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

101 Films presents Wayne Kramer's The Cooler, title number 006 in the 101 Films Black Label range. This Limited Edition version is limited to 3000 copies and includes a slipcase and a booklet.

The Blu-ray 1080P transfer is housed on a dual-layered disc with a modest bitrate. It can look unusually clunky with, either a poor source, or the production itself utilized ineffective stock. In its favor the appearance is consistent in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and is clean but the thickness exports no visible depth. It looked strong on my system with colors gaining some richness. Overall, not the height of the format in terms of image quality but until we can compare to another transfer - this may be how the film looks. 

The film is presented in a 2.0 stereo, with a 16-bit linear PCM or a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track as an option. The film has some latter aggressive action and is filled with casino chatter, clicking slots and rolling dice etc. that carry notable separation. The film features another wonderful score by Mark Isham (The Gingerbread Man, Little Man Tate, Of Mice and Men, Crossing Over, In the Valley of Elah, A River Runs Through It) sounding marvelous in supporting the narrative, characters and moods of The Cooler. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles on this Region 'B' Blu-ray.

101 stacked the Blu-ray. with two commentaries - the first with director Wayne Kramer and composer Mark Isham and they explore a lot of the composers process and choices (a melancholy saxophone etc.) and the second commentary with Kramer again and cinematographer Jim Whitaker. They discuss much of the production details including trying to get Wayne Newton for the Paul Sorvino part, the nudity and rating of the film, and much more including tackling many difficulties of shooting in Las Vegas on a limited budget (NOTE: I did hear two sharp audio dropouts in this commentary around the 1 hour mark). A big extra is, the almost 2-hour, Lady Luck: The Making of The Cooler feature documentary on the making of the film, featuring director and writer Wayne Kramer, writer Frank Hannah, actors Alec Baldwin, Arthur Nascarella and Shawn Hatosy, producers Michael A. Pierce and Elliot Lewis Rosenblatt, composer Mark Isham and costume designer Kristin M. Burke. It's very interesting in how this impressive evolved from meager beginnings. There is a 20-minute Anatomy of a Scene featurette following details of one specific sequence in the film. There are extensive storyboard comparisons, a 1/4 hour deleted scene, a trailer and promo. The package has a limited edition booklet: includes 'In the Shadow of Negativity' by director Wayne Kramer and 'Heaven and Hell: The Cooler and Hollywood's Vegas' by Scott Harrison. There is also a second disc DVD.

This is a really impressive film evoking Paul Thomas Anderson's Hard Eight with the lives of characters within the Vegas casino milieu. The 'Lady Luck' element, albeit fantasy, is not overplayed but sets of the backdrop to relationships, conflicts, self discovery and many other interpersonal themes. The leads are very strong - William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin and Maria Bello as is the support. The Blu-ray with its many extras and commentaries offers a lot, despite the middling appearance, and I think The Cooler was a fabulous selection to bring to 101's Black Label series. Recommnded!

Gary Tooze