This is a movie about ghosts.  It’s a movie about not saving lives.  It’s also a beautiful film about the preservation of life . . . even when it becomes a question of exactly whose life you are saving.  It is also an underrated and often neglected film which just happens to be directed by the one and only Martin Scorsese.

And now, thanks to Paramount Presents, the film is being released with a shiny new upgrade to its overall shimmy and shake.

Bringing Out The Dead has arrived once more.

Okay, so Bringing Out The Dead might not be on your list of top tier Martin Scoresese films, but it should be there.  The film is often overlooked.  Maybe that’s because of its 1999 release date or its misaligned advert campaign (which confused a great many people at the time).  But it does star Nicolas Cage and, truly, that’s reason enough to check it out.  He plays paramedic Frank Pierce who, after months of not saving a single soul, is on the brink of collapse and this lack of sleep is nightmare juice for Scorsese, who splatters the screen with all sorts of angsty ghosts as we spend 48-hours with Pierce and an assortment of other crazy characters while speeding through Manhattan on an endless loop to save what cannot ever be saved.

Punctuated with visual poetry that only Scorsese and cinematographer Robert Richardson can deliver, Bringing Out The Dead doesn’t quite escape the lackluster production designs of the 1990s, but it certainly weaves every bit of grain and grime into its storytelling as Pierce finds himself having to make some extreme choices about saving lives and for what real reason.

Cage, as Pierce,  walks a fine line between the waking and the dead and brings a lot of restraint to the role.  Yes, he rages at certain points, but it all makes sense and elevates his journey through a dark, dark night. 

Bringing Out The Dead, now on 4K Ultra HD thanks to Paramount’s new line of classics, isn’t an easy watch, but it certainly is worth it - especially if you are a fan of late 1990s output.  Its topic is one of compassion, yet there are some other themes woven into this tale about a paramedic battling all sorts of demons throughout a wild shift where anything - from crowded ER rooms to a constant haunting specter - is possible. 

And don’t even get me started on the drugs.    

Co-starring Patricia Arquette, John Goodman, Ving Rhames, and Tom Sizemore, Bringing Out The Dead also hits hard with a soundtrack that features selections from Jane’s Addiction, R.E.M., Van Morrison, 10,000 Maniacs, and The Clash.  Once seen, this one stays with you long after the credits have faded into the cold blue wash of the Manhattan dawn.

44K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD

Home Video Distributor: Paramount
Available on Blu-ray - September 17, 2024
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English; English SDH
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD;  Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

25 years ago, legendary director Martin Scorsese (KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON) reteamed with screenwriter Paul Schrader (TAXI DRIVER, RAGING BULL) for one of their most compelling gems of their storied careers—BRINGING OUT THE DEAD. Nicolas Cage is Frank Pierce, a paramedic on the brink of madness. Patricia Arquette is the daughter of a man Frank tried to save. Together, they’ll need to confront the ghosts of the past to discover redemption among the living. The powerhouse supporting cast includes John Goodman, Ving Rhames, Marc Anthony and Tom Sizemore. Featuring all-new interviews with Scorsese and Cage, this must-have limited-edition Paramount Presents marks the movie’s debut on both Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, remastered from a new transfer of the original camera negative.

VIDEO

Probably due to the run time, the previous release’s storage capabilities made for a decided monochromatic transfer, riddled with crush and the elimination of natural colors. Not in this new 2160p 4k native scan on a 100GB disc. Theatrical colors are returned with heightened HDR10 embellishments that set this disc apart right away. This is a crisp as a chip, highly detailed, rich and inky picture that has never looked better. I think the included blu-ray, which I suspect is a replication of the VC-1 blu-ray of yore, is a perfect example of how much care and work has gone into this new transfer. Spectacular stuff!

AUDIO

We get a Dolby ATMOS 7.1 mix that ups the ante of the previous and excellent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix. Refined and expanded atmospherics complete and complement the visuals to immersive levels previously unrealized.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• None

Special Features:

Man, this disc is loaded with NEW supplemental items!

• *NEW* 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. (12:08)
• *NEW* A Rumination on Salvation – Nicolas Cage on Bringing Out the Dead: Academy Award® winner* 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. (14:43)
• *NEW* Cemetery Streets – Screenwriter Paul Schrader on Bringing Out the Dead: Legendary 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. (6:05)
• *NEW* City of Ghosts – Cinematographer Robert Richardson on Bringing Out the Dead: Frequent Scorsese collaborator and Academy Award® winning** cinematographer Robert Richardson opens up about shooting Bringing Out the Dead and how the film personally resonated with him. (9:21)
• *NEW* On Set with Patricia Arquette: 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. (6:06)
• *NEW* 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. (5:40)
• *NEW* 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. (2:58)
• *NEW* 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. (3:01)
• *NEW* 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. (4:50)
• Exclusive cast and crew interviews (10:57)
• Two (2) theatrical trailers

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 121 mins
Director: Martin Scorcese
Writer: Joe Connelly
Cast: Nicolas Cage; Patricia Arquette; John Goodman
Genre: Drama | Thriller
Tagline: A Martin Scorcese Film.
Memorable Movie Quote: "It's not your fault. No one asked you to suffer. That was your idea."
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: October 22, 1999
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: September 17, 2024.
Synopsis: Haunted by the patients he failed to save, a monumentally burned-out Manhattan ambulance paramedic fights to maintain his sanity over three increasingly turbulent nights.