Ben Affleck gets up to some Reindeer Games in the John Frankenheimer action thriller. Kino Lorber’s new 4K UHD edition has a beautiful new 4K scan of the original camera negative.
The Film
The mid-movie is dead. Long live the mid-movie. I miss this type of film if I’m honest. A film that’s workman-like in its story, acting, and directing. It’s a rarity nowadays where everything is swing for the fences. Reindeer Games with its semi-clever story and execution is the kind of above-average B-Level genre that is a solid double.
I think part of the problem with Reindeer Game other than the mishagosh that came with any Miramax film was expectation. No matter Miramax and their fuckery aside… Reindeer Games was never going to be Ronin.
Ronin is an anomaly even in the storied career of John Frankenheimer. Doubly so because it came so late in his career. Though many of us who had seen his work on TNT (e.g., Andersonville) knew the director still had it. Ronin was an inspired bit of serious-minded action filmmaking made at a studio and with a producer (Frank Mancuso Jr.) who understood the gold they had in the script (written by J.D. Zeik and David Mamet under a pseudonym) and gave Frankenheimer the freedom to cast and crew up the way he wanted.
Reindeer Games feels like it started out that way with a smart (ass) script by Ehren Kruger who was making a name for himself when he sold this hot spec script. The bones are here. The script’s framework of a Con who takes the identity of his dead cellmate to get more than he bargained for as he has to fake his way through planning a casino heist. You can see why Ben Affleck signed to star as Rudy. There’s an in-over-his-head comedic energy that Affleck loved in his genre work early in his career. It’s a good fit, although you can see Frankenheimer would have gone differently just by the way he cast the rest of the film.
Even the supporting cast is solid with Gary Sinise showing up in a wig ready to chew scenery, along with the likes of Donal Logue, Danny Trejo, and the always excellent Clarence Williams III as the crew trying to pull off the heist. It’s actually Charlize Theron that’s the odd person out in the cast. She’s almost too beautiful for the femme fatale role of Ashley. She acquits herself well but it just feels all too obvious what the end game is.
Frankenheimer brings that utilitarian clean style that made Ronin so good to this film. Where that style works for the fabulous European locales, it feels a mismatch here where gritty realism feels more called for. One wishes there was more of the manic energy that Frankenheimer brought to Seconds to Reindeer Games, a more understanding of the delirious nature of the piece. It isn’t to say that Reindeer Games isn’t fun, it isn’t quite as fun as one hopes for when everything goes to hell during the heist.
Reindeer Games works and succeeds at its ultimate goal. Those wanting something elevated beyond its B-Movie origins will be disappointed. All in all though an entertaining piece of pulpy action cinema.
The Transfers
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master of the Theatrical Cut – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm OCN is a masterful update for the film. There is never a moment that the UHD image runs up to issues like artifacting, ghosting, pixelation, nothing. This upgraded transfer makes the film never look as good as it does here – even the theatrical print, which I personally projected, never looked this good. That is the biggest compliment to this 4K UHD edition – in every way it bests that 35mm theatrical exhibition.
The 1080P HD Master of the Director’s Cut is a decent transfer. It really does appear this is from a much older transfer. Made more apparent when watching the new master/scan of the theatrical cut. This transfer feels flatter and lacks the kind of depth to the sharpness, color, or contrast that even a newer transfer would have provided. However, with that being said it could have been possible that the elements to create a newer transfer were just not available.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD) Theatrical Cut:
Audio Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY) Director’s Cut:
Audio Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer
Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Note: the 4K and the Blu-ray edition feature different cuts of the film. The cuts also feature two entirely different audio commentary by Frankenheimer.
DISC 1 (4KUHD) Theatrical Cut:
The archival Audio Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer on the theatrical cut opens with the fact that they had an entirely different opening section that did not work for preview audiences. Some of the other details include why the voice over narration was added; the casting of James Frain; the casting of NFL Defensive Tackle Dana Stubblefield – and how Frankenheimer got him to appear in the film; the difficulty in creating action scenes – how he approaches these types of scenes; a detailed discussion of his use of the Super35 camera package; working with and casting of Isaac Hayes; why they chose Canada for Northern Michigan; the sex scene and why was it necessary – and how he approached it; working with Charlize Theron; working with Gary Sinise – especially during the mid-film introduction to his character; working with Clarence Williams III for the fifth time – and leads to a larger discussion why he’s worked certain actors multiple times; working with Danny Trejo and the fact he was to Frankenheimer’s estimate a technical advisor during the prison scenes; what working with Ben Affleck so great and what makes him great actor and great movie star; the Casino building/set and how they found the location and the set they built – how he created through editing and camera work continuity; having to cut Dennis Farina’s part; why he casted real life casino workers in the part of the casino workers; the trouble that the snow caused – both logistically and practically; working with editor Michael Kahn – and what makes him truly a great editor; how they constructed the casino heist to match the opening moments where you see the dead Santas; a larger discussion through the casino heist his intent and purpose with each section of the set piece – including details about stunt work, VFX, etc.; and much more. Frankenheimer delivers a truly great commentary track because of his pragmatic approach to explaining all of his actions as a film director.
