Director Alex Proyas showed with “The Crow” that flashy directorial technique and a sense of style can overcome a deficient plot. In his 1998 follow-up DARK CITY (111/100 mins., R; Arrow), Proyas concocted a fascinating science-fiction thriller with a story that lives up to the evocative settings and dense noir atmosphere surrounding it. Now on UHD in a restored Arrow box-set, there’s never been a better time to (re)visit one of the best films of the ‘90s.
Rufus Sewell stars as a man who can’t remember his name and is plagued by apparent memories of a life that might have included the murder of several prostitutes. Meanwhile, the world in which he lives is a setting that vaguely incorporates elements from disparate times and places, from the ’40s through a bleak future that recalls “Blade Runner” and “Metropolis.” After Sewell are a group of otherworldly “strangers,” led by Richard O’Brien, bald and clad in “Hellraiser”-style black costumes, and detective William Hurt, who follows Sewell’s (former?) wife Jennifer Connelly around, trying to find out the truth about what’s going on.
Kiefer Sutherland also appears as a scientist who may just hold the key to the puzzling city surrounding the characters, while Patrick Tatopoulos’ design of “Dark City”’s cityscapes and the amazing cinematography by Dariusz Wolski are nothing short of breathtaking. “Dark City” is a mood piece, an intricate puzzle along the lines of classic film-noir thrillers, but it’s also a sci-fi yarn whose imagination is singularly unique.
As he did with “The Crow,” Proyas fills each scene of his movie with stunning visual effects, setting his film in a compelling, strange yet enthralling world. The lighting, photography, effects, production design, and comic-book styled editing all combine to produce a movie where you often feel that you’re watching something truly special. Trevor Jones’s serviceable musical score backs the drama, while the cast provides uniformly excellent performances across the board. Particular standouts include Sewell, Hurt, and particularly Sutherland, in a finely hued “character actor” type of performance.
The film’s denouement is fully satisfying as well, and while it doesn’t give you all the answers, it provides enough of an explanation so that you don’t need to know any more.
As I wrote back in 1998, “‘Dark City’ is a sci-fi film that undoubtedly will be discussed among devotees for years, long after many of its era’s pre-fab “blockbusters” are but a distant memory (try rewatching “Independence Day” as I did with our 5th grader last weekend!). Even if Proyas hasn’t followed through on his potential after making this movie (at least to date), he’s at least given us a bona-fide classic with “Dark City.”
Arrow’s 4K UHD Limited Edition offers a dazzling new transfer of “Dark City” from the original 35mm OCN (2.39) that makes great use of Dolby Vision HDR. This is an example of how HDR can enhance dark movies like this, providing additional texture and detail to shadows and contrasts, making the image more impressive and easier for the home viewer to soak in and appreciate. Certainly it’s superior to any DVD or standard-def transfer, and makes immediate gains over the movie’s previous Blu-Ray release a decade ago.
Both the theatrical version and the Director’s Cut are included in similarly remastered 4K presentations. The latter restores about eight minutes of unseen footage and, most importantly, dumps the studio-mandated, completely unnecessary Sutherland monologue which opened the theatrical release and spoiled the entire film right at the start.
When the movie originally opened in theaters, I had the good fortune of walking into the theater late — when Sewell first wakes up in a bath tub — and seeing the picture as the filmmakers originally intended it to unfold, which is something that can be duplicated with the Director’s Cut. If you’ve never seen the film before, this expanded cut is the only way to go. Arrow has also included a fresh Dolby Atmos mix to complement original 5.1 and 2.0 DTS MA tracks, while enhancing the film with brand-new special features and deluxe, hardbound packaging.
For supplements, there’s a new and engaging commentary with Alex Proyas, along with a commentary with members of the “Film Versus Film” podcast. An hour-long retrospective doc, “Return to Dark City,” offers a comprehensive look at the long gestation of the production, sporting new interviews with Proyas, producer Andrew Mason, Rufus Sewell and many others. It touches upon the project jumping from one studio to another, and also the difficulty the picture had going through post-production as it repeatedly fared poorly with mall-dwelling teens who attended test screenings. There are also visual essays by Alexandra West and Josh Nelson on the picture as well.
The theatrical cut is also on-hand on its own disc, along with numerous legacy extras from New Line’s old DVD and Blu-Ray: commentaries from Proyas and his co-writers Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer, plus Patrick Tatopoulus and Dariuz Wolski, in addition to Roger Ebert’s commentary also from the original release; featurettes recounting the production; and the trailer. It’s all wrapped up in Arrow’s hardbound book-styled packaging sporting a double-sided fold-out poster, a 60-page booklet with historian essays, three postcard sized art cards, a Shell Beach postcard, and (why not) business card for Dr. Schreber.
A spellbinding sci-fi mystery thriller, “Dark City” is unique, potent, splendidly performed and masterfully told. Don’t miss it.
SWORDFISH 4K UHD (99 mins., 2001, R; Arrow): Expensive Silver Pictures action outing whisks hacker Hugh Jackman away from the “X-Men” long enough to serve as a conduit for shady John Travolta and his band of scuzzy covert ops (including a sizzling Halle Berry) who offer him $10 million for a job involving a convoluted web of shady government agencies and terrorists. Dominic Sena’s movie is slickly made but dated and heavily cynical, opening up with a ridiculously pompous opening speech about Hollywood’s declining standards and moving on to an unappealing assortment of genre cliches only made palatable by the superb cast “Swordfish” somehow assembled (to the tune of an over-the-top $100 million budget at the time as well).
