Sony Pictures Classics 30th Anniversary 4K UHD Collection Review

In celebration of Sony Pictures Classics’ 30-year anniversary, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is proud to bring eleven of their acclaimed library favorites to 4K Ultra HD disc, exclusively within the SONY PICTURES CLASSICS 4K ULTRA HD COLLECTION. This must-own set includes iconic award-winning masterpieces from world-renowned filmmakers, unforgettable performances from global luminaries, and fan-favorite stories that have resonated across the years: ORLANDO, THE CELLULOID CLOSET, THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN, RUN LOLA RUN, SLC PUNK, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE, VOLVER, SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK, STILL ALICE and CALL ME BY YOUR NAME. Each film is presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range.

For thoughts on The Celluloid Closet, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Devil’s Backbone, Still Alice and Call Me By Your Name, please check out our discussions on The Video Attic here.

For thoughts on Orlando, The City Of Lost Children, Run Lola Run, SLC Punk, Volver and Synecdoche, New York, please check out our discussions on The Video Attic here.

For a full overview of the Sony Pictures Classic 30th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Collection, please check out our GVN unboxing:

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Video Quality

All eleven films in the Sony Pictures Classic 30th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Collection are given a 2160p 4K UHD upgrade with Dolby Vision that serve as a striking step up from their previous physical media releases. The set does not include Blu-Ray versions or digital copies of the films, so be sure that you are 4K UHD capable if you are looking into this set. A couple of these films, The Celluloid Closet and SLC Punk, have never even been released on Blu-Ray previously, so it is a treat to have them jump straight to 4K UHD.

The previous Blu-Ray releases of the remaining films were presented to varying degrees of success on Blu-Ray. Most films were released by Sony themselves while The Devil’s Backbone was released through The Criterion Collection. Compared to something like the Columbia Classics sets which feature movies as far back as the 1930s in need of meticulous restorations, this 30-year-old label is putting a spotlight on titles that are enhanced by a 4K scan of the source material but not going to offer up night-and-day restorations due to the relative stability of the elements. Nearly all of these features were shot on film, but there are some like Still Alice which were captured digitally. There is no specific mention of specific new remasters, but it would be logical to assume there was a mixture of adding a HDR/Dolby Vision pass to preexisting 4K remasters and some new 4K scans.

Whether we are talking movies shot on film or shot on digital, enhanced master or fresh new scans, every title in this collection provides a reason to rejoice. Sony has taken this ragtag collection of arthouse gems and blown past any previous releases with these new 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs. With so many films to cover, I will group certain titles together in an effort to not duplicate descriptions while pointing out noticeable differences. The overarching takeaway for this collection is that all eleven transfers are representative of the highest level of quality you could hope for from these films, and Sony has done cinephiles a real service by releasing this into the world.

To begin our journey we look at the oldest title, Orlando, along with the whimsical adventure The City Of Lost Children. As with all of these titles, the exact source of the transfer is unknown, but we do know that Orlando did receive a 4K restoration in 2010 which is mentioned in the archival commentary track. The City Of Lost Children has been in need of a remaster for quite a while, and it appears that finally happened in some capacity. Both of these films are visually sumptuous experiences which these new 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs bring to life famously. The Dolby Vision grading proves to be an all-star facet for these titles as it allows for a greater command of contrast and some gorgeous hues radiating off the screen. Highlights are more firmly defined without ever blooming, and black levels dig deep without any unsightly nuisances such as digital noise or compression artifacts. The City Of Lost Children was especially lacking with black levels on the previous Blu-Ray, and you get so much more shadow detail with this upgrade.

The cinematography is simply gorgeous with environments replete with textures. There is nothing in the way of specks or print damage that may have survived any remaster. The films are immensely clean and clear while always maintaining the filmic quality of the pictures with well resolved film grain that gives way to sumptuous details. There are small facets within the clothing and production design that were previously undefined that are suddenly on full display with this transfer. This picture displays an enchanting amount of depth to the image which gives way to a pleasing sense of scale within the various locales. These two films are among the highlights from the set due to the combination of visually splendid material and how much they come alive on the 4K UHD format.

