One False Move
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Synopsis
A small-town police chief (Bill Paxton) concealing an explosive secret. A pair of ruthless drug dealers (coscreenwriter Billy Bob Thornton and Michael Beach) who leave a bloody trail in their wake as they make their way from Los Angeles to Arkansas. And an enigmatic woman (Cynda Williams) caught in the middle. The way these desperate lives converge becomes a masterclass in slow-burn tension thanks to the nuanced direction of Carl Franklin, whose haunting debut feature travels a crooked road across America’s most fraught divisions—urban and rural, Black and white—while imbuing noir conventions with a wrenching emotional depth.
Picture 9/10
Carl Franklin’s debut feature, One False Move, finally receives a much-needed upgrade from The Criterion Collection, presenting the film in 2160p/24hz ultra high-definition on a BD-66 disc in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The new master, presented with Dolby Vision, has been sourced from a new 4K restoration taken from a scan of the 35mm original camera negative. Criterion also includes a standard dual-layer Blu-ray disc presenting a 1080p presentation of the film sourced from the same restoration.
Not surprisingly, the upgrade over the 1999 DVD edition of the film is beyond substantial. (Vast? Colossal?) The presentation looks considerably cleaner with decent film grain and a wonderful film-like texture, all evident right off in the film's opening shot of a car coming up over the top of an L.A. street. Black levels are deeper while the light emitting from the streetlamps and headlights break up and dissipate cleanly into the dark. Grain is effectively rendered and dances around naturally, leading to crisp details. HDR and Dolby Vision help enhance the shadows and the shifts in the light while also improving the highlights off the reflective surfaces in the sequence. It looks sensational and is just the film’s first few seconds.
This then all carries beautifully through the rest of the film, with other nighttime sequences looking just as impressive, including one involving a trooper pulling over the film's antagonists. Shots of the expansive rural landscapes expose remarkable details, as do close-ups of the actors’ faces. The restoration has also significantly cleaned up the image, removing everything that popped up on the DVD. Getting a new presentation was a long wait, but it was worth it. This looks incredible.
One False Move - Screen Captures
Audio 7/10
Criterion presents the film’s surround soundtrack in 2.0 DTS-HD MA. The soundtrack and mix deliver ample range and decent fidelity. Still, there are moments when I was straining to hear the dialogue, which can come off a bit muffled in places, more during the earlier portions of the film. I think it’s baked into the original materials, maybe a byproduct of the film’s low-budget and quick shoot, and I had the same issue with the DVD. Despite that, the audio does still sharper overall.
Extras 6/10
When Criterion first started licensing films from Sony (back in 2008), I had hoped this would be a title they would eventually pick up. While I’m beyond happy they finally did (15 years later), delivering a knockout presentation in the process, this new edition leaves one wanting when it comes to supplements.
Criterion does port over Franklin’s excellent 1999 audio commentary. It’s focused on the technical aspects of the film, as one would figure, yet it still proves interesting to listen to Franklin explain how he worked out adapting the story visually, even talking in detail over some of the film’s key sequences to explain the planning that went into them. He even took inspiration from other films, including High Noon, which he states influenced the pacing of the film's conclusion. He also touches on editing, working with the actors (which included Thornton, who was also one of the writers), and the casting process. In the case of casting, he shares a rather funny (yet scary) story about how one actress trapped him to audition for the role of Fantasia. It can taper off a bit toward the end, but it’s a solid effort from Franklin. Worth a listen if one hasn’t done so yet.
Both the UHD disc and the Blu-ray feature the commentary. The remaining video features are only found on the standard Blu-ray disc.
Not that there's much.
All there ends up being is the film's trailer and the one new supplement Criterion created for this release, an interview between director Carl Franklin and writer/actor Billy Bob Thornton. Running 27 minutes, it’s a fun reflection on the film’s production. Thornton talks about the influences behind the story and how he and writing partner Tom Epperson split out the work (Thornton focused on the sections around the antagonists). At the same time, Franklin touches on visualizing the script to screen, expanding on things he mentions in the commentary.
They also bring up the film’s surprise critical success after producer Jesse Beaton got it screened in front of critics. Famously, the film was only supposed to receive a straight-to-video release but ended up getting a minor theatrical release after critics like Siskel & Ebert started singing its praises. Sadly, that whole story ends up only coming up passively here and in the commentary, with Criterion choosing not to delve any further into it (Criterion did something along the lines of this for Hoop Dreams). They also don’t bother with any academic material outside of an essay by William Boyle (who shares how his video store adventures led him to the film) or any new interviews with cast members. Cynda Williams sat for an interview for Imprint’s Australian Blu-ray edition, so I would have to think she would have been willing here.
What's here is fine, but altogether it's underwhelming.
Closing
I’m happy Criterion was able to get Franklin and Thornton to sit for an interview, but this “special edition” feels sparse and rushed. Thankfully, the gorgeous new 4K presentation helps ease most disappointments.
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