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Before Night Falls Blu-ray Review

Warner Archive Collection

Score: 85

from 3 reviewers

Review Date:

Before Night Falls is a visually compelling, musically rich biographical drama with a standout performance by Javier Bardem, complemented by a high-quality Blu-ray release.

Before Night Falls Blu-ray Front Cover

Disc Release Date

DTS-HD MA

Video: 90

Before Night Falls showcases a meticulously executed 1080p transfer from a 4K scan, preserving its warm, subdued visuals with impressive detail and minimal noise. The 1.85:1 aspect ratio captures distinct stylistic choices across Arenas' life stages, while Warner Archive’s encoding delivers an engaging and authentic experience for purists.

Audio: 87

Warner Archive's DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix offers a mostly front-forward presentation, effectively enhanced by music cues and discrete effects; Bardem's narration is centered but thin. The surround sound balances realism with creativity, meriting near-perfect praise, though subtitles are essential due to strong accents.

Extra: 78

Engaging yet slightly dated extras with insightful commentary from key creatives, intimate interviews with Reinaldo Arenas, a behind-the-scenes home movie narrated by the director's daughter, and a feature on Schnabel’s art, collectively enrich the understanding of 'Before Night Falls' despite interlacing issues.

Movie: 78

Before Night Falls, led by Javier Bardem's transformative performance, captures the life of Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas with a visually compelling yet fragmented narrative. Schnabel's biographical drama intertwines riveting highs and brutal lows, offering a textured exploration of personal and political struggles under Castro's regime. The restored Blu-ray edition preserves its raw intensity with upgraded A/V quality.

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