The Celluloid Closet, SLC Punk and Run, Lola, Run are next up with the former two making a major leap from DVD to 4K UHD Blu-Ray with tremendous 2160p/Dolby Vision transfers which allow the films to look better than anyone would have imagined. None of these titles are the first that come to mind when it comes to 4K UHD potential, but now that we have them we would never want to see them any other way. The Celluloid Closet is the biggest oddity as the lone documentary which does everything in its power to deliver a quality presentation. The interview segments are textured and filmic, and the clips utilized seem to be in the best shape possible for this period in time. It’s not a traditional showcase, but it looks great. SLC Punk is likewise a film with limited aesthetic appeal, but it ends up really surprising with its stunning picture. Those stuck with the old DVD will not be able to contain your giddiness

This film and Run, Lola, Run both have characters with bold hair color, and this is the first way you will definitely see the expert color saturation. All of the environments, clothing, graffiti, etc really know how to play well with the format. The animation segments of Lola have certainly never made such an impression. The only time Run, Lola, Run does not look capital “G” great is when you are contending with the limitations of the source. There are some shots that are taken from a video source not conducive to crisp and clear images, but that aligns with the creative intentions for the film. By and large, these films that have never been thought of to be the pinnacle of visual splendor hold their own against some more traditionally wondrous films. These three films are as close to their version of perfect as you could demand.

The new 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon stands as a unique offering within this set simply because it has actually been on 4K UHD Blu-Ray for six years. As has become routine in the past couple of years, Sony has been revisiting many of their early 4K UHD titles and providing them with Dolby Vision in addition to the standard HDR10. As we have said on titles like Bram Stoker’s Dracula or Men In Black, these new transfers are more about refinement rather than a mind-blowing difference. As the most popular title in this collection, and one of the visually-minded films of this century, you want this experience to look the absolute best it can.

The Dolby Vision allows this stunning film to reach new heights on all fronts. While fine detail largely remains unchanged, the precision with which the disc executes contrast, color and grain refinement is immediately evident. Colors are more rich, natural and accurate to what was intended by the creative team. The highlights in the film are more defined with whites pure and balanced with no occurrences of blooming to be found. The black levels are especially jaw-dropping in this presentation, staying deep and inky with great detail. The transfer does not lose its glorious film grain that resolves favorably without being clumpy or unnatural. There has been no digital tinkering on this transfer, so this disc is free of DNR, compression artifacts and other encode issues. This is a very natural looking transfer that offers up a flawless presentation that stands among the best on the format.

The Devil’s Backbone, Volver and Synecdoche, New York make their 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut as fan favorites to various cinephiles thanks to their beloved directors. These films offer varying levels of visual splendor, but once again these 4K presentations allow them to look better than they ever have. The Devil’s Backbone is a film that has a very light touch when it comes to its implementation of HDR. The amber color palette is terrifically saturated, but the film does not boost things to unnatural levels. Where this transfer shines is in the depth of its black levels, as much of the film takes place in dark environments which reveal new detail here. Similarly, Synecdoche, New York is not an HDR showcase when it comes to raw color due to the more dour aesthetic that fits in thematically with the material. If you want knockout colors, Volver radiates off the screen with intense precision.

All three transfers showcase detail never before seen on home media. Compared to previous Blu-Ray releases not included in this set, these discs offer substantial improvements in several respects. You can clearly see specific text such as some writing featured in The Devil’s Backbone better than ever before, and do not get us started on the marvel of production design that is Synecdoche, New York which has background details that were previously too unclear to be captured. The improvements in contrast, sharpness and overall clarity among the three will astound you, especially when you look at the depth and detail of the interiors and textures of the clothing. Volver has especially distinct textures on outfits that really makes the frame more tactile.

Our final two films, and the most recent of the bunch, send us off on a high note. Still Alice and Call Me By Your Name both impress throughout their presentations as they go for differing aesthetic intentions. Still Alice provides an incredibly crisp digital capture which may lack the warmth of film, but it makes up for it in pure precision. On the other hand, Call Me By Your Name leans headfirst into the all-encompassing warmth of film which captures the Italian setting in an unparalleled manner. These UHD discs contain very bold and deep colors throughout. Dolby Vision is given a chance to truly shine with each film, both in the primaries and in the low-key lighting that is more refined than ever. White levels are brighter and offer a greater stability and saturation without veering into blooming. Shadow detail is much improved thanks to the deep black levels which never devolve into crush. Skin tones look natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a great amount of facial detail including beads of sweat.

