presentation.

In conclusion, while High Crime's 4K UHD Blu-ray by Blue Underground is not without its imperfections, it excels in delivering a high-quality and visually engaging experience. The superior native 4K presentation underscores its distinguished restoration effort with excellent clarity, depth, and a convincing color palette, warranting a commendation for both technical prowess and visual impact.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "High Crime" offers two standard audio tracks: English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. Both tracks reflect the era's typical characteristics, with expected thin dynamics and occasional roughness in dialogue. Notably, the English track features a mix of original English dialogue and overdubbing, resulting in some inconsistency. However, the dynamic balance is commendable, particularly in action sequences where contrasts are well-rendered, and no encoding anomalies were observed.

The audio clean-up work on both tracks is notable, with no popping, skipping, or scratchiness, ensuring a pleasant listening experience. While neither track offers modern surround sound, the preservation of the original mono presentation is adeptly handled, maintaining the film's authentic audio essence from its era. Optional subtitles in English, English SDH, Spanish, and French are available for further accessibility.

The supplemental material for the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "High Crime" is exceptionally comprehensive, providing in-depth insights into the film's production, casting, and historical context. Notably, there are three expert audio commentaries available on both the UHD and Blu-ray discs. The archival commentary by director Enzo G. Castellari offers a deep dive into the film's relationship with "The French Connection," locations, and casting decisions. A second new commentary, featuring star Franco Nero, filmmaker Mike Malloy, and Bill Lustig, enriches with memorable anecdotes and production details. The third new commentary by critics Troy Howarth, Nathaniel Thompson, and Eugenio Ercolani provides a scholarly perspective on the poliziotteschi genre's unique elements. Additionally, the Blu-ray contains a series of interviews and featurettes with key personnel such as Franco Nero, Enzo G. Castellari, stuntman Massimo Vanni, camera operator Roberto Girometti, and composers Guido & Maurizio De Angelis.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary One: Archival commentary by director Enzo G. Castellari.
• Commentary Two: New commentary by Franco Nero, filmmaker Mike Malloy, and Bill Lustig.
• Commentary Three: New commentary by critics Troy Howarth, Nathaniel Thompson, and Eugenio Ercolani.
• The Genoa Connection: Discussion on American cinema’s influence on "High Crime."
• From Dust to Asphalt: Enzo G. Castellari talks about his love for Westerns and "High Crime."
• Hard Stunts for High Crimes: Stuntman Massimo Vanni’s experiences.
• Framing Crime: Camera operator Roberto Girometti’s contributions.
• The Sound of Onions: Composers Guild and Maurizio De Angelis on their prolific career.
• The Connection Connection: Filmmaker Mike Malloy discusses the era of "High Crime."
• Alternate Ending: Fully restored alternate ending.
• Poster and Still Gallery: Collection of vintage promotional materials.
• Soundtrack CD: Original motion picture soundtrack by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis.
• CD Card and Reversible Cover: Mini card with CD tracklisting and reversible cover art.

Enzo G. Castellari's High Crime (1973) is an intense, raw portrayal brought to life through the vibrant performance of Franco Nero as Vice-Commissioner Belli. Nero’s furious energy is consistently on display as he navigates a web of crime and corruption in Genoa. Partnered with Aldo Scavino (James Whitmore), Belli initially targets The Lebanese, a key player in a drug trafficking network. However, the stakes quickly escalate following an explosive ambush, compelling Belli to engage reluctantly with Cafiero (Fernando Rey), an aging crime boss. The narrative intensifies as Belli’s strategies send shockwaves through the criminal underworld, leading to a high-stakes confrontation.

Cinematically, High Crime exemplifies key traits of the poliziotteschi genre with its dynamic characters, gripping action sequences, and authentic urban backdrops. Notable is the film’s reliance on elaborate real-world mayhem supervised by stunt master Remy Julienne, contrasting sharply with today’s CGI-heavy action. The visuals shift seamlessly between opulent villas and grimy docks, contributing to the film’s sense of unease. Alejandro Ulloa’s cinematography employs complex tracking shots and handheld movements, ensuring each scene conveys a frenetic, unsettled atmosphere. The climactic car chases and foot pursuits illustrate an ambitious filming style that foregrounds physicality and realism.

Beyond its surface, High Crime differentiates itself through layered intelligence, exploring organized crime's deeper societal impacts rather than just sensational bloody conflicts. While its inspiration from The French Connection is evident, High Crime carves a unique identity with its distinctive character portrayals and a structured depiction of chaos. The film’s critical depiction of criminal hierarchies and their destructive reach highlights its keen insight into societal maladies, reminiscent of later sophisticated series like The Octopus and Gomorrah. Blue Underground’s release preserves this gritty classic in full uncut form, enhanced by original audio options that stay true to Castellari’s vision.

High Crime's 4K UHD Blu Ray release exhibits a remarkable restoration effort by Blue Underground, capturing the gritty essence of Enzo G. Castellari's direction. The film, often referred to as the Italian French Connection, stands apart through its unique Italian characters and vibrant setting. The picture quality, while generally impressive, shows minor inconsistencies in some areas, yet doesn’t detract significantly from the viewing experience. The action sequences are particularly heightened by the crisp detail and dynamic color range provided by the 4K transfer.

Franco Nero's charismatic performance remains a standout element, adding substantial weight to an otherwise formulaic script. The enhanced visual fidelity allows viewers to fully appreciate the intricate camerawork and relentless pace, solidifying High Crime’s place in the poliziotteschi genre. Blue Underground enriches this release with an expansive array of exclusive new and archival bonus features, including insightful new commentary segments that provide greater context and depth to the film.

In the old days, long before the internet made it easy to track down and purchase cult films from around the world, High Crime was known as the Italian French Connection. Enzo G. Castellari, a great admirer and lover of American cinema, has always acknowledged the obvious relationship between High Crime and The French Connection and even credited Bullitt as an inspirational film. However, High Crime is not a copycat. It has unique Italian characters and environment, and more importantly, a distinct IQ that makes it a very special entry in the poliziotteschi genre. Blue Underground's combo pack introduces a new 4K restoration of High Crime with an overwhelming selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features. Some areas of the 4K restoration could have been managed quite a bit better, but this is an unmissable release. Just the great new commentary with Franco Nero is enough to highly recommend it. If you reside overseas, you will be happy to know that the 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray are Region-Free. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.