‘Se7en’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on January 5 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

When it comes to 1990’s cinema, it’s difficult to find a film as popular or as well-received as “Se7en.” It became part of the pop-culture zeitgeist when it was released, and it still is a film which elicits a strong reaction from audiences today. Whenever people talk about it, they instantly quote Brad Pitt’s famous line of, “What’s in the box?” The film also served as inspiration for the “Saw” franchise and was ahead of its time in terms of the true crime genre. Now, the film is celebrating its 30th anniversary on 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. This is sure to be one of the most popular 4K releases of the year.

“Se7en” opens up by introducing the audience to Detective Lieutenant William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) who is one week away from his retirement before he is thrown into a case which captures his attention. It starts off with a man who is found dead after being forced to eat spaghetti over and over again until he perishes. Somerset teams up with a hot shot detective named David Mills, played by Brad Pitt. He recently moved with his wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow) to the city, and he’s looking to make a name for himself. Somerset and Mills could not be more different in how they approach their jobs.

Mills has a short fuse and is ready to fly off the handle at anyone who gets in his way. He also doesn’t play by the rules. Somerset is even-keeled, a deep thinker, and someone who believes you have to look at these cases as more than just black and white, crazy and sane. Before long, more murders are occurring, and the serial killer is murdering people based on the seven deadly sins. For Mills, he simply thinks the killer is a crazy person and writes him off as someone who is going to get caught and isn’t thinking straight. Somerset, on the other hand, sees there is a clear motive and agenda by the killer.

“Se7en” was one of my favorite films growing up. I was 10 years old when it was released, and I saw it when I was 15. It was very much ahead of its time with its gritty, down and dirty filmmaking style. When I watched it in 2025, I liked the film a lot and I admire the craft and precision which went into making it, along with the incredible performance by Freeman. However, I do see some flaws in the film, such as Pitt’s performance. Of course, his “What’s in the box?” scene has become a legendary meme, but he’s way too over-the-top here. After a while, it becomes hard to spend too much time with his character.

I also wanted to learn more about Tracy, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Paltrow is a terrific actress, and her scenes with Freeman, especially at the diner, give the film some much needed levity. Her character isn’t given enough to do though, besides stay at home and just be written as a one-note character. She and her character deserved better. Going back to Pitt for a moment, I understand what he was going for with his performance, but he plays it too big. In a serious movie like “Se7en,” it almost feels like his character doesn’t belong here. Freeman makes it look easy, and he’s able to portray all of his emotions on his face perfectly. I understand the film was showing the contrast between the two characters, but it doesn’t work as well as I remembered it.

When it comes to films like “Se7en” which rely on a twist, they don’t always hold up as well on multiple viewings because the element of surprise is gone. I still think it is a really good film though, and I enjoyed revisiting it on 4K. The atmosphere and the sense of dread is on full-display from David Fincher. The film also has a lot to say when it comes to its views on the world and the people in it. While Mills believes he can make a change and clean up the world, Somerset is more realistic on what he can do and what the world is capable of as a whole. It’s a film with some brainy ideas, but those ideas sometimes get lost in the middle of trying to solve the crime.

Overall, I still like “Se7en,” even though this might sound like a negative review. I’m just not as enthusiastic about it as I was 10 or 15 years ago. I see more of the film’s flaws than I did in the past. The second half, especially the big reveal, is still as powerful as it was upon its release. The film works best when it allows its actors room to show off their acting chops and really get into the meat and potatoes of their characters. I found the police work and the case itself not as interesting or multifaceted as I remembered it being in the past. “Se7en” is still a film worth revisiting and owning, despite some new flaws I’ve noticed along the way.

* * * out of * * * *

4K Info: “Se7en” is released on single-disc 4K Digibook or Steelbook from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It comes with a digital copy of the film as well. It has a running time of 127 minutes and is rated R for grisly afterviews of horrific and bizarre killings, and for strong language.

4K Video Info: “Se7en” is a dark and grisly film, and this specific visual aesthetic is perfect for the 4K format. I don’t think anyone is expecting the film to look crisp, clear and colorful in 4K. The 4K is not as washed out or bright as the Blu-ray, and this is a good thing. It has a more film-like look to it, which is what I was hoping for with this 4K release. 4K is supposed to bring out the best elements of what the director was looking to achieve with the picture, and “Se7en” is a solid 4K release.

4k Audio Info: “Se7en” comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack for the film, which is consistent and steady throughout the course of the film. This is a pretty quiet film with moments of loud and intense dialogue, but it never feels like it’s too much. Subtitles are included in English, Spanish and French.

