36 Blu-ray

36

 (2004)

Drama | Thriller



Two rival cops compete not only at work but for the heart of the same woman. Two masked men steal a street sign from the famous address of the police judiciare. Next, in a subterranean drinking club, a crowd of threatening, ugly men indulge in macho bonding as the first outbreak of gunfire. Two cops who loathe each other, cynical Vrinks and doggy loner Klein, are forced to work together, chasing the the same perps.

For more details about 36 on Blu-ray, see the 36 Blu-ray Review

36 Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Olivier Marchal's 36 quai des orfèvres arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of UK-based distributors Palisades Tartan.

The transfer is practically identical to the one Gaumont used in France for their Blu-ray release of Olivier Marchal's film. Detail, clarity and contrast are pleasing, but mild edge-enhancement still pops up here and there. Macroblocking, however, is not an issue of concern. As I noted in my review for the French release, 36 quai des orfèvres has an interesting color-scheme, one that contributes substantially to its distinctively raw look. Cold blacks, grays, and dark browns, for example, are very prominent. On the other hand, a few of the nighttime scenes have a slightly softer look, but the effect is intentional. The transfer is free of large scratches, debris, stains, or dirt. There are no stability issues that I noticed either. All in all, this is a good looking Blu-ray release, which I have no problem recommending to you. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

36 Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. For the record, Palisades Tartan have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I was very impressed with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the Gaumont disc, and I am just as impressed with the one found on this disc. The bass is strong, the surround activity very effective, and the high frequencies not overdone. There is a key scene during the second half of 36 quai des orfèvres that unleashes a string of tragic events, which is simply fantastic - I truly felt like I was in the middle of all the action. This said, the dialog is crisp and very easy to follow. I also did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings to report in this review. There are no balance issues between Erwann Kermorvant and Axelle Renoir's lovely soundtrack and the dialog either.

36 Blu-ray, News and Updates

• French Thriller 36 on Blu-ray from Palisades Tartan - January 6, 2010

36 Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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