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H D - S E N S E I

A view on Blu-ray by Gary W. Tooze

Report to the Commissioner [Blu-ray]

 

(Milton Katselas, 1975)

 

 

Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Frankovich Productions

Video: Kino Lorber

 

Disc:

Region: 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:52:44.257 

Disc Size: 22,511,556,456 bytes

Feature Size: 21,958,582,272 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.93 Mbps

Chapters: 8

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: July 7th, 2015

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1617 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1617 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

 

Subtitles:

English, None

 

Extras:

• Original Theatrical Trailer (2:21)

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: This taut, action-loaded thriller set in New York City stars Michael Moriarty (The Stuff) as a naive rookie cop whose youthful idealism thrusts him into an interdepartmental power play leading to the death of another young officer, whose deep undercover work has led her to move in with a handsome drug czar (Tony King, Bucktown). Yaphet Kotto (Midnight Run) is unforgettable as Crunch Blackstone, Moriarty's hardboiled partner. Cult filmmaker Milton Katselas (When You Comin Back, Red Ryder?) directed this realistic police drama, shot on location in the gritty streets of 1970s Manhattan and featuring an incredible cast of stars and future stars that includes Susan Blakely, Hector Elizondo, William Devane, Richard Gere, Vic Tayback and Bob Balaban.

 

 

The Film:

A young NYPD detective learns (the hard way) about the politics that govern a big-city police department. He kills a lady-detective/colleague whose undercover garb concealed her profession and he gets caught up in a department cover-up.

Excerpt from MRQE located HERE

 

The sedentary title works against this police film, which is in the SERPICO and PRINCE OF THE CITY vein. Police commissioner Elliott gives underling Grover the assignment of finding out why Blakely, an undercover police officer, was killed when the apartment she shared with narcotics czar King was raided. In a flashback we learn that Moriarty, a young detective, was on the case and didn't know Blakely was working for the cops. The investigation is bogged down in a series of bureaucratic maneuvers, and the film becomes more of a character study of the men behind the badges as we meet dedicated cops Elizondo and McGuire.

Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE

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

Report to the Commissioner arrives on Blu-ray looking fairly gritty and authentic for a mid 70's film.  The transfer seems typical of Kino Lorber with a 1080P, single-layered, rendering with a modest but supportive bitrate. The visuals are thick but export some depth. Contrast is a shade dusty but this may be in-line with the original appearance. It is in the accurate 1.85:1 aspect ratio but the transfer, or more appropriately - the film, doesn't have any exceptional visual proclivities. The presentation is 1080P and pretty clean with only a few modest speckles. Nothing to complain about - but nothing to extoll.

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognize Richard Gere?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

The DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel at 1617 kbps does a competent job of exporting the film's occasionally aggressive sound requirements - gunplay, fighting, bar sounds etc. . The Elmer Bernstein (Kings of the Sun, Hud, To Kill a Mockingbird, Summer and Smoke) score really doesn't suit the film and neither does Vernon Burch's Loving You Gets Better With Time and Chances. It sounds crisp with some depth via the lossless - but doesn't approach the gritty feel of the film, IMO. There are optional English subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

 

Extras :

Only a trailer.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I probably had too high expectations for Report To The Commissioner. It kept my attention, but I wasn't very satisfied with the content. It does have some decent cop-related action. I don't blame the Kino Lorber Blu-ray. It gave me a reasonable presentation. I just wasn't into it for one reason or another. So, also being bare-bones, I would suggest a pass. 

Gary Tooze

June 29th, 2015

 

About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.

Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction.

Gary's Home Theatre:

60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD

Oppo Digital BDP-83 Universal Region FREE Blu-ray/SACD Player
Momitsu - BDP-899 Region FREE Blu-ray player
Marantz SA8001 Super Audio CD Player
Marantz SR7002 THX Select2 Surround Receiver
Tannoy DC6-T (fronts) + Energy (centre, rear, subwoofer) speakers (5.1)

APC AV 1.5 kVA H Type Power Conditioner 120V

Gary W. Tooze

 

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