Special Features:

Commentaries –

The Stars: David Fincher, Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman

The Story: Richard Dyer, Andrew Kevin Walker, Richard Francis-Bruce, Michael De Luca, David Fincher

The Picture: Darius Khondji, Arthur Max, Richard Francis-Bruce, Richard Dyer, David Fincher

The Sound: Ren Klyce, Howard Shore, Richard Dyer, David Fincher

Deleted Scenes

Alternate endings

Still Photographs (featurettes) –

Production Design (featurette)

Mastering for the Home Theater (featurette)

Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Early Storyboards (featurette)

Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Rough Version (featurette)

Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Final Edit (featurette)

Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Stereo Audio Commentary One – The Concept – Designer Kyle Cooper (featurette)

Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Stereo Audio Commentary Two – The Sound – Brant Biles & Robert Margouleff (featurette)

Theatrical EPK

Should You Buy It?

“Se7en” is a must-own for physical media enthusiasts out there, but there is one problem with this release: the packaging. If you are going to get the digibook, you should know the film is housed in a sleeve, which makes it very hard to take the disc out without touching the back of it. As many of you know, 4K’s are easier to scratch and damage than Blu-rays. While I appreciate the fact they tried something different with this packaging, they should have at least thought about the overall health of the disc. I would recommend you pick up the Steelbook release instead. I’ve noticed a lot of people are unhappy with the lack of updated special features, as these are the same special features that came with the Blu-ray. Special features on older films are not as prevalent in today’s releases as they were originally done during the height of DVDs and Blu-ray releases, and I think it’s important to remember that. It costs money to interview the actors, and it’s not always easy to track them down for new interviews regarding older films they have done. While it would have been a nice addition to the 4K release, I understand it isn’t cost effective. The film looks sharp and the soundtrack is impressive. For the film itself, as stated in my review, it didn’t hold up as well as I remembered it, but it’s still a really good flick. This is a day-one purchase despite the less than stellar packaging options.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

‘The Departed’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on April 20, 2024 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

When it comes to filmmaking, Martin Scorsese is not known for his brevity. His films are lengthy and complex. However, because there are so many moving parts that are interesting and layered, it rarely feels like a slog to sit through them. He also makes sure to assemble an all-star cast of some of the best actors in Hollywood so, as an audience, we are glued to the screen with each and every performance. It’s so hard to pick a favorite Scorsese film, as he’s trying to achieve something different and unique with each one. From an entertainment standpoint, however, I think “The Departed” might be the most thrilling movie he’s ever made. It was also the film which earned him his first and only Best Director and Best Picture Academy Award.

“The Departed” is initially set in 1980’s Boston and introduces us to a series of seedy and underhanded characters. The local Mob boss is named Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson. He befriends a young Colin Sullivan and buys him groceries, as he knows he comes from a struggling family. Fast forward to present day in the film, and Colin (Matt Damon) is now working on the inside for the Massachusetts State Police in their Special Investigation Unit. Frank is still the leader of the Mob, but he has even more power because he knows Colin will keep him in the loop when the police get too close to him.

Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), a police academy recruit, is brought in to meet Captain Queenan and Sergeant Dignam, played respectively by Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg. Considering Billy’s family has a criminal record a mile along, they think he’s the perfect mole to go undercover and bring Frank down once and for all. In order for Billy to gain the trust of Frank, he needs to serve some time in prison and also commit some crimes with the help of his cousin, so his cover isn’t blown. However, Billy is starting to feel as though he’s living a double life and his mental health is suffering. This is when he meets Madolyn (Vera Farmiga), a police psychiatrist who is also currently dating Colin Sullivan. Needless to say, this is a messy and tricky situation for all parties involved.

The beauty of “The Departed” is that it keeps you guessing all the way until the finale. There are a lot of different characters and pieces of the puzzle here, but the film never feels overplotted or too complicated. It’s very engaging, well-paced and highly entertaining. As an audience member, it takes you on quite a ride from start-to-finish. Scorsese also takes his time in developing his characters, and he trusts his actors to put their own personal touches on their performances. There are so many standout performances here to choose from, but Nicholson and DiCaprio in particular are remarkable. Nicholson brings an unhinged charisma to his role as the mob boss while DiCaprio is tortured and powerful in his performance. As the old adage goes, “Do Your Job.” Everyone in this film knows how to do their job, and Scorsese gives them the platform to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.

The screenplay, which was written by William Monahan, is also able to keep the audience engaged and thrilled without ever feeling too gimmicky or implausible. These are well-written characters that are looking to stay alive and pull the wool over the eyes of those looking to bring them down. They have to stay one step ahead of the audience and also one step ahead of the characters in the film. “The Departed” is also a remake of the Hong Kong Film, “Infernal Affairs,” which I own as part of the Criterion Collection. I have yet to see that one, but I definitely need to check it out after having seen “The Departed” numerous times.

