The Phoenician Scheme 4K Ultra HD

"The Phoenician Scheme" follows Anatole “Zsa-zsa” Korda (Benicio del Toro) – ruthless, unscrupulous, one of the richest men in Europe –– who is constantly fighting for his life. During the final stages of a vast, decades-long, career-defining business project, Korda survives a sixth assassination attempt and must appoint a successor: his long-estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton) –– a nun. With personal tutor Bjorn (Michael Cera) in tow, the trio set off on a globetrotting adventure to achieve Korda’s epic mission. (Gary Reber)

Special features include four Behind featurettes: "The Cast" (HD 07:36), "The Airplane" (HD )01:21, "Marseille Bob’s" (HD 02:03) and "Zsa-zsa’s World" (HD 04:17) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 1.47:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on Kodak Vision3 film stock in Super 35 using the Arricam LT and Arricam ST camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. This is a stylized picture throughout with an unusual production design that exhibits an unknown period styling. Colors are vibrant with rich and warm hues that often pop with excellent depth. The wide color gamut reveals nuanced hue shadings. Flesh tones appear perfectly natural and realistic. The black-and-white sequences exhibit excellent gray scale imaging. HDR contrast is superb. Back levels are deep and rich. Shadow delineation exhibits textural shadings, White level appear perfectly natural. Resolution is superb, especially during closeups, Facial features reveal detail in skin pores, lines, eye bags, hair and beads. Production design features are nicely detailed. Objects exhibit realistic textural detail. This is a beautiful picture that is superbly sharp and clear with a wonderfully vibrant color palette. (Gary Reber)

The repurposed Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack delivers wonderful fidelity and is dialogue focused with generally fast talking delivery, which requires strict attention. Atmospherics are realistic and enveloping. Sound effects project a dynamic presence. Foley sound effects are perfectly synced with picture. The orchestral score and additional music is a nice complement with diverse styles and instrumentation. The music extends wide and deep across the soundstage and to the surround channels. Bass energy supports throughout during sound effects. Dialogue is intelligible though quite forward sounding with close miking and ADR production quite common.

The Immersive Sound element is limited to sporadic extensions of the orchestral score to the height layer, Far more could have been executed to achieve a more consistent immersive presence.

This is a terrific holosonic® soundtrack that is well crafted to support the picture. (Gary Reber)