Angela de Marco (Michelle Pfeiffer, Scarface) is married to Frank “Cucumber” de Marco (Alec Baldwin, Miami Blues), who is murdered for having an affair with the mistress of mob boss Tony “The Tiger” Russo (Dean Stockwell, Blue Velvet). Following Frank’s sudden departure, Angela trades her Long Island environs for New York City, catching the eye of Tony, and the FBI, in the process. As Angela begins a casual tryst with undercover FBI agent Mike Downey (Matthew Modine, Full Metal Jacket), the case against Tony continues to mount, resulting in a bullet-ridden climax.

Directed by Jonathan Demme (Swimming to Cambodia) and based on an original screenplay by Barry Strugatz and Mark R. Burns (She-Devil), Married to the Mob is a deft, often very funny, marriage of crime conventions and romantic comedy. Featuring many Demme collaborators on the crew—including cinematographer Tak Fujimoto (The Silence of the Lambs), editor Craig McKay (Philadelphia), production designer Kristi Zea (Beloved) and a score by David Byrne, of Talking Heads—alongside an incredible supporting cast that includes the likes of Mercedes Ruehl (The Warriors), Oliver Platt (The Ice Harvest), Paul Lazar (Philadelphia) and Joan Cusack (Broadcast News), Married to the Mob is a rousing display of eclectic talent in American moviemaking of the 1980s. Cinématographe is proud to present the definitive edition of Jonathan Demme’s genre-bending masterpiece, in a new 4K restoration, marking its world UHD debut.

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Video Quality

Cinématographe presents Married to the Mob with an exquisite 2160p/HDR transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration of the Original 35mm Camera Negative. This film was last released on Blu-Ray courtesy of Fun City Editions in 2022, which was derived from a 2K scan of the Interpositive. We haven’t personally seen that release, but there were criticisms regarding the encoding and other fleeting issues. We have seen and own the 2014 Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber, and there was definite room for improvement. The most immediate upgrade is the utilization of Dolby Vision for refined color output that immensely benefits the costumes and production design. The design elements are represented with the loving precision that accompanies HDR. The depth on display will dazzle you at every turn.

The natural film grain remains intact without any signs of unnecessary manipulation, as everything resolves consistently. Even brighter moments avoid spiking, swarming, or other errant encoding issues. Black levels are solid with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are firm with no blooming popping up. There is a world of fine detail to soak in thanks to the thoughtful restoration efforts. The texture present in the flashy costumes and within the environment allows this film to feel more three-dimensional than ever. We did not spot any lingering print damage or stray specks that would drag down the restoration. The encoding appears to be clear of any digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances. Cinématographe has knocked another one out of the park.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with the original DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track which opens up quite nicely. One of our favorite aspects of the film is the music utilized to establish the playful tone of the story, and each piece springs forth from the speakers with ideal fidelity. It deftly intermingles with the dialogue, which comes through crisp and clear without being clipped by competing elements. A few bustling moments wake up the activity in the speakers without turning into a sonic sludge, as every noise is capably delineated. All sounds along the journey are precisely executed so that nothing ever feels unnatural. This presentation is clear of any hiss, popping, or other age-related wear and tear. Cinématographe has done some brilliant work with this one to make it sound as strong as possible. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Limited Edition version of Married to the Mob comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer slipcase that opens up to a MediaBook that includes a bound booklet featuring new text essays by film critics Mitchell Beaupre, Aisha Harris, Nick Newman and David Stewart, author of There’s No Going Back: The Life and Work of Jonathan Demme; plus select archival photo reproductions. These essays delve into the film from multiple angles and provide a great analysis in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Disc One (4K UHD)

Audio Commentaries: There are two new commentary tracks with one of the leads and a film expert, which allow you to dig into the film from a personal perspective and an analytical angle. There are some great insights into the production of the film, the career of Jonathan Demme, the thematic underpinnings, details about the shooting locations, the background of the performers, and much more that put things into context.
- Audio Commentary #1: Actor Matthew Modine, moderated by Cinématographe’s Justin LaLiberty
- Audio Commentary #2: Podcaster and writer Sean Fennessey

Disc Two (Blu-Ray)

Audio Commentaries
- Audio Commentary #1: Actor Matthew Modine, moderated by Cinématographe’s Justin LaLiberty
- Audio Commentary #2: Podcaster and writer Sean Fennessey

Interview with Actor Matthew Modine: A new 15-minute interview with the actor who talks about where he was in his career when he took on this film, the direction he received from Demme, working with his fellow performers, the atmosphere on set, moments he fought for, the film’s legacy, and more.

Interview with Actor Paul Lazar: A new 18-minute interview with the performer in which he discusses his friendship with Jonathan Demme, getting to know more about his character, the source material that inspired the material, what he tried to bring to the movie as a New Yorker, the vibe that Demme brought to the set, and more.

Interview with Writers Barry Strugatz and Mark R. Burns: A new 16-minute interview with the screenwriters in which they discuss the inspiration for the story, deciding on the tone for the film, the journey to the film being produced, working with Jonathan Demme, the casting of various characters, and more.

Interview with Producer Edward Saxon: A new 23-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses his background, his relationship with Jonathan Demme, the freedom he got during the production, the casting of the characters, and more.

Interview with Storyboard Artist Johl Dahl: A new 14-minute interview with the artist who discusses his work with Demme, collaborating with the cinematographer, what he loves about the film business, and more.

Everyone Deserves A Second Chance – Video Essay by Chris O’Neill: A 14-minute visual essay is provided in which the insightful film historian discusses the work of Jonathan Demme, the place of women in his movies, the dynamics between the characters, and more.

Wrong Reel Podcast Episode 616 – Restoring a Comedy Classic: Married to the Mob (1:14:50)

Still Gallery of Archival and Publicity Materials

Theatrical Trailer (2:09)

Final Thoughts

Married to the Mob is a capable blend of wacky comedy and mob violence that master filmmaker Jonathan Demme navigates with the utmost confidence. Michelle Pfeiffer is one of our greats, and she brings a charm to this role that is infectious. The ensemble supports her effortlessly, as every performer is suited to their character. It is a clever narrative that will keep you laughing throughout. Cinématographe has delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a splendid A/V presentation and a great collection of special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is the ultimate presentation. Recommended

Married to the Mob is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Cinématographe has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.