All in all, “The Departed” shows Scorsese at his best in a world he has inhibited many times in the past. This time, though, he has new players to work with. Of course, we are familiar with the Martin Scorsese/Robert De Niro films of the past such as “Casino” and “Goodfellas,” but it’s great to see him working with Nicholson for the first and only time along with Damon, Mark Wahlberg, and Alec Baldwin. Of course, his collaborations with DiCaprio have become legendary, but this was in the early stages of their working relationship, and you can see why they work so well together.

Hollywood has always had a fascination with crime movies and the characters who inhabit that world. Scorsese knows this world very well and how to make it accessible and fun for mainstream audiences. If I had to choose, my favorite Scorsese movies are “Raging Bull,” “The King of Comedy,” and “Taxi Driver.” However, as stated earlier, if you are talking about pure entertainment value and pure fun, it’s hard to deny the power of “The Departed.” Even eighteen years later, this film still captivates and engages with its words, its story, and its players. It only gets better and better with age. If you are seeing it for the first-time, you are in for a real treat.

* * * * out of * * * *

4K Info: “The Departed” is being released on a single disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. There is also a steelbook version of the film as well. Whether you pick up the steelbook or the 4K slipcover, you can’t go wrong with either copy of “The Departed.” It also comes with a digital copy of the film. It has a running time of 151 minutes and is rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material.

Video Info: This is a gritty looking 4K that is able to keep the dark and moody look of Boston and its seedy characters alive while also cleaning up the dirt and artifacts to make it look sharp and vivid. This is a solid 4K transfer. The HDR is a big improvement from the Blu-ray.

Audio Info: I would have liked a Dolby Atmos soundtrack on this 4K release, but as it stands, this is still a powerful audio transfer. At times, the music and the action scenes can be a little too loud as the dialogue is more leveled, but that’s a minor issue.

Special Features:

Guilt and Betrayal: Looking into The Departed (new)

Stranger than Fiction: The True Story of Whitey Bulger, Southie, and The Departed

Crossing Criminal Cultures

9 Deleted Scenes with introductions by Martin Scorsese

Should You Buy It?

When great films, Academy Award winning films at that, are available on 4K, you have to buy and add them to your collection, if you are a film collector. It is the only way studios are going to keep releasing these films on physical media. Now, more than ever, with more and more brick-and-mortar stores getting rid of physical media altogether, we have to purchase these films and add them to our collection. “The Departed” looks really, really sharp on 4K. There are the previously released special features from the Blu-ray along with a new special feature as well. This is a great film from the legendary Martin Scorsese being released in the best format possible to watch movies. This is a no-brainer in my book. You can’t go wrong with either the steelbook or the slipcover version of this film on 4K. This 4K of “The Departed” comes highly recommended!

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

Martin Scorsese’s ‘Hugo’ is a Splendid Love Letter to the Power of Movies

Posted on December 5, 2019 by The Ultimate Rabbit

Hugo movie poster

Maybe it was Martin Scorsese’s desire to utilize the 3D format which kept me from seeing “Hugo” on the first day of its release. 2011 saw 3D movies get a serious public beating as audiences became convinced it existed solely for Hollywood studios to jack up ticket prices. But to watch “Hugo” is to be reminded of how amazing 3D can be when using the right tools and not just throwing cheap gimmicks at the audience. But moreover, it is backed up by a great story and remarkable performances as Scorsese shares with us his love of all things cinema.

Seriously, the first five minutes of “Hugo” will blow you away as you will feel like you are traveling over the Paris of the 1930’s. It truly looks as though the snow it is literally blowing in your eyes, and it reminded me of when kids were grasping at the snowflakes coming off of the silver screen during “The Polar Express.” Scorsese was lucky enough to use the same Fusion Camera System which James Cameron used to superb effect in “Avatar.” The images stretch out from the screen, and the extra dimension gives these visuals a depth which at times feels remarkably real.

Based on the novel “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick, Asa Butterfield stars as Hugo, a young boy living alone in a Paris railway station while maintaining the clocks and stealing whatever supplies he needs in order to survive. One major obstacle he has to deal with is Inspector Gustav (Sacha Baron Cohen) who patrols the station with his vicious looking dog. Gustav shows no hesitation in picking up orphans and sending them straight to the orphanage which, in the kids’ eyes, seems like an unforgiving house of horrors.

