The Good German Blu-ray Review
Score: 71
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Soderbergh’s The Good German impresses with stylized visuals and a fitting score, but sacrifices emotional depth and substance for style.
Disc Release Date
DTS HD-MA
Video: 88
The Good German’s 1080p Blu-ray faithfully replicates Soderbergh’s meticulous recreation of 1940s cinema—utilizing Academy 1.33:1 framing, 2K-sourced black-and-white conversion, rear projection, era-specific lighting, and authentic grain, with only minor artifacting in dense scenes.
Audio: 83
The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix delivers clear dialogue and atmospheric effects, with Thomas Newman’s nuanced score supporting the narrative without overpowering it, though it’s less commanding than classic film scores.
Extra: 19
The Blu-ray extras are minimal, limited to a black-and-white theatrical trailer, with packaging that echoes Casablanca but lacks collectible enhancements such as a slipcover or Digital Copy.
Movie: 69
Nearly 20 years after its box office failure and absence on Blu-ray, The Good German arrives in a pristine new transfer, showcasing Soderbergh’s visually ambitious homage to classic cinema and inviting a fresh technical and narrative reappraisal.

Video: 88
Steven Soderbergh’s "The Good German" receives a Blu-ray transfer that thoughtfully preserves the director’s ambitious, era-specific visual style. The film was shot on 35mm film (Kodak Vision2 500T 5218), utilizing Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2 cameras with normal speed MKII lenses, and later converted to black-and-white through a 2K digital intermediate process. Presented in the classic Academy 1.33:1 aspect ratio, the resulting 1080p/SDR image is both handsome and striking within the format’s limitations. Soderbergh emulates Hollywood's Golden Age by employing cinematic techniques such as period-appropriate compositions, screen wipes, and creative use of rear projection—accomplished here with modern green screen technology. Notably, the film seamlessly integrates real archival World War II footage with contemporary scenes, with grain levels tweaked throughout to achieve visual cohesion.
Lighting and focus choices further pay homage to the 1940s aesthetic. Glamour lighting with deep, romantic shadows and rain-soaked sets invoke the impressionist atmosphere of the era. Soft focus is used particularly on Cate Blanchett, enhancing her enigmatic presence in a way reminiscent of classic studio portraits. The Blu-ray’s transfer does display occasional artifacting during especially dense or heavily diffused sequences, but these are minor drawbacks in an otherwise faithful and engaging presentation. Viewers with small to medium-sized displays will find much to appreciate in this release, as it delivers a visually authentic tribute to vintage cinema through both its meticulous production methods and well-executed high-definition presentation.
Audio: 83
The Blu-ray release of "The Good German" features an English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track, which delivers a nuanced, technically proficient audio presentation. Dialogue reproduction is consistently clear and intelligible, ensuring that the subtleties of performance—such as Cate Blanchett’s evocative German accent—are faithfully conveyed. Ambient effects immerse the listener in the film’s period setting, with realistic renderings of crowd noise, the mechanical churn of a jeep’s engine, and intense close-quarters action scenes like body blows during a fight.
Thomas Newman’s score is expertly integrated into the mix, supporting the emotional undertones of the narrative without overshadowing dialogue or discrete sound effects. The music evokes sadness, longing, and tension, aligning with the tone of classic film noir scores but taking a subtler approach than composers like Max Steiner or Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Optional English SDH subtitles are available, providing further accessibility and clarity for viewers. Overall, the DTS-HD Master Audio mix preserves the film’s classic atmosphere while ensuring modern spatial fidelity and technical accuracy.
Extras: 19
The Blu-ray edition of "The Good German" offers minimal supplemental content. The only extra feature is the original theatrical trailer, presented in black-and-white to match the film’s period aesthetic. There are no additional documentaries, featurettes, commentaries, or deleted scenes included on this disc. Packaging mimics classic Casablanca-style poster art but lacks a slipcover and digital copy. Overall, the extras section is sparse and focused solely on promotional material.
Extras included in this disc:
- Theatrical Trailer: The original black-and-white promotional trailer for the film.
Movie: 69
Steven Soderbergh’s “The Good German” is a thematically ambitious entry in his eclectic filmography, standing out for its bold visual and narrative risks. Set amidst the tense backdrop of post-war Europe during the Potsdam Conference, the film explores the beginnings of the Cold War arms race, focusing on the American and Russian scramble to recruit German scientists with expertise in advanced weaponry such as the V-2 rocket. This context adds a morally complex dimension, as American authorities are depicted offering immunity for war crimes in exchange for scientific collaboration, underscoring the ambiguities of postwar alliances.