All eleven films in this collection have been given absolutely marvelous visual presentations. From the unexpected, visually restrained movies that you never could have dreamed in such quality to the aesthetic showcases which scream out to be featured in all of their glory, every film is featured to its full potential. This set proves that the 4K UHD format is made for more than just boosting the latest blockbuster extravaganza; these simple, independent movies deserve a place at the table to showcase all of their distinct facets that make them fan favorites. With such a rich catalog at their disposal, let’s hope that Sony gives us another installment of this Sony Pictures Classics series in the future.

Audio Quality

All of these 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs are provided with their original lossless audio tracks, but Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon stands apart by also providing its previous Dolby Atmos track. All of the films are presented in their original languages, and some come with additional English dubs such as The City Of Lost Children, Run Lola Run and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. English and English SDH subtitles are provided for every film, while Run, Lola, Run also offers Spanish subtitles, and Call Me By Your Name, Still Alice and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon offer Spanish and French subtitles.

Orlando, The Celluloid Closet and The City of Lost Children all come with DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio tracks that bring these works to life perfectly. A movie like The Celluloid Closet is going to have limited sonic ambition by the nature of it being a documentary with many talking heads, but it holds together nicely alongside some well- preserved clips. Environmental sounds make more of an impact in the other two films such as industrial and animal noises or weather effects which are rendered well alongside everything else. There are never moments where outside elements threaten to overwhelm the dialogue, as the track maintains a good balance and fidelity throughout. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear.

The remainder of the films have been given DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio tracks which all sound as great or better than ever. Even with some more reserved tales among this bunch, these soundscapes are presented tastefully with a real sense of immersion and power. While the focus may be on the front channels for most of the sounds, activity extends to the surround and rear speakers to make these environments feel more lived-in and all-encompassing. Run, Lola, Run and Call Me By Your Name are especially satisfying when it comes to bringing their sonic landscapes to life. Run, Lola, Run feels like an assault to the senses as Lola rushes again and again at a breakneck pace to her destination, while Call Me By Your Name harnesses all of the distinct sounds of the Italian landscape which takes you on a sonic vacation.

All of the films are really satisfying when it comes to the music, as the memorable and moving scores surround you in a really satisfying, enveloping way. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting lost amongst the music or sound effects. The low end effects from the subwoofer give certain moments that much-needed extra weight such as the impact of certain explosions in The Devil’s Backbone. Atmospheric sound effects are rendered appropriately within each mix so that directionality is never an issue. The Atmos track in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon delivers all of this, but it is supplemented with some terrific overhead channels which bring this epic tale to life. The additional precision and texture added to this world is a real treat. Throughout all eleven of these tracks, Sony never strikes an errant note.

Special Features

Orlando

Synopsis: Tilda Swinton and Billy Zane star in this hip, sexy and wickedly funny look at an English nobleman who defies the laws of nature and comes back to life as an English noblewoman.

Audio Commentary: Director Sally Potter and Actress Tilda Swinton provide a commentary track recorded in 2010 in which the pair lightly discuss the production of the film from the shooting locations to the process of adapting the source material, the costumes, the ensemble performances and much more. There are stretches of silence within this one, but when things are cooking we get some great anecdotes, insights into the themes and more.

Select Scenes Commentary with Director Sally Potter: A ten-minute vintage featurette in which Potter discusses the themes of the film, the performance of Tilda Swinton, the aesthetic of the film, and more. Rather than have audio over a scene, you mostly have Potter in her editing room physically pointing out choices behind the prevalence or omission of certain colors, specific framing and more.

Orlando Goes To Russia: A 33-minute featurette which takes a look at the production going to Russia to film some important segments of the narrative, and all of the challenges that this caused. You get some interesting footage captured by Producer Christopher Sheppard and Director’s Assistant Renny Bartlett which is put into context by Sheppard’s narration.

Orlando In Uzbekistan: A similar 52-minute video diary by Robert Macnaughton is provided which takes a look at the trials and tribulations of bringing the production to central Asia.

Jimmy Was An Angel: An eight-minute featurette which takes a look at the makeup and effects that went into pulling off Jimmy Somerville’s portrayal of an Angel.

Venice Film Festival Press Conference: A nearly 24-minute press conference from the world premiere of Orlando with the cast and creative team in which they answer questions concerning the adaption of the source material, the themes of the story, the realities of shooting locations and studio work, and more.

