Ridley Scott stands as an iconic British filmmaker, renowned for immortal classics such as Alien (recently released as an excellent UHD edition), Bladerunner, Gladiator and Thelma & Louise, among others. Throughout his prolific career, the 82-year-old director has delivered both highly successful works and some that have received less attention than they perhaps deserve. Black Hawk Down falls into the latter category.
Released nearly 20 years ago, Black Hawk Down depicts a group of American elite soldiers during the war in Somalia in the early 1990s. Based on the book of the same name by Mark Bowden, the film chronicles the attempt to secure Mogadishu and capture warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid. A mission to extract prisoners from a central part of the city’s market, intended to last only an hour, is complicated by the unexpected downing of two American Black Hawk helicopters. This event triggers a protracted rescue operation, testing the soldiers’ loyalty and endurance over a grueling 15-hour period.
The film boasts an extensive cast, featuring many actors who were prominent in 2001. While some, such as leading actors Josh Hartnett and Eric Bana, along with Tom Sizemore and Ioan Gruffudd, have maintained lower profiles since, others have continued to find success. It’s interesting to observe the varying trajectories of the cast since the film’s premiere. Regardless, Black Hawk Down remains a compelling and intense war film. Actors like young Jeremy Piven and Nicolaj Coster-Waldau, still had their breakthroughs in separate HBO series ahead of them.
Black Hawk Down UHD – The Image
For a period, the Scott brothers were associated with some of Hollywood’s best visual filmmaking. While Tony Scott, director of Top Gun, tragically passed away, his legacy, including films like the compelling revenge thriller Man on Fire, endures. John Mathieson’s authentic and gritty cinematography in the Oscar-winning Gladiator serves as a clear influence on Polish photographer Slawomir Idziak, who captures the harsh reality of war-torn Somalia. The UHD transfer is exceptional. It appears Scott has created a new 2K master specifically for this release, surpassing previous versions of Black Hawk Down, including the theatrical release, in terms of color, detail, and sharpness. The edition supports HDR10, enhancing the color palette, although a dynamic system like HDR10+ or Dolby Vision might have offered even greater enhancement.
While the inherent grain and shallow depth of field characteristic of 35mm film remain, faces, perspiration, and eyes are rendered with striking realism. This, coupled with the expert cinematography, intensifies the immersive experience of war. The deliberate stylistic choices in the color palette shift according to the scene’s tone. Blue dominates night sequences, while orange and yellow tones are prominent during the day, a technique also employed by Steven Soderbergh in Traffic. It highlights the potential for film collections to benefit from the level of dedication Scott invests in his UHD releases.
Black Hawk Down UHD – The Sound
Beyond its intense and well-balanced soundtrack, with ample channel separation, powerful bass, and a realistic surround image featuring the sounds of helicopters and gunfire, Scott’s war film benefits from a score composed by the acclaimed Hans Zimmer. Tracks such as Leave no man behind and the theme Minstrel Boy are presented with unprecedented clarity. The collaboration between Lisa Gerrard (Dead can Dance) and Breton singer Denez Prigent on “Gortoz A Ran (J’attends – I’m Waiting)” evokes a profound emotional response. Sampling the soundtrack on Spotify offers a glimpse of what to expect, but the experience is significantly enhanced through a high-quality audio system.
The destructive action sequences in Black Hawk Down provide a comprehensive test for object-based speaker systems, subwoofers, and discrete channels. The film’s quieter moments are also subtly rendered, with sharp and warm dialogue. The UHD includes both the 144-minute theatrical version and the approximately ten-minute longer Director’s Cut. To showcase your audio equipment’s capabilities, the helicopter descent over Mogadishu (around the 40-minute mark) features bass frequencies extending down to 5Hz, which, while largely imperceptible, can be physically felt at a sufficient volume.
In summary, the film offers a reference-quality soundtrack for demonstrating Dolby Atmos on a capable system. While perhaps not as modern as Bumblebee on UHD, it remains among the best-mixed and most effectively utilized soundscapes available on a UHD release.
Black Hawk Down UHD – Extras
The 4K disc includes both the 144-minute theatrical version and the 152-minute Director’s Cut, both presented in 4K with HDR10.
However, the disc lacks any supplemental material, even a trailer. This release is solely the Ultra HD 4K edition of the film, without the Blu-ray version (which typically includes the extras). Consequently, the edition is offered at a reduced price point.
For those who prioritize the core film experience and may already own Black Hawk Down on Blu-ray, this may be inconsequential. However, the absence of extras is a notable omission, as Ridley Scott typically provides comprehensive supplemental content. The exclusion of the commentary tracks and the extensive, six-part documentary, The Essence of Combat, is particularly disappointing. It is unfortunate that the extras were cut from this release. (In the Nordics, the American UHD edition does include the Blu-ray discs).
Summary
Black Hawk Down is a powerful film. It presents a stark and unflinching depiction of the realities of war, highlighting its brutal nature and impact on innocent victims. It also explores themes of courage, brotherhood, and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. As a significant work of film, it is highly recommended viewing, and this UHD edition offers the best available presentation of the film’s stunning visuals and impressive sound design, although it lacks supplemental material. While the inclusion of the Blu-ray edition with its extras would have elevated this to a perfect score, the discounted price somewhat compensates for this omission, allowing viewers to potentially acquire the Blu-ray separately.
As Ridley Scott’s filmography continues to evolve, Black Hawk Down remains a standout work. This UHD edition is a valuable addition to any collection, even if its intense content may not encourage frequent viewing.