Two people come to play an important role in Hugo’s life: the toy shop owner Georges Méliès (Ben Kingsley) and his spirited goddaughter Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz). They enter Hugo’s life as he continues to work on fixing an automaton he and his father, Mr. Cabret (Jude Law), were putting it back together in working order when Mr. Cabret was tragically killed in a museum fire. It is this same automaton which will draw these three together in ways none of them could ever have imagined.

By taking us back to a time when motion pictures were in their infancy, effects we now see as cheesy and simple to create come to feel as magical as they once did. Scorsese is brilliant in putting us into these characters’ shoes as we watch audiences react strongly to a film with a train which looks like it is coming straight at them, or at Buster Keaton hanging on for dear life from a clock outside a tall building. Looking at the awe which is so vivid in the faces of these children reminds us of how movies can magically draw us into another world, and this is a feeling many movies do not give us these days. In this day and age, we take the power of motion pictures for granted.

Butterfield’s performance is remarkable. Showing the pain and resourcefulness of a young boy who has lost his parents and is forced to fend for himself is no easy task, and he ended up giving one of 2011’s most underrated performances. Butterfield inhabits the character of Hugo so deeply to where, after a while, it does not feel like we are watching a performance at all.

Kudos also goes to Moretz, the star of “Kick Ass” and “Let Me In,” for adding yet another superb role to her already splendid resume. As the adventurous Isabelle, she pulls off a flawless English accent which is worth noting as we have gotten so used to actors screwing them up. The warmth of her smile onscreen is utterly genuine, and she lights up “Hugo” whenever it feels like it is getting a bit too dark.

There are other great performances to be found in “Hugo” as well. Ben Kingsley is fantastic as usual as Georges Méliès, and the late Christopher Lee has some wonderful moments as bookshop owner Monsieur Labisse. One of the big standouts in the supporting cast though is Sacha Baron Cohen who takes a break here from his “Borat” and “Bruno” mockumentaries as Inspector Gustav. He’s a hoot throughout, and his interactions with the infinitely lovely Emily Mortimer (“Lars and the Real Girl”) who plays Lisette are hilariously sweet.

Scorsese has put together a truly beautiful motion picture which deserves a bigger audience than it received while it was in theaters. The fact that more people went to see “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” than this is deeply depressing. A lot of moviegoers really hated 3D movies back in 2011, so this did not do “Hugo” any favors. But after watching it, you will find yourself believing this extra dimension is worth your money when it is put together by the best masters of filmmaking.

*** * * * out of * * * ***

David Cronenberg’s ‘The Fly’ Proves to Be More Than the Average Gross-Out Movie

Posted on July 29, 2017 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The Fly 1986 movie poster

David Cronenberg’s remake of “The Fly” was released in 1986, a year filled with everlasting cinematic classics like “Aliens,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,” “Platoon,” and “Top Gun.” More importantly, it came out during a time where remakes were very rare compared to today, and also when remakes were actually worth watching. Whereas remakes these days serve to capitalize on a known quantity or are being exploited for the sake of some potential franchise, “The Fly” is one where the director took what came before and made it completely his own.

You should all know the story by now. Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is a brilliant and eccentric scientist who has invented a set of telepods which allow objects to travel instantaneously from one pod to another. Seth shares the story of his invention with science journalist Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis) as he attempts to test teleportation on living subjects. Eventually, Seth decides to test it on himself, but he doesn’t realize a common housefly has entered the telepod with him, and the computer gets confused and ends up merging the two lifeforms at a molecular-genetic level. Seth believes the teleportation has purified his body as he discovers a strength he didn’t previously have, but it’s all a build up for a transformation which becomes all the more horrifying as “The Fly” reaches its gruesome climax.

What I love about “The Fly” is its slow build as Cronenberg makes Seth’s transformation into “Brundlefly” all the more unnerving by taking it one step at a time. We first see him engaging in an extraordinary set of gymnastics we would all love to be capable of, and then we watch as he puts an enormous amount of sugar into his coffee at a local diner. This leads Veronica to ask him, “Do you normally take coffee with your sugar?” While I expected a reply along the lines of Christian Slater’s in “True Romance” where he said, “I’m not satisfied until the spoon is standing straight up,” it is immediately clear that Seth is too involved in his own process to see the damage it is doing to his body.

Seth’s face comes to look like it is riddled with severe acne scars, and this brought about a number of PTSD flashbacks for me of when I dealt with my own acne outbreaks back in high school. But the key moment doesn’t come when Seth snaps a guy’s arm in half during an arm wrestle contest (it’s always painful to see a bone sticking out of a person’s body), but instead when he finds himself pulling out his own fingernails. Just the idea of pulling out your own fingernails is painful in itself, but seeing Seth pulling his out to where a great deal of puss explodes from his fingers proves to be even more painful than watching George Clooney getting his fingernails pulled out with a pair of plyers in “Syriana.”