From a production standpoint, “The Good German” deliberately pays homage to classic Hollywood cinema, notably through its use of black-and-white cinematography and period-authentic production design. Soderbergh’s direction captures the noir atmosphere with remarkable authenticity, benefiting from a meticulous approach to lighting and framing that evokes the films of the 1940s. The movie’s return to prominence with its debut on Blu-ray allows viewers to reassess its craftsmanship and ambitious storytelling nearly two decades after its original release. This new edition serves as a testament to both Warner Bros.’ archival efforts and Soderbergh’s willingness to take creative risks within the studio system.
Total: 71
Steven Soderbergh’s The Good German arrives on Blu-ray as a striking homage to classic noir cinema, meticulously crafted in black-and-white with stylized visuals that both define and dominate the film’s identity. Soderbergh’s technical ambition is evident, delivering a visually arresting experience anchored by sharp contrast and period-evocative cinematography. The original score by Thomas Newman complements the atmosphere, underscoring the film’s post-war tension with a deftly composed musical palette. While the Blu-ray provides satisfying audio-visual quality, it lacks in supplemental extras, which may disappoint some collectors expecting deeper insights or behind-the-scenes content.
The cast, led by George Clooney and Cate Blanchett, delivers reliably strong performances, yet the film’s focus on visual flair over narrative development results in a somewhat detached emotional tone. The movie struggles to fully engage with its characters or elicit genuine investment from the viewer, which is a notable shortcoming given the caliber of the talent involved. This coldness is exacerbated by the film’s prioritization of style over clarity, leaving some of its dramatic potential untapped.
In conclusion, The Good German on Blu-ray stands as a technically impressive release for enthusiasts of Soderbergh’s work or those interested in cinematic experiments with stylized presentation. While the film may not deliver the emotional resonance or narrative cohesion expected from such top-tier performers, its visual achievements and solid audio-visual transfer provide enough merit for fans of classic noir aesthetics and film craftsmanship to consider a viewing.
- Read review here
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller III
Video: 90
As usual, please see my separate review of the 4K edition for a general overview of The Good German's unique visual aesthetic, one in which Steven Soderbergh made use of equipment commonly used during...
Audio: 80
For my thoughts on the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix, see my recent review of the 4K/Blu-ray combo pack....
Extras: 10
Much like the 4K/Blu-ray combo pack, this release ships in a keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork (which yes, mimics Casablanca) and does not come with a slipcover or Digital Copy....
Movie: 70
The latter stands shoulder-high as a particularly noteworthy outlier, a visually and thematically ambitious film that flopped hard at the box office, didn't do so well with the critics, and never even...
Total: 70
Even so, it's a film that has at least some merit besides for the visuals, as its performances are uniformly good and the original score by Thomas Newman fits like a glove....
Video: 95
Rear projection is used to simulate live action behind actors, glamour lighting with romantic shadows is reminiscent of how stars of an earlier era were shot, and rain-soaked sidewalks and an airport tarmac...
Audio: 95
Sound effects include body pummeling in a fight, a jeep’s engine, ambient noise from crowds, and general hustle and bustle....
Extras: 35
Movie: 75
On the eve of the Potsdam conference, where Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill will meet to discuss strategies of a post-war world, both the Americans and the Russians are already beginning their arms race....
Total: 75
Because we know that Clooney and Blanchett have been so good in other films, it’s disappointing to see them in one that isn’t worthy of their talents....
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Actors: George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Tobey Maguire
PlotIn the chaos of post-World War II Berlin, an American war correspondent arrives to cover the impending Potsdam Conference, a gathering of Allied leaders to determine the city’s—and Germany’s—fate. Assigned a jaded American army driver, he hopes to reconnect with an enigmatic woman from his past, who has managed to survive the devastation surrounding them. The city is awash with desperate refugees, black-market intrigue, and countries vying for power in the new order, all while ordinary Germans struggle amid the ruins. Investigations into a murdered American soldier draw the journalist into a web of secrets where no one is safe and everyone has something to hide.
Amidst growing tensions between the Soviets and Americans, the reporter uncovers clues that link his former lover to shadowy wartime activities and competing attempts by different nations to seize prized German scientists. Each revelation pulls him deeper into moral ambiguity, where allegiances blur and motives are concealed behind fear, betrayal, and survival. As he searches for answers, he must reckon with his own ethical boundaries and navigate a landscape where trust is scarce. With the stakes rising on both personal and political fronts, the danger intensifies among the shattered streets, and every choice threatens far-reaching consequences.
Writers: Paul Attanasio, Joseph Kanon
Release Date: 19 Jan 2007
Runtime: 105 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English, German, Russian