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Ultra HD : Highly Recommended
Ranking:
Sale Price: $27.44 Last Price: $39.95 Buy now! 3rd Party 27.44 In Stock
Release Date: June 28th, 2022 Movie Release Year: 1998

Out of Sight - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Overview -

Starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez as two people from opposing sides of the law, Steven Soderbergh's Out of Sight is a masterclass in effective, terrifically-engaging visual storytelling by a capable, talented filmmaker. The romcom crime caper sets its sights on 4K Ultra HD with an outtasight Dolby Vision HDR video but the same DTS-HD MA track and the same set of bonuses. The overall UHD package is a Highly Recommended addition to the 4K library.

George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven) and Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers) ignite the screen in this criminally cool crime caper from director Steven Soderbergh (The Limey). Meet Jack Foley, the most successful bank robber in the country. On the day he busts out of jail, he finds himself stealing something far more precious than money… Karen Sisco’s heart. She’s smart. She’s sexy. And unfortunately for Jack, she’s a Federal Marshal. Now, they’re willing to risk it all to find out if there’s more between them than just the law. Screenwriter Scott Frank (Get Shorty) earned an Oscar® nomination for his slick, snappy script based on the novel by Elmore Leonard (Jackie Brown). The stacked cast includes Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction), Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda), Dennis Farina (Manhunter), Albert Brooks (Lost in America), Nancy Allen (Blow Out), Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich), Isaiah Washington (True Crime), Steve Zahn (Rescue Dawn), Paul Calderon (King of New York), Luis Guzmán (Boogie Nights), Viola Davis (Fences), William B. Harris Jr. (Road Trip) and uncredited cameos by Michael Keaton (Batman) and Samuel L. Jackson (The Hateful Eight).

DISC 1 (4KUHD)
• Brand New Dolby Vision HDR Master – From 4K Scan of the Original Camera Negative (Color Graded by Cinematographer Elliot Davis)
• Audio Commentary by Director Steven Soderbergh and Screenwriter Scott Frank
• 5.1 Surround & Lossless 2.0 Stereo
• Triple-Layered UHD100 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY)
• Brand New 4K Restoration (Color Graded by Cinematographer Elliot Davis)
• Audio Commentary by Director Steven Soderbergh and Screenwriter Scott Frank
• Inside OUT OF SIGHT: An Original Documentary on the Making of the Film – Featuring Behind-the-Scenes Footage and Interviews with Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Albert Brooks, Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames, Steve Zahn, Elmore Leonard and Scott Frank
• Deleted Scenes
• Two Theatrical Trailers (Newly Mastered in 2K)
• 5.1 Surround & Lossless 2.0
• Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles

OVERALL:
Highly Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Region Free (UHD Only)
Video Resolution/Codec:
HDR10
Length:
123
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.85:1
Audio Formats:
English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles/Captions:
English SDH
Special Features:
Blu-ray Copy
Release Date:
June 28th, 2022

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

In the opening moments of Out of Sight, it becomes immediately clear that we are in the hands of a capable, talented filmmaker. As opposed to Michael Bay's heavy-handed exposition in the first few minutes of Ambulance, Steven Soderbergh trusts his audience enough by simply "showing, not telling" and allowing the story to unfold organically. When a well-dressed George Clooney angrily walks out of an office building and furiously chucks his necktie to the ground, we can safely presume Clooney's Jack Foley is coming from a job interview that did not go well. Then, he looks across the street at the bank with a face that clearly makes his intentions known, quickly followed by him studying the space and formulating a plan. Even before Clooney turns on his usual gentleman charm, which is employed to absolute perfection in this crime caper, we already sympathize with the guy after losing the job. We also like him just enough to side with him as he commits a crime that'll set him on the path to where Soderbergh wants to take this story. 

Adapted from Elmore Leonard's 1996 novel of the same name by Scott Frank (Logan, Minority Report, Get Shorty), the entire sequence is masterfully done by a skilled visual storyteller as the plot flawlessly progresses from crime comedy to unexpected romantic comedy when Jennifer Lopez's U.S. Marshal Karen Sisco is introduced. Their "meet-cute" is another example of Soderbergh's talents where their conversation about classic movies also directly reflects their soon-to-be blossoming romance — Jack talking about missing that "spark" and Karen finding fault in Three Days Of The Condor. But my favorite moment in their exchange is Jack misquoting Peter Finch's iconic line from Network and Lopez smirks at his mistake, indicating that she's amused by his love for classic movies and also finds it funny Jack messed up. It's an incredibly small detail that nonetheless slyly signals that in spite of two people coming from opposing sides of the law, there is a spark between them that will keep attracting each other.