An Interview with Sally Potter: A 13-minute interview from the same Venice Film Festival in which Potter discusses her interest in the material, the thematic resonance, the arbitrary line between feeling like a man or a woman, and much more.

Theatrical Trailer: The minute-long trailer is provided here.

The Celluloid Closet

Synopsis: Narrated by Lily Tomlin, this exuberant, eye-opening movie serves up a dazzling hundred-year history of gay men and women on the silver screen.

Audio Commentary #1: Filmmakers Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman, Lily Tomlin, producer Howard Rosenman, and editor Arnold Glassman provide a commentary track in which they discuss the origins of the project, Tomlin’s struggle with narration, their experiences with gay cinema, trying to hone in on which clips would make the final cut of the film, the hard choices that had to be made, subjects who nearly appeared in the film before obstacles prevented them, and much more that makes for a lively discussion.

Audio Commentary #2: Author Vito Russo gave a lecture in 1990 which is used as a commentary track on this disc. There are obviously no direct references to the film that you are watching, but the lecture itself is really entertaining as he explores many of the major points made in the film with some different insights and examples to make the experience fully realized. This is a great addition to the disc.

Interview with Vito Russo: A four-minute interview with author Vito Russo conducted in 1998 in which he discusses what inspired him to write The Celluloid Project, trying to get publishers interested in the book, the monumental task of tracking down these films with gay content and more.

Rescued From The Closet – Additional Interviews: There is 56 minutes of additional material provided that was not included that provides some additional rich discussions including gay and lesbian history, the place of subtext in the cinematic landscape, the making of certain film such as The Children’s Hour and My Own Private Idaho, and more that is well worth a watch.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

The City Of Lost Children

Synopsis: From Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the director of AMELIE and DELICATESSEN, comes a fantastically twisted fairy tale chock-full of curious characters, spectacular stunts and unforgettable visuals.

Audio Commentary #1: Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Actor Ron Perlman provide a commentary track in English with optional English subtitles in which they discuss the disorienting nature of the narrative, the crafting of the world, what they wanted to accomplish with the characters, interesting tidbits about some of the ensemble cast members, creating a huge world on a small budget, the use of different special effects techniques, working with the children and much more.

Audio Commentary #2: Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet provides a newly-added solo commentary track in French with English subtitles in which the filmmakers dives deep into the making of this film, his direction of the performers, the visual artistry of the picture and much more that adds some insights different from the previous commentary track.

Featurettes

- Making Of Featurette: A 27-minute piece is provided here which provides a mixture of on-set filmmaking and interviews that look at the work of the children, the construction of the sets, working through several different sequences and more.

- Les Archives de Jean-Pierre Jeunet: A 14-minute collection of behind-the-scenes moments, auditions, makeup work, evolution of scenes and more.

- Interview with Jean-Paul Gaultier: A four-minute discussion with costume designer Jean-Paul Gaultier in which he expresses his appreciation for being a part of this creative team and his collaborations to make the costumes bring out specific characteristics of some of the ensemble.

Trailers: This disc provides the Domestic Trailer (2:22), International Teaser #1 (0:36), International Teaser #2 (0:37) and International Trailer (1:14).

Run Lola Run

Synopsis: A thrilling post-MTV, roller-coaster ride! Time is running out for Lola (Franka Potente). She’s just received a frantic phone call from her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), who’s lost a small fortune belonging to his mobster boss. If Lola doesn’t replace the money in twenty minutes, Manni will surely suffer severe consequences.

Audio Commentary #1: Audio Commentary with Director Tom Tykwer and Editor Mathilde Bonnefoy provide a newly-included commentary track in which they discuss the aggressive editing of the picture, finding the rhythm of the film in the editing room, the collaborative process, what they wanted to accomplish within the narrative, creating the initial trailers for the film, the thematic arc and more.

Audio Commentary #2: Director Tom Tykwer and Actor Franka Potente provide a very lively commentary track in which they really delve into the film’s production and construction, wrangling all of the extras, the place of animation within this film, the secret tenderness of the “bad guys” and more.

Making-Of: A 40-minute newly-added featurette in which the cast and creative team take you through various elements of the film including the initial idea, the casting, assembling the crew to make this story a reality, the aesthetic of the picture, the music in the film, the mood on set and much more.

Still Running: A 17-minute piece in which the cast and creative team take a look back at the film including its origins, the thematic link throughout the narrative, the BPM structure they adopted in the construction process and more.