An okay box-office performer – not taking into consideration its cost – “Swordfish” makes its 4K UHD (2.39) debut from Arrow in a limited-edition set. The package includes a great looking Dolby Vision HDR transfer with 5.1/2.0 DTS MA sound options and new interviews with co-composer Paul Oakenfold (who splits the billing with Christopher Young) and production designer Jeff Mann. Sena’s commentary is reprieved from the previous Warner video releases along with additional legacy extras (promo featurette, two alternate endings), booklet notes, a double-sided foldout poster and the trailer.
THE INVISIBLE SWORDSMAN Blu-Ray (78 mins., 1978; Arrow): Superbly lensed, widescreen period adventure finds a samurai’s hapless son gaining the power of invisibility after meeting a being along the shores of the Sanzu River, a place that separates the living from the dead. Yoshiuuki Kuroda’s picture features a finely detailed Edo-era setting to go along with superb fight sequences and a mix of fantasy and martial arts, presented here in a 1080p (2.35) Arrow Blu-Ray transfer with English subtitles. A commentary by Jonathan Clements looks at this Kadokawa production with Kim Newman and Jasper Sharp also appearing in interviews alongside the trailer, an image gallery, and Jack Davisson’s booklet notes.
Radiance New Releases: The films of director Todd Solondz are best described as an acquired taste, and that certainly holds true for the shrill PALINDROMES (96 mins., 2004). This follow-up to Solondz’s art-house hit “Welcome to the Dollhouse” wants to make a social commentary out of empty “post-9/11” platitudes but what it serves up instead is a weird black comic odyssey involving the teen cousin of “Dollhouse”’s (now deceased) protagonist, who takes to America in the hopes of having a baby…but runs into a series of misadventures with the ultimate realization that people can’t change and are predestined for their fate.
Solondz uses a number of different actresses to play the lead role in “Palindromes,” which met with mostly negative reviews and has vanished from circulation for some time. Radiance’s 4K UHD here provides a remastered 4K transfer from the Museum of Modern Art (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA) with extras including interviews with Solodz and Alexander Brickel; a video essay by Lillian Crawford and the trailer. Extensive booklet notes include writing by Bence Bardos and original press book excerpts and interviews.
Also out this month from Radiance, THE TALE OF OIWA’S GHOST (94 mins., 1961) is a moody, starkly-shot B&W thriller involving a conniving samurai (Tomisaburo Wakayama) who murders his wife in order to move up and marry into a wealthy nearby family – only for her to return as a spirit, haunting him on his wedding night. The scope cinematography is marvelous in this leisurely paced, strong Japanese production from director Tai Kato that Radiance here offers in a 1080p (2.39) Blu-Ray presentation. Supplements offer an introduction and interview with Mari Asato and a visual essay by Lindsay Nelson. Tom Mes’ booklet notes put the cap on another Radiance limited-edition.
SOUR PARTY Blu-Ray (84 mins., 2025; Anchor Bay): Gwen and James, a pair of 30-something female buddies, take to the road in order to scrounge up enough “debt money” from their friends in order to pay for a baby shower gift for Gwen’s sister. Samantha Westervelt and Amanda Drexton star in this black comedy from “The Drextons,” i.e. Amanda and husband Michael. Anchor Bay’s Blu-Ray includes a 1080p transfer, a “Video Yearbook,” and commentary from the stars and directors.
Also New & Noteworthy
RAD Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray (93 mins., 1986, PG; Mill Creek): A Hal Needham-helmed teen drama from star/producer Talia Shire and her late husband, producer Jack Schwartzman, “Rad” has somehow developed a massive cult following over the years. Maybe it’s the rockin’ ’80s soundtrack, the loud fashions, saturated colors or the setting of a BMX competition that draws young Bill Allen to compete against the best – whatever it may be, “Rad” is formulaic fun that attracted many an interested eye amongst Blu-Ray and 4K owners when Vinegar Syndrome’s collectible 4K UHD/Blu-Ray became an instant sell-out a few years ago.
This is Mill Creek’s second go-around for the title on Blu-Ray, and big draw is a brand new, feature-length doc “A Rad Documentary!” which features a loving look back at the movie’s production with fresh interviews and anecdotes fans will love. Other extras, back from the earlier, out-of-print release include a Q&A session with Bill Allen, Talia Shire, co-star (and two-time Olympic gold medalist) Bart Conner, archival cast/crew interviews, the original featurette, and “Break the Ice” music video. You also get three new extras with Bill Allen, co-writer Sam Bernard and a featurette on Hal Needham in the ‘80s also on tap.
DAN DA DAN: Season 1 Blu-Ray (286 mins., 2024; Shout): A pair of high schoolers – a girl from a family of mediums, a boy into the occult – tackle a series of supernatural occurrences (and possibly otherworldly as well) in this adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s magna of the same name. An amusing mix of teen “X-Files” and angsty, romantic-tinged youth drama, “Dan Da Dan”’s first season is new to Blu-Ray this week from Shout. The 1080p (1.78) transfers are graced with both Japanese audio (2.0 DTS MA) plus an English dub, English subtitles, filmmaker interviews, a talk with composer kensuke ushio, additional interviews, and more.
NEXT TIME: Kino Lorber New Releases on UHD, from DEEPSTAR SIX to ROAD TRIP! Until then, don’t forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers everyone!