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
The archival Audio Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer for the Director’s Cut version of the film opens with a discussion of this version is a melding of his Cut before the preview and the theatrical cut. Some of the details include an opening discussion of the pressure he was put under by the studio to cut the film after the preview and how this version is the version that was his original intent – a harder edged film; some of the issues with the lighting and photographing of various actors; a discussion of the extended sex scene including an NC-17 rated version; a larger discussion of the various scenes that were altered, changed, and removed from the theatrical cut – beginning once Gary Sinise shows up, it being a very different film; a larger discussion of the kind of violence, tone, and style – giving the film, in his opinion – a harder, darker, film that he intended to make; a larger discussion of how he worked with the studio after the previews did not test well – and his very transparent opinions on the matter; how the preview process and reshoots caused to push the release date and caused issues ultimately releasing a Christmas Movie during a non-Christmas release date; and much more. The far superior cut of the film is the director’s cut and Frankenheimer provides a commentary that supports this thesis. Again, the director brings that pragmatic approach to how he directed the film and additionally the alterations made.
Behind-the-Scenes Featurette (6:09) – the EPK-style behind-the-scenes look at the story, actors, and themes of the film. There is some solid B-roll footage from making the film. Featuring interviews with director John Frankenheimer, actors Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, Gary Sinise, Dana Stubblefield, Isaac Hayes, and others.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Reindeer Games (1:40); Changing Lanes (22:6); Hollywoodland (2:09); Snake Eyes (2:23); The Challenge (2:14); 52 Pick-Up (1:45); Ronin (2:29); In Bruges (2:30)
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber has given Reindeer Games a great 4K UHD special edition. Recommended!
Ben Affleck gets up to some Reindeer Games in the John Frankenheimer action thriller. Kino Lorber’s new 4K UHD edition has a beautiful new 4K scan of the original camera negative.
The Film
The mid-movie is dead. Long live the mid-movie. I miss this type of film if I’m honest. A film that’s workman-like in its story, acting, and directing. It’s a rarity nowadays where everything is swing for the fences. Reindeer Games with its semi-clever story and execution is the kind of above-average B-Level genre that is a solid double.
I think part of the problem with Reindeer Game other than the mishagosh that came with any Miramax film was expectation. No matter Miramax and their fuckery aside… Reindeer Games was never going to be Ronin.
Ronin is an anomaly even in the storied career of John Frankenheimer. Doubly so because it came so late in his career. Though many of us who had seen his work on TNT (e.g., Andersonville) knew the director still had it. Ronin was an inspired bit of serious-minded action filmmaking made at a studio and with a producer (Frank Mancuso Jr.) who understood the gold they had in the script (written by J.D. Zeik and David Mamet under a pseudonym) and gave Frankenheimer the freedom to cast and crew up the way he wanted.
Reindeer Games feels like it started out that way with a smart (ass) script by Ehren Kruger who was making a name for himself when he sold this hot spec script. The bones are here. The script’s framework of a Con who takes the identity of his dead cellmate to get more than he bargained for as he has to fake his way through planning a casino heist. You can see why Ben Affleck signed to star as Rudy. There’s an in-over-his-head comedic energy that Affleck loved in his genre work early in his career. It’s a good fit, although you can see Frankenheimer would have gone differently just by the way he cast the rest of the film.
Even the supporting cast is solid with Gary Sinise showing up in a wig ready to chew scenery, along with the likes of Donal Logue, Danny Trejo, and the always excellent Clarence Williams III as the crew trying to pull off the heist. It’s actually Charlize Theron that’s the odd person out in the cast. She’s almost too beautiful for the femme fatale role of Ashley. She acquits herself well but it just feels all too obvious what the end game is.
Frankenheimer brings that utilitarian clean style that made Ronin so good to this film. Where that style works for the fabulous European locales, it feels a mismatch here where gritty realism feels more called for. One wishes there was more of the manic energy that Frankenheimer brought to Seconds to Reindeer Games, a more understanding of the delirious nature of the piece. It isn’t to say that Reindeer Games isn’t fun, it isn’t quite as fun as one hopes for when everything goes to hell during the heist.