“Believe” Music Video: A four-minute video is provided for this song from the film.

Theatrical Trailer: The minute-and-a-half trailer is provided here.

SLC Punk

Synopsis: It’s 1985 and Stevo is that rare animal: a punk rocker in the Mormon stronghold of Salt Lake City, Utah. He just graduated from college with honors and now his life is a nutty roller coaster ride of rock shows, stealing cars, beating up rednecks and non-stop partying with his buddy, Heroin Bob, and his girlfriend. But with the scene getting lame and Stevo going nowhere fast, he has to put his punk ideals to the test.

Audio Commentary: Director James Merendino and Actors Matthew Lillard & Michael Goorjian provide a really lively and informative commentary track, even if Lillard is slightly late to the recording. You get some great anecdotes from the production of the film, insights into the reasoning behind certain creative choices, background on some of the tertiary performers, the music in the film and more. This track does not let up and is a treat for fans.

SLC Punk! Revisited: A new 12-minute interview with Merendino in which he discusses how this film came about in the wake of another project falling apart, the speedy creation of the SLC Punk script, the elements from his real life that he brought to the narrative, the background behind the casting most of the main characters, the reception of the feature and its legacy, and much more.

Comic Book Gallery: An option to flip through a digital comic book.

Trailers: This disc includes the Red Band Trailer (2:05), Theatrical Trailer (2:00) and a TV Spot (0:32).

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Synopsis: An epic set against the breathtaking landscapes of ancient China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon combines the exhilarating martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo-Ping (The Matrix) with the sensitivity and classical storytelling of an Ang Lee film. The result is something truly unexpected: romantic, emotionally powerful entertainment.

Audio Commentary #1: Director Ang Lee and Writer / Producer James Schamus provide an insightful commentary track in which they discuss the score, the opulent costumes, the pacing of the feature, the fantasy aspects, the performances and what they bring to the story, the authenticity they tried to bring to the work in aspects such as weapons, the themes of the story and more. This packs in a lot of great information with a lighthearted touch.

Audio Commentary #2: Cinematographer Peter Pau delivers a newer commentary track in which he discusses his collaboration with Ang Lee, working with the sets and props, the implementation of lighting, the film stock utilized, the quality of shooting with different lenses, and much more that is a ton of fun for film enthusiasts.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – A Retrospective: A 1 hour and 22 minute retrospective in which film journalist Tasha Robinson conducts three interviews with the director, the editor and the screenwriter/producer as they discuss the origins of this film, the performances from the ensemble, the martial arts and wire work, editing in a foreign language, the collaborative process, the film’s worldwide success and more.

- In Conversation with Ang Lee (29:58)

- In Conversation with Tim Squyres (25:11)

- In Conversation with James Schamus (25:59)

Anniversary Edition – Introduction by Director Ang Lee: A minute-long introduction from the director in which he expresses his appreciation for the continued interest in the film and gives background to the deleted scenes.

Deleted Scenes: Six unused scenes totaling eight minutes are provided here including Haan and Sue meeting, Jen discussing her impending marriage, more moments between Jen and Li Mu Bai and more.

The Making Of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: A 19-minute vintage featurette that provides a broad overview of the film including the location shooting, difficulties that arose during production, the complex martial arts sequences, what the performers brought to the narrative and more.

“A Love Before Time” Music Video (English Version): A nearly four-minute video is provided here.

“A Love Before Time” Music Video (Mandarin Version): A nearly four-minute video is provided here.

A Conversation with Michelle Yeoh: A 14-minute vintage conversation with the actress in which she discusses how this film stands apart from your normal martial arts film, why we she was excited to work with Ang Lee and tackle this role, the emotional levels of the script, filming the action sequences, injuries she sustained and more.

Photo Gallery: A collection of stills from the film and the production are provided here.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

The Devil’s Backbone

Synopsis: His father killed in the brutal fighting of the Spanish Civil War, ten-year-old Carlos is sent to live at the desolate Santa Lucia School, now a makeshift shelter for war orphans. Soon after his arrival, Carlos has a series of seemingly supernatural encounters: strange shadows, voices and, most frightening of all, the apparition of a brutalized young boy. Turns out that Carlos is not alone in seeing these strange phenomena, many other children have experienced the “One Who Sighs,” as the entity has come to be called.

