King Of Staten Island, The

"The King Of Staten Island" is the story of Scott (Davidson) who has been a case of arrested development ever sine his firefighter father died when he was seven. He's now reached his mid-20s having achieved little, chasing a dream of becoming a tattoo artist that seems far out of reach. As his ambitious younger sister (Maude Apatow) heads off to college, Scott is still living with his exhausted ER nurse mother (Tomei) and spends his days smoking weed, hanging with his buddies and secretly hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey (Powley). When his mother starts dating a loudmouth firefighter (Burr), it sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps toward moving forward in life. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director/Co-Writer Judd Apatow and Actor/Co-Writer Pete Davidson; alternate endings (which didn't work) (HD 03:51); 10 deleted scenes (HD 15:34); a gag reel (HD 05:53); line-o-rama (HD 04:34; 15 featurettes: "The Kid From Staten Island" (HD 19:04), "Judd Apatow's Production Diaries" (HD 31:44), "You're Not My Dad: Working With Bill Burr" (HD 04:42), "Margie Knows Best: Working With Marisa Tomei" (HD 03:21), "Friends With Benefits: Working With Bel Powley" (HD 03:54), "Sibling Rivalry: Working With Maude Apatow" (HD 04:35), "Best Friends: Working With Ricky, Moises & Lou" (HD 03:56), "Papa: Working With Steve Buscemi" (HD 02:51), "Friends Of Firefighters Stand-Up- Benefit" (HD 06:19), "Scott Davidson Tribute" (HD 05:28), "Who Is Pete Davidson?" (HD 03:27), "The Firehouse" (HD 03:17), "Pete's Casting Recs" (HD 02:56), "Pete's 'Poppy' (Grandpa)" (HD 01:51) and "Video Calls" (HD 20:45); the official trailer; upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed on Kodak Vision3 film stock in anamorphic Panavision® using the Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2 camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Picture quality is excellent with not really a noticeable trace of film grain. Overall, the imagery is clear and sharp throughout with just a bit of softening in places. Resolution exhibits revealing textures in settings, such as interiors, neighborhoods and the fire station, clothing, and facial features, especially during closeups. Colors are nicely saturated yet natural in hue throughout, including fleshtones. Green and reds are natural. Contrast is excellent with natural blacks and revealing shadows. Lighting appears natural with supportive spot highlights. This is a well-crafted picture that engages. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is expectedly dialogue focused with ADR that is well produced. Atmospherics surround and envelop, especially during a ball game scene and party scenes. On occasion, there is a directionalized sound effect. The college party, in particular, livens matters up with strong surround aggression. Also the engines leaving the fire station provide deep bass extension. The music is mostly frontal but with subtle surround envelopment, and supported with deep, punchy bass during the hiphop segments.

The Immersive Sound element is generally subtle and intermittent, though, the college party and fire engines segments, including a loud emergency siren, do energize the height layer.

Overall, this is an engaging soundtrack that takes hold and delivers solid entertainment. (Gary Reber)