Reindeer Games works and succeeds at its ultimate goal. Those wanting something elevated beyond its B-Movie origins will be disappointed. All in all though an entertaining piece of pulpy action cinema.
The Transfers
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master of the Theatrical Cut – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm OCN is a masterful update for the film. There is never a moment that the UHD image runs up to issues like artifacting, ghosting, pixelation, nothing. This upgraded transfer makes the film never look as good as it does here – even the theatrical print, which I personally projected, never looked this good. That is the biggest compliment to this 4K UHD edition – in every way it bests that 35mm theatrical exhibition.
The 1080P HD Master of the Director’s Cut is a decent transfer. It really does appear this is from a much older transfer. Made more apparent when watching the new master/scan of the theatrical cut. This transfer feels flatter and lacks the kind of depth to the sharpness, color, or contrast that even a newer transfer would have provided. However, with that being said it could have been possible that the elements to create a newer transfer were just not available.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD) Theatrical Cut:
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY) Director’s Cut:
Note: the 4K and the Blu-ray edition feature different cuts of the film. The cuts also feature two entirely different audio commentary by Frankenheimer.
DISC 1 (4KUHD) Theatrical Cut:
The archival Audio Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer on the theatrical cut opens with the fact that they had an entirely different opening section that did not work for preview audiences. Some of the other details include why the voice over narration was added; the casting of James Frain; the casting of NFL Defensive Tackle Dana Stubblefield – and how Frankenheimer got him to appear in the film; the difficulty in creating action scenes – how he approaches these types of scenes; a detailed discussion of his use of the Super35 camera package; working with and casting of Isaac Hayes; why they chose Canada for Northern Michigan; the sex scene and why was it necessary – and how he approached it; working with Charlize Theron; working with Gary Sinise – especially during the mid-film introduction to his character; working with Clarence Williams III for the fifth time – and leads to a larger discussion why he’s worked certain actors multiple times; working with Danny Trejo and the fact he was to Frankenheimer’s estimate a technical advisor during the prison scenes; what working with Ben Affleck so great and what makes him great actor and great movie star; the Casino building/set and how they found the location and the set they built – how he created through editing and camera work continuity; having to cut Dennis Farina’s part; why he casted real life casino workers in the part of the casino workers; the trouble that the snow caused – both logistically and practically; working with editor Michael Kahn – and what makes him truly a great editor; how they constructed the casino heist to match the opening moments where you see the dead Santas; a larger discussion through the casino heist his intent and purpose with each section of the set piece – including details about stunt work, VFX, etc.; and much more. Frankenheimer delivers a truly great commentary track because of his pragmatic approach to explaining all of his actions as a film director.
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
The archival Audio Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer for the Director’s Cut version of the film opens with a discussion of this version is a melding of his Cut before the preview and the theatrical cut. Some of the details include an opening discussion of the pressure he was put under by the studio to cut the film after the preview and how this version is the version that was his original intent – a harder edged film; some of the issues with the lighting and photographing of various actors; a discussion of the extended sex scene including an NC-17 rated version; a larger discussion of the various scenes that were altered, changed, and removed from the theatrical cut – beginning once Gary Sinise shows up, it being a very different film; a larger discussion of the kind of violence, tone, and style – giving the film, in his opinion – a harder, darker, film that he intended to make; a larger discussion of how he worked with the studio after the previews did not test well – and his very transparent opinions on the matter; how the preview process and reshoots caused to push the release date and caused issues ultimately releasing a Christmas Movie during a non-Christmas release date; and much more. The far superior cut of the film is the director’s cut and Frankenheimer provides a commentary that supports this thesis. Again, the director brings that pragmatic approach to how he directed the film and additionally the alterations made.
Behind-the-Scenes Featurette (6:09) – the EPK-style behind-the-scenes look at the story, actors, and themes of the film. There is some solid B-roll footage from making the film. Featuring interviews with director John Frankenheimer, actors Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, Gary Sinise, Dana Stubblefield, Isaac Hayes, and others.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Reindeer Games (1:40); Changing Lanes (22:6); Hollywoodland (2:09); Snake Eyes (2:23); The Challenge (2:14); 52 Pick-Up (1:45); Ronin (2:29); In Bruges (2:30)
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber has given Reindeer Games a great 4K UHD special edition. Recommended!
Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD Edition of Reindeer Games is out now
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