Audio Commentary #1: Director Guillermo del Toro provides a commentary track from the 2004 DVD release which is a terrific bit of fun in which he discusses the elements and ideas of a Gothic romance, how this film plays with classic genre tenets, the visual language of the film and more. This is a much more emotional and philosophically-driven track in which the director really gets to delve into the larger ideas and emotions behind the themes.

Audio Commentary #2: Director Guillermo del Toro and Cinematographer Guillermo Navarro provide a commentary track from even further back (they both say it is their first) in which they take a more traditionally focused look at the film from a storytelling and technically-driven point of view that is very rewarding.

Original EPK Featurette: A 13-minute vintage piece in which the cast and creative team discuss the broad themes of the story, the appeal of the narrative, the direction of Guillermo del Toro, traits of certain characters, and much more.

“Que Es Un Fantasma?” – The Making Of The Devil’s Backbone: A 27-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the origins of the project, the new elements they tried to bring to a classic ghost story, the thematic weight of the narrative, the established aesthetic of the film, the special effects and makeup work, the atmosphere on set and more.

Summoning Spirits: A 14-minute piece with director Guillermo del Toro in which he takes a look at the character of Santi, what it thematically needed to represent, nailing down the look of the character, the visual effects used to bring him to life, creating an environment that sustains the character and more.

Director’s Thumbnail Track: An option to watch the film with the sketches that del Toro created showcased on screen whenever the corresponding scene comes about.

Deleted Scenes: Four unused scenes totaling four minutes are provided with optional commentary from director Guillermo del Toro which features more moments with Carmen and Jacinto, Carmen and Conchita and more.

Sketch, Storyboard, Screen – Multi-Angle: A 12-minute collection of scenes are provided which gives you a multi-angle look of certain scenes in rough sketch, storyboard and final version forms.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Volver

Synopsis: Academy Award®-winner Pedro Almodóvar (2003, Best Original Screenplay, Talk to Her) comes VOLVER, a comedic and compassionate tribute to women and their resilience in the face of life’s most outrageous tribulations. A luminous Penélope Cruz leads an ensemble of gifted actresses, including Carmen Maura (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown). Raimunda (Cruz) and her sister Sole lost their parents in a tragic fire years ago…or did they? Superstitious villagers claim that the girls’ departed mother, Irene (Maura), has been seen wandering around their Aunt Paula’s home. When Irene appears to Sole, she explains that she has returned to set right her daughters’ troubled lives and reveal shocking secrets that will impact everyone!

Audio Commentary: Director Pedro Almodóvar and Actor Penélope Cruz deliver a very enlightening commentary track in which the pair aid quite a bit in exploring the themes and event of movie more thoroughly, recount anecdotes from the production of the film, giving richer context and more that should be an essential listen for fans. This is in Spanish with optional English subtitles.

Interview with Pedro Almodóvar: A ten-minute interview with the director is provided here in which he discusses the personal nature of the narrative, how this fits into his output, the fantastical elements, honoring his culture and more.

Interview with Penélope Cruz: A nearly six-minute interview with the star in which she discusses working with Almodóvar, the prominence of women in his work, the universal themes of the film and more.

Interview with Carmen Maura: A nearly nine-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses working with Almodóvar, where this film sets within reality, the themes on display, traits of her character and more.

Making Of Volver: An eight-minute, almost completely wordless featurette which gives you many small glimpses of the production of the film.

Tribute To Penélope Cruz: An 18-minute piece from AFI Fest in 2006 in which the actress discussed her background, her connection with Almodóvar, the look of her character, and much more that makes for a fairly engaging viewing experience.

Photo Gallery: A collection of stills from the film and the production are provided here.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Synecdoche, New York

Synopsis: From Charlie Kaufman comes a visual and philosophic adventure. Theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is mounting a new play. His life catering to suburban blue-hairs at the local regional theater in Schenectady, New York is looking bleak. His wife Adele (Catherine Keener) has left him to pursue her painting in Berlin, taking their young daughter Olive with her. His therapist, Madeleine Gravis (Hope Davis), is better at plugging her best-seller than she is at counseling him. A new relationship with the alluringly candid Hazel (Samantha Morton) has prematurely run aground. And a mysterious condition is systematically shutting down each of his autonomic functions, one by one. Worried about the transience of his life, he leaves his home behind. He gathers an ensemble cast into a warehouse in New York City, hoping to create a work of brutal honesty. He directs them in a celebration of the mundane, instructing each to live out their constructed lives in a growing mockup of the city outside.

