Academy Award nominee Edward James Olmos (1988, Best Actor, Stand and Deliver) and Maria Conchita Alonso (Colors) star in this emotional drama about a couple trying to make their business work and the mysterious drifter who comes into their lives and changes them completely. Nick (Arie Verveen, The Thin Red Line) appears in Joe (Olmos) and Betty’s (Alonso) Jersey City fish store while running away from the cops. The couple takes Nick in, and he inspires Joe and ignites passions in Betty. Neither Nick nor Betty want to hurt Joe, but their sexual attraction may be too strong to deny. When Joe and Betty’s son, Danny (Steven Schub, The Thirteenth Floor), returns home after failing as a stand-up comedian, he sees what is going on and wants Nick out. CAUGHT is a gripping drama filled with powerful performances.
For thoughts on Caught (1996), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/S1McjAZp5Gs?si=jCPGWS26nfGcG95H&t=5082]
Video Quality
Caught debuts on Blu-Ray in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio from a master that looks quite spiffy. Sony handles the remastering of all of their titles, and given the level of quality, it would not surprise us if this was remastered in the years leading up to the release. This HD upgrade is handled with care from beginning to end. Colors are deep and nuanced as they bring out the full promise of all the hues. Highlights stay firm, and black levels are pretty deep without any noticeable blocking or compression artifacts. The natural film grain resolves consistently and looks lovely while allowing discrete details to be on full display. Every element stands out with great clarity, especially in clothing and elements of the production design. Facial features are detailed with natural skin tones. This Blu-Ray is a welcome presentation from Sony.
Audio Quality
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings us this Blu-Ray with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that handles this material well. The environmental sounds of the city are impressively defined and given a nice presence in the speakers. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being drowned out by any of the music or environmental effects. The score from Chris Botti succeeds in establishing the mood of the film with these notes giving depth within the mix. This is a track that keeps things natural to the sonic intent. Sony has done a fantastic job with this one. There are no subtitles provided.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on this disc.
Final Thoughts
Caught is an engaging drama that balances domestic dynamics with pure, unhindered lust quite admirably throughout most of the runtime. The movie succeeds largely on the performance from Maria Conchita Alonso with her careful depiction of a woman who has sidelined her desires for far too long. Edward James Olmos is his typically great self, conveying a quiet weariness before exploding with emotion when the moment calls for it. Other members of the ensemble bring things down ever so slightly, but the way in which things unfold is both captivating and surprising in some regards. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a really good A/V presentation and nothing in the way of special features. Fans of the film will be thrilled to finally have this available in high definition. Recommended
Caught can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 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.
