An aging friar and his young apprentice investigate a series of mysterious deaths at a monastery. The pair must race against time to prove the innocence of an unjustly accused man while avoiding the wrath of a Holy Inquisitor.
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Video Quality
Second Sight Films presents The Name of the Rose with a strong 2160p transfer restored and graded in 4K HDR10/Dolby Vision. This label is based in the UK, but the 4K UHD disc in this set will play in all 4K UHD Blu-Ray players, including those in the United States. The Blu-Ray options (available for purchase separately in a standard version or in a Limited Edition 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack) are Region B locked, which means you will need a region-free player to play the discs or a player-specific workaround like the “Top Menu” trick I use on my Panasonic player.
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc includes all of the special features, so you would not be missing out on anything except the movie in HD on Blu-Ray if you could not access the disc. We are reviewing the standard 4K UHD release, so we cannot judge the level of improvement from the Blu-Ray disc. This film was previously released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray by labels in other international territories, but we have never seen this film on any other format to compare the presentations. From what we can tell, this uses the same base restoration, but it corrects many of the issues that viewers noted with past releases. Given the high bar of quality Second Sight sets for itself, we tend to believe this release is the definitive version on the market.
This restoration preserves much of the stunning natural film grain as it resolves evenly without a trace of clumping or swarming. Everything is completely authentic with no lingering print damage or stray specks. There are a few moments of DNR that seem to be baked into the master, but it appears a fair sight better than what we have seen from other 4K UHD releases of this film. The movie looks exceptional with subtle details on display throughout. The texture present in the costumes and within the period production design is astounding. When it comes to encoding, there are zero digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances. Even shots of bright, open skies avoid any spiking or other stray encoding issues.
The benefits of Dolby Vision for increased color output are obvious despite this not being an overly vivid film. You find great nuance in the black levels with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are firm with no signs of blooming. The low-key lighting sources make the most of the technology with more depth than ever. The striking compositions within the frame are a delight to observe with this disc. The earthy qualities of the monastery are presented with the appropriate delineation. This presentation from Second Sight Films allows the film to look its best.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that makes the most of a feature that has reportedly always been lackluster in the sound department. Dialogue comes through pretty clearly when turned up a bit more than usual, but the complementary sounds are notably louder than what is being spoken. You might have to ride the remote control volume button a bit more than usual. The exceptional James Horner score is a highlight and sounds great here. The soundscape creeps through to provide some ambient details that flesh out the space. All of the various sounds in the mix seem accurately rendered so that nothing ever feels inauthentic. This presentation is free of any hiss, distortion, or other age-related wear and tear. Second Sight Films has made this sound as good as possible. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentaries: There are two amazing commentary tracks provided that explore the film through both a personal and analytical lens. The reflections on the production from the filmmaker deliver some great stories from filming, while the film historian peels back certain layers that make you appreciate various elements of the story even more.
- Audio Commentary #1: Film Scholar James Marsh
- Audio Commentary #2: Director Jean-Jacques Annaud
- Interviews: Second Sight has conducted an incredible array of new interviews in which many of the key talent come together to reflect on the making of the movie and share memories of how everything came together and how it impacted their lives.
- Charm of Humanity: A New Interview with Director Jean-Jacques Annaud (38:37)
- A Boy and His Dog: A New Interview with Actor Christian Slater (23:34)
- Bring the Mustard: A New Interview with Actor Ron Perlman (22:38)
- Liquidating the Disk: A New Interview with Writer Andrew Birkin (22:05)
- The Abbey of Crime – Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose: A 45-minute archival piece that gives an overarching look at the creation of the movie.
Final Thoughts
The Name of the Rose takes the whodunnit genre and puts a spin on things by taking us back a few centuries. The lack of technology and the abundance of Sean Connery absolutely selling every scene he is in make this a pretty compelling narrative. The ensemble provides many pleasant additions to the experience, but Connery is doing the heavy lifting. An additional layer of fun is spotting several performers who would become successful on their own show up. The film can feel a bit long thanks to some leisurely pacing in the middle, but it finishes strong and makes you feel that the twists and turns were worth it. Second Sight Films has released a lovely new 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring an impressive A/V presentation and a lovely assortment of new and archival special features. Recommended
The Name of the Rose is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-Ray and Limited Edition 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Second Sight Films 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.
