Sinners 4K Ultra HD

In "Sinners," trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown from Chicago to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes "Dancing With The Devil: The Making Of Sinners" (HD 32:39), "Blues In The Night: The Music Of Sinners" (HD 13:47), "Thicker Than Blood: Becoming The Smokestack Twins" (HD 10:47), "Spirits Of The Deep South" (HD 08:00) and "Wages Of Sin: The Creature FX Of Sinners" (HD 10:53); seven deleted scenes (HD 18:32) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.76:1/1.78:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on 65 mm Kodak Vision3 film in anamorphic Ultra Panavision 70 using the IMAX MKIV,, IMAX MSM 9802, Panavision 65 HR and Panavision System 65 Studio camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Picture quality is excellent with a filmic appearance. Film grain is virtually absent. The setting is rural plantation America. The imagery appears natural with a somewhat stylish look. Color fidelity is excellent with warm and rich hues with nuance tones. The Juke Joint set is fantastic wth the crowd that dances to blues music. Flesh tones appear natural. HDR contrast is excellent as is the lighting design. Black levels are deep and solid. Shadow delineation reveals dark shadings, White levels appear natural, whether daylight or at night, such as in the Juke Joint. Resolution is terrific. Facial features are finely detailed such as skin pores, sweat, lines, hair and beards. Clothing is reflective of the 1930s with fabric detail nicely resolved. Structural detail of the Juke Joint exhibits interior wood aging and exterior rusted metal siding. The period cars appear authentic and colorful. This is a very cinematic picture that for the most part is framed in 2.76:1 with several frames shifting to 1.78:1, such as during segments in the Juke Joint and the ending scene. This is a darkly casted picture with stunning color and realistic production design. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding from quiet, intimate moments to soulful music performances and the film's most intense and threatening supernatural horrific moments. There is a soulful blues score, with small group performances in the sweltering Juke Joint and Ludwig Goransson's orchestral/choral composition. The music is expansive with a wide soundstage that extends aggressively to the surrounds. Atmospherics sound realistic, Sound effects bite aggressively and add weight to the proceedings, such as the intense gunfire. Foley sound effects are perfectly in sync with picture. Surround engagement is aggressive and enveloping with at times directionality. Deep bass effectively enhances the more intense segments. Dialogue is the weak element in that it is largely ADR produced with a very forward presence that does not integrate spatially well.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of an extension of mostly the orchestral/choral music and some segments of blues singing, light environmental atmospherics and sound effects, such as strong wind during segments of driving along the cotton fields and thunder and lighting, and brief dialogue. While the height layer definitely provides satisfying enhancement of the sound field, far more enhancement could have been achieved.

This is a wonderful holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack, sans the overly produced dialogue. (Gary Reber)