One of the most universally acclaimed films of its time upon release, Before Night Falls appeared on over 75 “Ten Best” lists and features Academy Award® nominee Javier Bardem in a “mesmerizing and inspired performance!” (Rex Reed, New York Observer). Julian Schnabel (Basquiat) directed this incredible journey through the life and work of the late Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas. Victimized by a government that banned his books and jailed him for a crime he did not commit, Reinaldo endured unspeakable persecution in a courageous stand against censorship and oppression. Without a country but not without integrity, he fled to America where he continued to fight for personal expression and produced a stirring body of work. Featuring a dual performance by Johnny Depp, Before Night Falls is a tribute to the liberating power of art….and one man’s undying passion for life.
For thoughts on Before Night Falls, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Before Night Falls gets a terrific upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a new 1080p transfer derived from a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative. This effort from visionary artist Julian Schnabel takes on a very intimate and gritty appearance, and the transfer realizes the natural film grain without any compression artifacts or other such digital anomalies. This disc wonderfully represents the Mexican shooting locations with the clarity and complexity you desire.
There are elements in the environments and the natural production design that are easily visible for the first time ever on home entertainment. The Director of Photography mentions in the commentary that they used a chocolate filter to get the aesthetic they wanted, and this seems to be showcased beautifully here. Skin tones are nuanced and consistent, and the presentation offers up deep black levels free from crush. There are some deep colors that enrich the film in a visceral manner. Warner Archive typically handles films much older than this one, but we are thrilled to see this one given such a carefully considered transfer.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix in the original mixture of English and Spanish (forced English subtitles for non-English dialogue) that represents this movie well. Despite being a more straightforward drama, there are some impressive environmental effects such as the waves of the ocean or yelling from the jail cells that flesh out this space. The score from Carter Burwell sounds terrific as it delivers every note with perfect fidelity. Dialogue stays grounded in the center channel for most of the film, but it sleeks through the surround speakers when necessary. This audio presentation is a great effort for the film. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: A commentary track is provided featuring audio excerpts from Director Julian Schnabel, Actor Javier Bardem, Screenwriter Lazaro Gomez-Carriles, Composer Carter Burwell and Co-Director of Photography Xavier Perez Grobet. All of these subjects give great insights into the development of this story for the screen, the look of the filming, the shooting locations, and much more.
- Excerpts from Improper Conduct 1983 Interview with Reinaldo Arenas: A seven-minute interview excerpt from the documentary in which the real Arenas discusses his time in Cuba, the persecution of homosexuals, and more.
- Behind-The-Scenes Home Movie by Lola Schnabel: A nearly eight-minute home movie in which Julian Schnabel’s daughter narrates some footage she captured from the production of Before Night Falls.
- Little Notes on Painting Artwork by Julian Schnabel: A 15-minute interview with Schnabel in which he discusses his artwork and delivers some interesting anecdotes that reveal more about his background.
- Original Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Before Night Falls is a powerful drama from Julian Schnabel that captures the life of an incredible artist with grace and humanity. Through the life of this one individual, we explore so much of life in Cuba during the middle of the twentieth century and the nightmare it was for so many due to heinous government policies. Javier Bardem is every bit as incredible as the performer we know him today, and the way in which he realizes this character over such as span of years is unbelievable. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a 5-star A/V presentation and a great selection of special features. If you have not seen this one yet, definitely make time for this one. Recommended
Before Night Falls can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers. The film will be released on October 24, 2023.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.