For another take on the film, check out our reviews of the 2011 Blu-ray release HERE and Peter Bracke's 2006 HD DVD edition HERE

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Kino Lorber brings Steven Soderbergh's Out of Sight to Ultra HD Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack. The triple-layered UHD100 disc and a Region A, BD50 disc are housed inside a black, eco-elite vortex case on opposing panels, and the package comes with a slipcover. At startup, the disc goes straight to a static menu screen of the cover art with the usual options along the bottom left corner of the screen.

Video Review

Ranking:

The Soderbergh crime classic sets its sights on Ultra HD with a gorgeous, outtasight HEVC H.265 encode, a marvelous upgrade over its previous HD DVD and Blu-ray predecessors. Coming from a brand new restoration and remaster of the original 35mm camera negatives with color-grading supervised by cinematographer Elliot Davis, the native 4K transfer enjoys a noticeable uptick in overall definition. From the stitching and fabric of the costumes to the architectural design of the buildings and various interiors, fine lines and details are sharp, and facial complexions are highly revealing, exposing pores, wrinkles and negligible blemishes. However, it is worth noting a few instances of very mild moiré fringes in some scenes with chain link fencing or along brick walls and other minor moments where the sharpest edges waver a tad. Thankfully, it's nothing too egregious or terribly distracting, and they might be easy to miss while in motion. 

Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the Dolby Vision HDR presentation boasts a significantly richer palette than its HD SDR counterparts, most notably when moving between locations. Florida scenes are bathed in a golden yellow hue with strong amber-orange tones while still maintaining strong saturation in primaries and the many vibrant pastel colors Miami is known for. When moving to the cold, chilly weather of Detroit, the cinematography is heavily immersed in steely blues, deep indigos and spirited cobalt colors mixed with the occasional swaths of warm marigolds and balmy tans, such as the inside of Ripley's mansion. In all this, the image maintains excellent, lifelike skin tones throughout, supplying the cast with a healthy, rosy-peach coloring that's most appreciated during the warmer climate scenes.

The 4K video also benefits from the improved contrast balance, showing vivid, brilliantly clean whites and outstanding visibility into the far distance of the many extreme wide shots. Specular highlights furnish the metallic surfaces and the chrome trim of various vehicles with a realistic, glistening sparkle while the hottest spots, such as the light fixtures, have a tighter, crisper glow without washing over the finer aspects. Brightness levels, likewise, provide richer, inkier blacks and silky, true shadows while maintaining excellent visibility within the darkest, murkiest corners. Awash with a fine, consistent layer of grain that can be more pronounced and noticeable in darker exterior sequences, the new transfer is a fantastic upgrade with an attractive, cinematic quality that fans will love. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 86/100)

Audio Review

Ranking:

The movie also arrives with a great DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, which appears to be the same used for the previous Blu-ray release and does not reveal any significantly discernable difference when comparing the two. In either case, the front-heavy audio design is perfectly suited for this dialogue-heavy, character-driven story. Layered with lots of background activity, imaging continuously feels broad and spacious with fluid, flawless movement across the entire soundstage. The mid-range exhibits superbly clean and extensive definition, maintaining exceptional acoustical detailing during the few loud segments, and dialogue is precise with distinct intonation in each performance. Bass is not particularly noteworthy or standout, but the low-end nonetheless is adequate while providing the visuals and music with an appreciable sense of presence and weight. Although the surrounds don't do much, the receivers' Auro-3D up-mixing functionality does an excellent job of widening the soundfield without seeming forced or artificial, expanding a few mild ambient effects to the top heights, generating a highly satisfying and engaging half-dome soundstage. (Audio Rating: 78/100)

Special Features

Ranking:

The same set of supplements from the Blu-ray are ported over to this UHD edition. 

  • Audio Commentary 
  • Inside Out of Sight (1080i/60, 25 min)
  • Deleted Scenes (1080i/60, 22 min)
  • Trailers (HD)

Nearly ten years after his directorial debut, Steven Soderbergh conclusively signaled his talent and skill as a compelling visual storyteller with Out of Sight, starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez as a two people from opposing sides of the law discovering they have a spark. The romcom crime caper sets its sights on 4K Ultra HD with a gorgeous Dolby Vision HDR presentation, giving fans a notable and surprising upgrade over its Blu-ray predecessor. Featuring the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack and an identical set of bonuses, the overall UHD package nonetheless makes an awesome, highly-recommended addition to the 4K library. 

All disc reviews at High-Def Digest are completed using the best consumer HD home theater products currently on the market. More about the gear used for this review.