At this point, I want to point out one of “The Fly’s” biggest stars which is Chris Walas. Walas won an Academy Award for Best Makeup for his work here, and it should go without saying just how much he deserved it. As Seth’s body continues to deteriorate in the midst of an unwanted, let alone unexpected, transformation, Walas makes each moment sting with a thankfulness we are not going through what this misguided scientist is. He also gives you the assurance that he and his colleagues have researched all there is to know about this kind of metamorphosis, and this makes Seth’s transformation all the more horrifying. Walas makes you believe something like this could actually happen to where you cannot help but react strongly to everything unfolding before you.

1986 was a big year in science fiction as Sigourney Weaver not only had the lead role in “Aliens,” back when it was rare for an actress to have such a role in a movie, but she also scored an Oscar nomination for her performance which was well-deserved. It’s a shame Goldblum didn’t get the same respect from the Academy as his performance is truly brilliant and wholly original. Just as Weaver dominated all those special effects in “Aliens,” Goldblum makes it clear the makeup is not doing all the acting for him as he fully inhabits Seth Brundle at every stage of his transformation. For the actor, the makeup becomes a costume which comes to inform his character throughout, and Goldblum is fearless in portraying this scientist’s descent into an unwanted fate.

Scientists in movies tend to be either over the top or exceedingly modest and timid, but Goldblum gives us one whose eccentricities make him more alluring than the average one. The actor even sells us on a wonderful moment where he explains why he wears the same suit, shirt and tie each day, and seeing his closet reminded me of a number of movie spoofs where this same situation was used for sheer comedic effect. Even as Seth becomes increasingly unpredictable, let alone unlikable, to be around, Goldblum seduces us deeply into his strange plight which brings about a change he never saw coming.

But let’s not leave out Geena Davis who shares a strong chemistry with Goldblum throughout, and this only makes sense as they were a couple at the time and were briefly married. As Veronica Quaife, Davis creates a complex character whom is eager to take advantage of Seth’s invention for the story of the century, but she soon finds herself falling for him to where she cannot tear herself away from his hideous transformation. The scene where she hugs him after getting her first glimpse at the horrific changes his body is going through brought about a loud gasp of disgust from the audience I watched this movie with at New Beverly Cinema, but it shows just how powerful her performance is. Veronica is at once mortified at how bad things are getting for Seth, and yet she can’t tear herself away from him because she is too emotionally involved to just give up on him. Davis’ commitment to her performance shows the range which would eventually earn her an Academy Award for her work in “The Accidental Tourist.”

Many see Cronenberg as a filmmaker who makes nothing more than gross-out horror movies, but they neglect to see the intelligence and thought he puts into each movie he makes. Whether it’s “The Fly” or “Rabid” or “Scanners” or “Dead Ringers” or “eXistenZ,” Cronenberg has fearlessly explored the phobias we all have of bodily transformation and disease to unforgettable effect. His movies are not designed to make you throw up, but instead to confront how our bodies deteriorate in one way or another. His remake of “The Fly” is one of his most unforgettable motion pictures as we can’t take our eyes off the screen even as Seth Brundle’s transformation becomes all the more disgusting. Its power comes from how it draws you in emotionally more than anything else, and we have as much luck at disconnecting ourselves from Seth’s unnerving plight as Veronica does.

Watching “The Fly” again, it is clearer than ever that this movie is about a tragic romance more than anything else. Heck, Shakespeare would have been proud to have written a tragedy like the one presented here. While much of the attention on this remake is forever directed at the makeup design which still grosses audiences out to this very day, it is the romance between Seth and Veronica which drives the story more than anything else. The two of them want to tear themselves away from one another, but deep down neither of them can truly bare to do so, and they are the kind of couple U2 sang their song “With or Without You” about.

If there’s anything wrong with “The Fly,” it’s the ending as things are resolved in a way which is not altogether satisfying. We are left with questions which would not be answered until “The Fly II,” and while that sequel had its moments, it’s no surprise how it paled in comparison to Cronenberg’s remake.

Horror movie remakes are a dime a dozen these days, but Cronenberg’s “The Fly” remains one of the best and most visceral. It is still the director’s biggest commercial hit to date, and I prefer to see this as proof of how his unique style of filmmaking can reach a wider audience than we typically realize. All these years later, Cronenberg remains one of the most original filmmakers working today, and we eagerly await his next cinematic opus with great anticipation.

*** * * * out of * * * ***