Review: Miami Blues
Blu-ray: Miami Blues (1990)
Miami Blues has been a favourite of mine since first watching it on Laserdisc (remember those?) way back when, so upon hearing that Radiance Films were releasing a Limited Edition Blu-ray of it, I was very pleased indeed.
Radiance Films are a new independent distribution company (make sure to read our reviews of Married to the Mob and The Working Class Goes to Heaven…Big Time Gambling Boss review incoming as I catch up on things) and they have hit the market with some fantastic releases.
Adapted from the novel of the same name, ex-con (and fresh out of prison) Frederick J. Frenger Jr. (Alec Baldwin) arrives in Miami and immediately begins to pick up where he left off, while on the way hooking up with Susie (Jennifer Jason Leigh); a young prostitute whom he embarks on a semi-serious relationship and leads Susie to thinking that they are going to live the typical American family life together in the future.
Trying to keep up the facade of a blissful family life while also still leading a criminal life too begins to take its toll on Frenger, leading to him being pursued by grizzled cop Hoke Mosely (Fred Ward) who works his way into both sides of the life that Frenger is living…and wants his false teeth back…watch to find out!
Featuring superb performances by Baldwin, Leigh and Ward, this quirky comedy crime drama zips through its 97 minute running time before you know it, leaving behind a trail of laughs, chase scenes, and a little bit of violence.
Frenger’s arrival at Miami airport is unforgettable and sets up everything to come, leaving you throughout the movie wondering if you should have empathy for him or not, while also pulling for Susie to finally find the happiness she’s been searching so long for, and Mosely is an absolute hoot all the way through, with Fred Ward stealing every scene that he is in.
The picture and sound on this blu-ray is fantastic, really getting those Miami colours popping and showcasing that Baldwins hair has never looked sharper.
Once again Radiance Films does exceptional work with their cover and menu design, also including an array of special features that bring an extra appreciation of the movie.
Miami Blues could well be the best movie you’ve never seen.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- High Definition digital transfer
- Original uncompressed stereo PCM audio
- Interviews with Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh (2015)
- David Jenkins looks at Miami Blues and Jonathan Demme’s role in the production (2022)
- Pulp crime expert Maxim Jakubowski discusses the character of Hoke Moseley in both Miami Blues and Willeford’s novels in which he is a recurrent character (2022)
- Behind-the-scenes and promotional image gallery
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
- Limited edition 44-page booklet featuring new writing on the film by Glenn Kenny, an interview with George Armitage by critic Nick Pinkerton, critic Leila Latif on Alec Baldwin in comedy, an archival feature on Fred Ward and an overview of reviews
- Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
Review by Dave from a disc kindly supplied by Radiance Films via Fetch Publicity.