‘Virtuosity’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – Denzel Washington & Russell Crowe Square Off In Manic Sci-Fi Thriller

The near future: A virtual reality company is completing the development of a highly sophisticated training simulator designed to give police a taste of how to handle the dangers they might encounter in the field while tracking and apprehending criminals. In order to perfect this state-of-the-art technology, prisoners are selected based on their skills and toughness and forced to serve as test subjects. Amongst the chosen inmates is Parker Barnes, an ex-cop serving time for circumventing the law and taking justice into his own hands. When one of the software’s most lethal virtual criminals, SID 6.7 – an amalgamation of vicious sadists and serial killers throughout history – figures out how to jump from the computer world into the real world through the use of nanotechnology, the company behind the program quickly attempts to cover up their malfeasance. As SID 6.7 runs amok on the streets of L.A., leaving a trail of bloody violence in his wake, the police reluctantly admit that they are powerless to stop him. Their final hope is to enlist the help of Barnes, the only man to defeat SID 6.7 in the virtual world, in order to put an end to his flesh-and-blood reign of terror before any more innocent lives are taken.

Produced during the height of tech-themed sci-fi and action films, VIRTUOSITY remains one of the subgenre’s most creative and thrill-packed examples. Elevated by director Brett Leonard’s (Lawnmower Man) highly stylized action and stunt sequences, this powerhouse blockbuster stars Oscar® winners Denzel Washington (Training Day) and Russell Crowe (Gladiator) in one of his first – and most unhinged – American roles as the deranged SID 6.7. Further distinguished by Leonard’s then-groundbreaking integration of live-action film photography and cutting-edge digital effects, VIRTUOSITY remains a cornerstone of 90s cyberpunk cinema and at last comes to 4K UHD from Vinegar Syndrome Ultra, newly restored from its original camera negative and featuring revealing interviews with its cast and crew.

For thoughts on Virtuosity, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

Vinegar Syndrome presents Virtuosity with a top-tier 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative. The film grain appears completely organic and consistent without any signs of unwanted manipulation as everything resolves well. There are no signs of print damage or stray specks throughout this robust restoration. When it comes to encoding, there do not seem to be any digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such shortcomings. The implementation of Dolby Vision for expanded color output is a major benefit for this production. There is a depth to both the real-world and virtual environments that make an impression. Bold colors saturate the screen and unleash a level of vividness and nuance that is appreciated. The contrast is audacious with deep black levels free of crush and flawless highlights with no blooming. The texture present in the clothing and within the somewhat futuristic production design is a godsend. Vinegar Syndrome has put forth an amazing effort with this one. 

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with the original DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings the house down. The movie starts off with a bang in the virtual world and rarely lets up with various gunshots, explosions, and screams throughout. Thankfully, every noise is delineated with meaning and precision. Dialogue comes through clearly without being drowned out by the sound effects or music. The urban environments are brought to life with a din of sound that flows through to provide some effective ambient details. All of the various sounds in the mix seem thoughtfully rendered so that nothing ever feels incongruous. The soundtrack establishes the appropriate vibe for this feature that never stumbles in its fidelity. This presentation is clear of any hiss or other age-related wear-and-tear. Vinegar Syndrome has done ideal work here. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

The Limited Edition Deluxe version of Virtuosity comes beautifully packaged in a hard magnet box that opens up to a slipcase release that includes a bound booklet featuring new essays by Justin LaLiberty, Elizabeth Purchell, and Matt Lynch 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: 

• Audio Commentaries: Two new commentary tracks are provided which give insights into the creation of the film, where this fits into the run of technology-centric films during this time, details about the shooting locations, memories of the performers, and much more that puts things into context. 
  • Audio Commentary #1: Director Brett Leonard and Jim Branscome from Cinematic Voidosity
  • Audio Commentary #2: Writer and film historian Walter Chaw

• Democratizing Virtual Reality – Director Brett Leonard On The Creation Of Virtuosity: A new 13-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses his early love of sci-fi and film, the concepts he wanted to explore in his filmmaking, choosing to direct Virtuosity, the process of directing the two main stars, what he wanted from the score, the shooting locations, and more. 

• Ahead Of Its Time – Producer Gary Lucchesi On The Development and Legacy Of Virtuosity: A new 14-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses his trajectory in the business, what piqued his curiosity in Virtuosity, working with Brett Leonard, the talented cast they assembled, the reception of the film, and more. 

• A Virtual Reunion – Brett Leonard, Kelly Durkin, and Georg Berger – The Pioneers Behind The Interactive Screens Of Virtuosity: A new 38-minute virtual interview that brings together three of the main creative figures to discuss the creation of the digital world on set along with tons of other engaging insights. 

• God Complex – Author Eric Bernt On Writing Virtuosity: A new nearly 19-minute interview with the writer in which he discusses where he was at during this point in his career, how he learned about artificial intelligence, fine-tuning the idea for the film, and much more. 

• Character First – Assembling The Cast Of Virtuosity: A new 18-minute piece featuring interviews with casting director Deborah Aquila, and supporting actors Stephen Spinella and Mari Morrow. There are rewarding insights about the casting process and the presence of some of the supporting roles. 

• Image Gallery: A four-minute collection of photos from the production and marketing materials. 

Final Thoughts

Virtuosity is not a cinematic masterpiece, but it provides a lot of fun for those who have a fondness for techno-thrillers. The movie is operating with its own brand of manic energy that is infectious. Russell Crowe is especially making a meal out of one of his first big American roles, and he is supported quite well by Denzel Washington. We understand that this film may have not been a blueprint for our technology, but it touches upon a lot that was fairly groundbreaking for the time. We enjoy it for all of its pleasures and shortcomings. Vinegar Syndrome has delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a staggering A/V presentation and a vast assortment of special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is a dream release. Recommended

Virtuosity 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: Vinegar Syndrome 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.