Jim (Sean Penn, Carlito’s Way) and Ned (Robert De Niro, The Untouchables), two ambling convicts imprisoned in Upstate New York during the Great Depression, are forced to escape prison when fellow inmate Bobby (James Russo, Dangerous Game) pulls a gun during his electric chair execution, turning them into unwitting accomplices. With a taste of freedom, Jim and Ned end up in a small town near the Canadian border, mistaken for priests in the local monastery. With the law hindering an easy passage into Canada, the two hunker down in their newfound home, befriending the people of the town and finding faith in the process.

A remake of the 1955 Michael Curtiz film of the same name, We’re No Angels is a deft marriage of comedy and drama from celebrated Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan (Mona Lisa, The Crying Game), based on a script from noted playwright David Mamet (The Untouchables, House of Games). Featuring a staggering ensemble cast including Oscar nominees Demi Moore (A Few Good Men) and John C. Reilly (Chicago) with Wallace Shawn (My Dinner with Andre) and Bruno Kirby (The Godfather Part II), WE’RE NO ANGELS is a seldom overlooked entry in Neil Jordan’s career. Cinématographe is proud to bring Jordan’s epic crime comedy to blu-ray for the first time in the world with a new 4K restoration approved by the filmmaker.

For thoughts on We’re No Angels, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray debut from Cinématographe gives We’re No Angels an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1 derived from a 4K restoration from the 35mm Original Camera Negative approved by director Neil Jordan. This has been a glaring blind spot on the format, so we are grateful to have a label dedicated to shining a spotlight on titles like this one. The transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation that is beautifully textured but with a refined look rather than anything appearing splotchy or processed. The presentation ensures a first-rate viewing experience with image stability and delineation never stumbling.

Instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches have been banished with overall clarity and detail quite a sight to see. It is clear that the foremost care was put into this release thanks to the lack of blemishes. This rustic photography captures the complex colors of the locales with pleasant nuances shining through. Black levels are deep with no serious instances of crush or banding that we observed. Highlights impress with nothing appearing overly bright. This is an exceptional presentation for a film that has been crying out for a proper release.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track and the original DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track that each translates this soundscape effortlessly. Dialogue and background noises play well together with all parallel elements throughout the different environments. The bickering exchanges are one of the highlights, and every syllable holds up with great clarity. When you go to the 5.1 track, elements are expanded tastefully for a decently immersive experience. The score from George Fenton sets the appropriate mood and radiates with nice fidelity. This track shows no obvious age-related wear and tear such as hissing, humming, or popping. Cinématographe continues to live up to their high standards. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included for the feature film.

Special Features

The Limited Edition version of We’re No Angels comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer slipcase that opens up to a MediaBook that includes a bound booklet featuring new essays by film writer Patrick Dahl, comic book writer Joshua Dysart and entertainment journalist Matt Prigge 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 Commentary: Film historians Chris O’Neill and Bill Ackerman provide a new commentary track that dives into the production history of the film, the way the story evolved from the original film, the guidance of director Neil Jordan, the background of the performers, and more.

Interview with Director Neil Jordan: A new 15-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses how he came to this project, what about the story appealed to him, how he felt entering into this working relationship with big egos, the elaborate production design, the challenging aspects of the production, and more.

Interview with Actor James Russo: A new nearly nine-minute interview with one of the stars in which he discusses his memories of the production, the dynamics between the cast members, his friendship with Neil Jordan, the scene he was most interested in shooting, and more.

Archival Interview with Screenwriter David Mamet: A nearly 32-minute interview with the screenwriter from a 2020 post-screening discussion of House of Games. The discussion touches on his relationship to film noir, his approach to acting, the differences between writing for stage and screen, and more.
We’re No Angels: A Comparison – A Video Essay By Samm Deighan: A nearly 14-minute video essay that explores how this 1989 version of We’re No Angels compares to the original Michael Curtiz version, common themes between the two films, and much more.

Final Thoughts

We’re No Angels (1989) is often put at a disadvantage due to the comparisons made to the original Michael Curtiz film. The two offer very different narrative experiences, but there is much to admire about the newer one thanks to the guidance of Neil Jordan and script from David Mamet. The performances from the impeccable cast go quite broad at times, but there is a tender center to the story that hits some humorous and emotional notes. This film is never going to live up to the legacy of what came before, but it works pretty well on its own when you give it a chance. Cinématographe has provided a Blu-Ray that features a terrific A/V presentation and an invaluable assortment of supplemental features. If you are a fan of any of the talent involved, this one is worth a look. Recommended

We’re No Angels is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 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.