Screen greats Richard Gere (Internal Affairs) and Kim Basinger (L.A. Confidential) sizzle in a searing action thriller of passion and murder, No Mercy. Gere stars as Eddie Jillette, a tough, uncompromising cop whose vow to avenge his partner’s death draws him into a torrid affair with the only witness, the murderer’s girlfriend. Basinger is the sultry Cajun beauty Michel, caught in the war between Gere and vicious crimelord Losado (Jeroen Krabbé, The Fugitive), the man who possesses her. Jillette’s vendetta takes him from the streets of Chicago to the violent underworld of New Orleans, where he abducts Michel to flush out Losado. He escapes into the treacherous bayou with his unwilling captive, but as their pursuers close in and the danger mounts, so does their lust for each other. Out of time and out of luck, Jillette confronts Losado in an explosive climax where there is…No Mercy. Directed by Richard Pearce (Heartland, Country), written by James Carabatsos (Heartbreak Ridge, Hamburger Hill) and co-starring George Dzundza (Basic Instinct), William Atherton (Die Hard), Terry Kinney (The Firm), Bruce McGill (Law Abiding Citizen) and Ray Sharkey (Wise Guys).
For thoughts on No Mercy, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/lhmNYo6Vx6c?t=3663]
Video Quality
No Mercy comes to Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer in its original 1.78:1 that is mostly pleasing from Kino Classics. This film previously made its debut on the format a couple of years ago from Mill Creek. While I have never seen that particular disc, history would have us believe that it is likely derived from the same older master, only presented with a better encode with less compression artifacts. This transfer will not be used to demo your fancy TV, but it holds up as a solid representation of the film which shows minimal signs of damage or digital tinkering. A slight speckling of nicks and scratches is so mild that it is unlikely to detract from the overall experience. .
The transfer looks clear and detailed considering its with only a couple of instances exhibiting density fluctuations in the grain field. Colors are a highlight when it comes to saturation with a natural presentation that shows off the locales. Black levels are not too shabby in their depth, even if a few moments struggle with delineation. Image quality is overall stable with some detail in the production design and texture of clothing. Thankfully, you will not be left gazing at unsightly instances of compression artifacts or other digital anomalies in the transfer. The presentation is one that holds up just fine, and it likely bests the Mill Creek disc.
Audio Quality
Kino Classics brings us this new Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that more than gets the job done. Dialogue holds up very nicely, coming through clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The environmental elements are delineated nicely within the speakers, even when the action kicks more into gear. The sounds of certain kinetic moments bring some heft to the mix in the low end. The soundtrack and score sound great within the mix. You will not hear any weakness in the upper registers or anywhere else when it comes to fidelity. Kino Classics has delivered an enjoyable track here. There are optional English subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Fire with Fire – Interview with Actor Jeroen Krabbé: An 11-minute virtual interview with the actor who plays Losado who recounts his early attempt at breaking into Hollywood, the disastrous production of a different movie that lead to No Mercy, working with director Richard Pearce, how the hair style and clothing enhance the character, the legacy of the film and more.
- Trailers: The two-minute trailer is provided for No Mercy. There are also trailers provided for The Real McCoy, Code of Silence, Black Moon Rising, Murphy’s Law, Wanted: Dead or Alive and Bird On A Wire.
Final Thoughts
No Mercy fits comfortably in the pantheon of ‘80s action-thrillers as a fine example of how to show the audience a good time. Viewers do not come to this one for a groundbreaking narrative; they eat up this one due to the terrific chemistry between Richard Gere and Kim Basinger. The pair make a dynamic screen presence which captivates from beginning to end. The movie around them is serviceable, but sometimes that is enough. Kino Classics has brought this film to Blu-Ray with a good A/V presentation and a cool new interview. If you are a fan of the performers, this will not steer you wrong. Recommended .
No Mercy will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on January 17, 2023.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics 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.
