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Unforgettable [Blu-ray]
(John Dahl, 1996)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: Dino De Laurentiis Company Video: Kino Lorber
Disc: Region: 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player) Runtime: 1:56:47.542 Disc Size: 23,102,707,177 bytes Feature Size: 20,254,758,912 bytes Video Bitrate: 17.95 Mbps Chapters: 8 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: September 15th, 2015
Video: Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1956 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1956 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1658 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1658 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles: English, None
Extras:
• Making-of Featurette (5:45)
Bitrate:
Description: What is it like to enter into the mind of a sadistic killer, experiencing his every thought... and the thoughts of his victims during their last, terror-stricken moments? From John Dahl, the acclaimed director of Red Rock West comes this fast-paced, stylish thriller that propels you into a hallucinatory realm of heart-stopping suspense that never lets up. Accused of murdering his wife years ago in a blind, alcoholic rage, David Krane (Ray Liotta, Goodfellas) is desperate to clear his name and discover the identity of the real killer. When local researcher Martha Briggs (Linda Fiorentino, The Last Seduction) unveils an experimental drug that allows the user to relive the memories of another person, living or dead, Krane sees his chance… injecting himself, he embarks on a mind-bending quest for the truth that will plunge him into a realm of physical and psychic peril beyond his wildest nightmares. The stellar cast includes Peter Coyote, Christopher McDonald, David Paymer, Kim Cattrall and Kim Coates.
The Film:
Iconoclastic director John Dahl used a screenplay by John Geddie as the basis for this far-fetched story of a man -- suspected of killing his wife -- who borrows murder victims' memories to track the real culprit. Ray Liotta plays Dr. David Krane, a Seattle medical examiner charged with murdering his wife Cara (Caroline Elliot). Charges are dropped because a police officer mishandled evidence. Krane has recovered from alcoholism and is obsessed with proving his innocence. While investigating a store shooting, he discovers clues that convince him that the murderer also killed his wife. Krane attends a lecture by researcher Dr. Martha Briggs (Linda Fiorentino), who is studying a technique to transfer memory that involves injecting rats with the spinal fluid of other rats combined with a serum that she has perfected. Krane steals the serum, breaks into a police evidence room and steals his wife's spinal fluid, and injects himself, even though Briggs has warned that the technique may lead to heart attacks in humans. It's not until Krane has injected himself with the fluid of the store shooting victims that he gets a clear picture of the presumed killer, Eddie Dutton (Kim Coates.) Excerpt from MRQE located HERE
The Last Seduction looked like a career maker for director Dahl and star Fiorentino, but four long years on, this dire effort suggests it could have been a flash in the pan. Liotta is Dr David Krane, a forensic scientist in the coroner's department. An ex-alcoholic, he's still suspected of his wife's murder, a night he can't remember but will never forget. Then he meets neuro-biologist Martha Briggs (Fiorentino), who claims to have identified a serum which enables her to transfer the memory of lab rats, and the movie takes a terminal credibility dive. Inspired by the rats, and undeterred by potentially lethal side effects, Krane volunteers as a human guinea pig, sampling memory cells taken from his wife's autopsy and sundry victims of a serial killer. Bill Geddie's script is a lame whodunit with a lunatic gimmick and a bad dose of the flashbacks. Fiorentino does her best, but her hands are tied. Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. The single-layered Kino Lorber Blu-ray of Unforgettable is not particularly remarkable although it is improved over SD. Contrast seems adept and there is some decent detail in the few close-ups. Another positive is that it I consistent and reasonably clean. It is in 1080P and is probably a decent replication of the original film - which has san overall dark look and tone. I'm afraid it would never be used as a 'demo' but still provided a reasonable and watchable video presentation without any highs or lows.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :Kino offer a DTS-HD Master in 5.1 surround at 1956 kbps and a similar encode in 2.0 channel. There are a few very punchy separations and the film is rife with effect sounds. The depth is intense at times. The original music is by Christopher Young (Copycat, Rounders, Runaway Jury) and it's excellent adding further to the atmosphere of desperation. Of course you can also hear Nat King Cole's beautiful rendition of the title. There are optional English subtitles and m y Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.
Extras : Kino add some supplements - a vintage, and short, Making-of featurette, plus some teasing sound bytes by the likes of Liotta, Fiorentino, Coyote, Cattrall, John Dahl and others, plus about 20-minutes of Unedited B-Roll and, lastly a trailer.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze September 9th, 2015
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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.
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