NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Cinématographe Blu-ray (January 2024): Cinématographe have transferred John Dahl's Red Rock West to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 4K Restoration of the 35mm Interpositive with original stereo soundtrack". We reviewed the bare-bones Concorde European Blu-ray back in 2016 HERE - which we can now dismiss. I'm quite surprised that all three 1080P video transfers have produced a different image. Generally peaking I think the newest Cinématographe is the best with a slightly tighter image and cooler flesh tones. It also shows a tad more information in the 1.85:1 frame. The Umbrella shows deeper colors but I suspect a touch of boosting. I think that unless you are extremely discerning - you'd be happy with either of these large Blu-ray package video quality of Dahl's memorable Neo-Noir.

Newcomer Cinématographe is described as "Taking its name from the Lumière Brothers invention of the same name, Cinématographe is a new sub-label from Vinegar Syndrome that seeks to fill gaps in the canon of American cinema. Offering a mix of auteur driven studio films produced during the New Hollywood era of the late 1960s and 70s all the way through the indie boom of the 1980s and 90s, Cinématographe will explore the wide breadth of American moviemaking, spanning numerous genres and scales of production. Curated and produced by Vinegar Syndrome's Justin LaLiberty, each limited edition release will be housed in a specially designed, cloth-bound, media book with embossed foil titles and custom molded disc trays accompanied by a slipcase featuring newly commissioned art and an individually numbered J-card."

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Cinématographe Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Cinématographe use a DTS-HD Master stereo track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is not very technically robust but the bass response for violence - guns, cars etc. - is effective via this lossless transfer. The Umbrella sounds very similar. Red Rock West has a score by William Olvis (Red Rock West and Dahl's Kill Me Again he has almost exclusively TV work on his resume.) The film also has bcground music by Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, Toby Keith, The Kentucky Headhunters, and Sammy Kershaw, and in the closing credits we hear Dwight Yoakam's "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere". It all sounds consistent via the lossless transfers. Cinématographe offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray. The Umbrella has optional English subtitles and the case states it is Region 'B' but is indeed region FREE.

Both Umbrella and Cinématographe Blu-rays offers a new commentaries. Umbrella's has Mondo Digital's Nathaniel Thompson (DVD Delirium) - who is always excellent and digging beneath the surface of film productions (settings, characters etc.) - a lot on the Dahl brothers with quotes, performers, how this is the middle film of a loose Neo-Noir trilogy by Dahl and much more. Cinématographe offer a new commentary by historian Alain Silver (co-author of From the Moment They Met It Was Murder: Double Indemnity and the Rise of Film Noir) and filmmaker Christopher Coppola who is also the brother of Nicolas Cage. They describe the film as "old school" with comparisons to classic noir (1940-1960), the sincerity of the 'Michael' (Cage) character, Dahl's second effort of the genre, Cage's adoration of Robert Mitchum and similarities in Red Rock West, the budget, Propaganda Films production company, and much more. I enjoyed it and hearing Coppola's unusual input specifics (ex. blue eyes) and Silver's more grounded expertise although they seem to argue about plot details unnecessarily. Umbrella include a second, older, commentary by with director John Dahl, writer Rick Dahl and editor Scott Chestnut. Both Blu-rays offer an archival interview with editor Scott Chestnut for 20-minutes and "Caged In" a 10-minute archival video essay by Petros Patsilivas. The Umbrella has a 1/2 hour interview with John Dahl, and offers a new dozen-minute video essay; "The Man from Rhode Island: The Life and Times of J.T. Walsh" about the American character actor by John Harrison and an 18-minute 'John Dahl' trailer reel. Cinématographe include new interviews with director and co-writer John Dahl and another with, his brother, co-writer Rick Dahl - running 50-minutes in total. "Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures" is a new 14-minute video essay by Chris O'Neill.

Umbrella's Collector's Edition LE appears to be out-of-print but offered an original poster art rigid case, custom artwork slipcase, labeled Red Rock West is a 48-page perfect bound book with new content written by Alexander Heller-Nicolas, John Harrison and more, 8 artcards, an A3 reversible poster. It is available in a standard Blu-ray edition now.

The Cinématographe Blu-ray package has a firm case with a 40-page hard-bound media-book that has color images and essays by writers Jourdain Searles, Keith Phipps and Justin LaLiberty. It's a real beauty.

John Dahl's Red Rock West is the best Neo-Noir of the 90s. It has great characters; portrayed by Lara Flynn Boyle - as the femme fatale, buff Cage as the decent everyman mistaken for a hitman (one of his best performances), Dennis Hopper as said mercenary assassin, and J.T. Walsh as the corrupt Sheriff. It is totally deserved of the two large Blu-ray packages by Umbrella and, the exciting new label, Cinématographe. After his remarkable experiences, steeped in corruption, Cage's Michael states from the train he is hopping out of town - "Adios, Red Rock". Perfection. I am thrilled to own both packages and it seems a film that is a must own Blu-ray - pick up the Cinématographe while it is still available! Strongly recommended.

Gary Tooze