In And Around Synecdoche, New York: A 19-minute behind-the-scenes featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the vision of Charlie Kaufman, the dynamics between the performers, establishing a history for the characters, the set design, the character-driven nature of the aesthetic, the makeup effects, the themes and more.

The Story Of Caden Cotard: A 12-minute piece in which Philip Seymour Hoffman delves into the story of his character, what motivates him as an individual, working through heavy themes, working with Charlie Kaufman to bring his vision to life, connecting with the rest of the ensemble and more.

Infectious Diseases In Cattle – Bloggers’ Round Table: A 37-minute conversation between five film writers as they aim to discuss the themes, performances, aesthetic and more in an intelligent manner. This can be a bit aimless and not as substantive as you might want, but it is still worth a look if you are a fan.

Screen Animations: Three segments totaling nearly five minutes are provided here.

NFTS/Script Factory Masterclass with Charlie Kaufman: A 28-minute piece in which an interviewer goes through Kaufman’s work a bit before drilling down further into his incentives script, the ambitious production design, the excellent cast he assembled, the themes he wants to explore, and much more.

Theatrical Trailer: The nearly three-minute trailer is provided here.

Still Alice

Synopsis: Alice Howland (Julianne Moore), happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease, Alice and her family find their bonds thoroughly tested. Her struggle to stay connected to who she once was is frightening, heartbreaking, and inspiring. Also starring Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish.

Directing Alice: A nine-minute featurette with directors Wash Westmoreland and the late Richard Glatzer, who was contending with ALS, in which they discuss the circumstances behind directing this film, how they overcame certain obstacles in order to craft this film, how they worked together as a team, and more.

Finding Alice: A nearly ten-minute overview of Alzheimer’s disease and the preparation that Julianne Moore put in for the character, especially working with real-life Alzheimer’s patient Sandy Oltz.

Interview with Composer Ilan Eshkeri: A nearly seven-minute piece which takes a look at the original score of the film, what the composer wanted to bring to the feature, working with a small group of musicians and more.

Deleted Scenes: Three unused scenes totaling six minutes are provided here including an alternate intro, a visit to the doctor and more.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Call Me By Your Name

Synopsis: Amid the summer splendor of 1980’s Italy, Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire that will alter their lives forever.

Audio Commentary: Actors Timothée Chalamet and Michael Stuhlbarg provide a really lovely commentary track in which the two discuss their admiration for director Luca Guadagnino, shooting nearly chronologically, anecdotes from the production, the very considered wardrobe, narrative dissection, the production design, the framing of different shots, how certain scenes developed and more. Fans of the film should definitely give this one a listen.

Snapshots Of Italy – The Making Of Call Me By Your Name: An 11-minute featurette which takes a look at the production history of the film, the passion behind the film, the narrative elements, character details, the development of certain scenes, shooting on film, and more

In Conversation with Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg & Luca Guadagnino: A 25-minute panel moderated by New York Magazine’s Kyle Buchanan which discusses the unbroken end credits sequence, the development of the characters, the casting of the performers, adapting from the source material, the intimacy of certain sequences and more.

“Mystery Of Love” by Sufjan Stevens: The four-minute video for the Sufjan Stevens song is provided here.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

The Sony Pictures Classic 30th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Collection is an absolute must-own for fans of arthouse cinema. This collection provides a well-rounded overview of one of the absolute best specialty distributors in the business. From crucial documentaries such as The Celluloid Closet to pulse-pounding experiences such as Run, Lola, Run or SLC Punk, the visual majesty of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or the gentle heartbreak of Call Me By Your Name, there is something for all flavor of cinephile. Not only are the films some of our favorites over the past few decades, but the new 4K UHD Blu-Rays showcase them with a level of perfection we never expected.

The A/V presentations are a dream come true from one of the best companies supporting the 4K UHD format. These discs also carry over nearly all of the legacy special features along with adding some great new supplements to a few of the films. There is a considerable investment to be made if you are thinking about picking this one up, but rest assured the value within is worth every penny. This is what every collector dreams of when they think about how they want their favorite films to be treated. If you even passingly enjoy these films, you owe it to yourself to pick up this collection before it goes out of print. Essential

Sony Pictures Classic 30th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Collection 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: 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.