Plot: What’s it about?
As of this writing, it’s been over a quarter of a century since I first (and last) saw Bringing Out the Dead. I’ve learned a lot over those years about film, its origins and everything in between but there seems to be one constant prior to then and now – Martin Scorsese. Most directors are lucky to have one, possibly two, truly “great” movies in their arsenal. Scorsese seems to do this routinely and along with the likes of Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen he just seems to make one good film after another. I recall seeing an interview with Scorsese in which he described some of his moods while making films. For example, with Mean Streets he said he was getting out a lot of anger that he was facing and so forth. The titular film unites Scorsese with Nicholas Cage, at the time still riding high with his A-List status of The Rock, Con-Air and his Academy Award performance in Leaving Las Vegas. But he’s heading down a different path with this one.
Frank hasn’t saved a life in months, going out and responding to calls every night with either Larry (John Goodman), Marcus (Ving Rhames) or Tom (Tom Sizemore) he just can’t seem to save a life to save his own. Imagine the feeling. Frank, not happy with his current situation or his life right now, has been seeing a ghost of a girl whom he couldn’t save. Her name is Rosa and he sees her face literally everywhere, from a hooker on a street corner, to a strange passer-by. Burnt out is not exactly the way to classify Frank, whose diet consists of bourbon and cigarettes (not exactly part of the four food groups). While responding to a routine call, Frank manages to save a victim and get them to the hospital where they have him on life support, no matter how feeble an attempt it might be. While there, he gets to know the patient’s daughter, Mary (Patricia Arquette) and the two form a very unstable relationship (maybe a metaphor for the father’s current state?). Throughout the movie, we see Frank try and come to terms with his inability to bring life back into those who he can’t save and we see his character deteriorate even more so. It’s this depressing view of not only his life, but those around him that makes the movie feel and look so very bleak.
Was Bringing Out the Dead ahead of its time? No, I don’t think so. A quarter of a century later is it only now getting the critical acclaim it deserves? Again, I don’t think so. Is it underrated? Absolutely. As much as Nicholas Cage can ham it up in some roles, he’s decidedly down-to-earth here. It was a change of pace for Cage at the time, though with recent endeavors in Color Out of Space and Mandy, perhaps it was the calm before the storm? This is certainly one of Scorsese’s darker films and that’s saying something. It, like many others, gives us a glimpse into a world that most of us don’t (and don’t want to) know. If, for some reason, this one has gone unwatched there’s no time like the present to appreciate one of the more underrated films of the 90’s.
Video: How does it look?
With Bringing Out the Dead we find a new 4K remaster that breathes new life, pardon the pun, into the older and dated transfer. Similarly, a case can be made that New York City has never looked dirtier than it does here. The imagery is nothing less than harrowing, as the frames are steeped in grim and shadow. The cinematography contrasts hot, blinding light against ghastly backdrops, giving Scorsese’s film a post-apocalyptic presentation. The new 2.39:1 HEVC 4K image gives us stark contrast, a glistening smoothness that wasn’t present in previous versions. This is an interesting viewing experience (and I mean it when I say experience); one that will likely have the viewer tilting their head on more than one occasion. This is a stunning new transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
Likewise we’re treated to a new Dolby Atmos mix that more than gets the job done. From hits from 10,000 maniacs and others, the soundtrack helps keep this movie going in the right direction. There’s a mix of hip hop and somber tones that make for a very interesting soundtrack. Vocals are, of course, top notch with surrounds and atmospheric nuances that’ll more than entice the viewer. There have been reports of an audio “glitch” with some misynched moments. I wasn’t really able to pinpoint them myself, but I suppose if all that Paramount did was just repress the disc and change the cover art, this likely hasn’t been addressed.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Filmmaker Focus – Martin Scorsese on Bringing out the Dead – Visionary filmmaker Martin Scorsese shares stories behind the production, touching on casting, shooting in New York City, and the music and art that inspired his approach.
- A Rumination on Salvation – Nicholas Cage on Bringing Out the Dead – Nicolas Cage relates tales of wild nights in New York City, his cerebral approach to his character, and his time with Scorsese prior to shooting.
- Cemetery Streets – Screenwriter Paul Schrader on Bringing Out the Dead – Screenwriter Paul Schrader talks about adapting author Joe Connelly’s novel, how traveling with real paramedics informed his writing, and his creative partnership with Scorsese.
- City of Ghosts – Cinematographer Robert Richardson on Bringing Out the Dead – Frequent Scorsese collaborator cinematographer Robert Richardson opens up about shooting Bringing Out the Dead and how the film personally resonated with him.
- –Actress Patricia Arquette reflects on working with Nicolas Cage, the creative openness of director Martin Scorsese, and how her own background allowed for a personal understanding of her character.
- On Set with John Goodman – Actor John Goodman talks about the intensity of portraying a paramedic, working with Nicolas Cage, and the honor of appearing in a Martin Scorsese film.
- On Set with Ving Rhames – Actor Ving Rhames shares how Martin Scorsese’s New York City differs from his personal experience and how his character relates to Nicolas Cage’s character.
- On Set with Tom Sizemore – Actor Tom Sizemore celebrates the opportunity to appear in Bringing Out the Dead and reflects on how life is full of surprises.
- On Set with Marc Anthony – Actor Marc Anthony shares how he turned witnessing real-life hardship on the streets of New York City into an unforgettable performance.
The Bottom Line
Bringing Out the Dead stands on its own. While not as highly-regarded as some of Scorsese’s other masterpieces, there’s a special place for this movie for me (and in my collection). I get that it might not have as broad of an audience as GoodFellas or Raging Bull, but it doesn’t need to. There’s really nothing here that wasn’t available a couple of years ago when this was released as part of Paramount’s Presents line. That disc is now out-of-print (and, evidently, very hard to come by) so now we’ve got another offering with the original cover art. If you missed out on this the first time, now’s your chance to snatch it up. Again.
