One of the greatest war movies, or film of any genre, has gotten a highly technological and advanced upgrade. Apocalypse Now Final Cut is nothing short of a visual and sonic stunner. According to the man who created this masterpiece, Francis Ford Coppola, this is his “favorite” version. His passion for it is felt in every single frame of this seminal classic.
After a short run in theaters, the mesmerizing restored Oscar winner (Best Cinematography and Best Sound) comes home. Also included in this must-own set is the original theatrical version, the “Redux” incarnation (also in 4K!), Apocalypse Now Blu-Ray, Apocalypse Now “Redux” Blu-Ray and the highly regarded documentary about the madness that ensued making the film, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse. All told, this may be—when all is said and done at the end of December—the best home video release of the year. Yeah, that.
It is Vietnam in 1970. The war is raging with no signs of abating. Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) has been requesting a mission for some time and when he finally gets it—he might want to watch what he wishes for. He is charged with tracking down a rogue officer, Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) and taking him out. The Colonel has apparently gone stark raving mad and has built himself a small cult in the process.
How Willard gets there and what happens when he and Kurtz are face-to-face is wildly hallucinatory, dangerous and above all else—frantically fierce. Willard will never be the same after this mission, and neither will all those who are involved. He tasks a group of soldiers and commands a boat to head up the river. Along for the ride is a slew of tough kids (essentially that’s what they are with the average age of a Vietnam soldier being 19). Also joining his troupe is the surfing appreciator that arrives in the form of Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore (played by Oscar winner Robert Duvall—who was nominated for this role but lost).
Everyone knows how deeply astounding the picture is and its place in The U.S. Library of Congress is merely one example of that fact. It is oft-quoted. The film is frequently and lovingly imitated, but never truly has there been a work that transcended genres, time and possessed a diverse fanbase that has exponentially grown since the film debuted in 1979.
The cast is sublime, from Brando to Sheen viewers get thespians operating at their highest—which is saying something given who exactly I am referring! It also introduced the world to Laurence Fishburne and features Dennis Hopper and a young Harrison Ford no less!
What better way to mark the film’s 40th anniversary than to give it a striking visual shine, up the ante sonically and provide audiences a must-own restoration of an American cinematic institution. The visuals are uncanny. I’ve seen plenty of restored flicks in my two-decades of writing about movies, but never have I witnessed a visual upgrade of this caliber that will surely now serve as the benchmark for how to do this right and how to give justice to something so treasured by so many.
A bevy of brilliant bonus features abound. The less flashy of those is where we begin. Getting to hear from those directly involved in making the legendary work is such an enormous gift. A Conversation with Martin Sheen and Francis Ford Coppola is an almost hour-long chat that is beyond blissful. There are many interviews or features within the bonus material, and each is as mesmerizing as the last. But the thing is, the Sheen and Coppola tête-à-tête is extraordinarily unique. Each clearly connected with the other while shooting the classic in what many would call the most difficult film set up until that point. Hearing (and seeing too—the body language is priceless) these two legends wax poetic about surviving the process, their emotions revisiting it for this anniversary release and above all else, the electric artistic awesomeness of making this film, is nothing short of movie manna.
Another key to the making of Apocalypse Now is the work of the screenwriting team, led by the director and John Milius. An Interview with John Milius is equally as dazzling as the previous featurette and for the same reasons. The chat with Milius is an almost 50-minute masterclass in movie craftsmanship with the writer and Coppola. As the film has settled into its place in history, Milius has a unique angle on the entire endeavor, given that he was so deeply involved before a single frame of film was shot. I could have continued with these two for another hour!
The ensemble, as eluded to earlier, is top-notch and putting them together is explored in the featurette Fred Roos: Casting Apocalypse. It is a rare moment indeed (and a welcomed one) that the casting folks get their bonus feature due. Right? Some have argued that their profession is truly the most important vocation in Hollywood. (1080p; 11:44)
Not necessarily the most expected soul to score a featurette is the editors and that changes with the illuminating A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now. Back when the only way to deliver a film to audiences is film, it was a great joy heading down that rabbit hole. This featurette contains a weighty amount of significance after witnessing the Hearts of Darkness doc. A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now focuses its appreciation on Lisa Fruchtman, Gerald B. Greenberg and Walter Murch. Everyone involved in this part of the creative process deserves our adulation.
The Music of Apocalypse Now is a delightful featurette that gives composers, Carmine Coppola and Francis a visual high-five while Heard Any Good Movies Lately? is a whole lot more than a fantastic moniker. It looks at the Sound Design team from the set recording process to the editing room which leads to The Final Mix, and a new appreciation for what these folks do firmly arises. Fans of audio production will not want to miss Apocalypse Now: Remastering a Legend in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. It is a laborious effort, but as the proof is in the pudding illustrates, it is worth every moment of effort.
Like it when those entertainment magazines take a look back at a pop culture landmark and comparisons are made between how everyone looks and talks then versus now. That is exactly what you get with Apocalypse Then and Now. It’s good stuff! Also supremely adored is Super 8mm Behind the Scenes Footage which takes us back to the front lines of this project that almost sent all involved into Hollywood pastures.
Wondering what the differences are between the various versions before witnessing them (or after for that matter) arrives in Apocalypse Now: A Forty Year Journey. Rarely is an artistic work such as this so intricately broken down each home video release and the reasoning for the alterations.
We’ve discussed several of the interviews that add layers to the overall wow factor for the Apocalypse Now Final Cut 4K. Another slice of awesome pie comes with a 2001 Cannes Film Festival: Francis Ford Coppola. The forty-minute featurette will have you tethered to the screen the entire time. Another one, equally as enriching, is the Tribeca Film Festival Q & A with Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Soderbergh. The revered helmer who gave us everything from Traffic, to Ocean’s 11 and Now’s helmer share space, stories and cinema appreciation of the highest order. It’s 47 magnificent minutes.
One might feel a tsunami of nostalgia after making your way through Apocalypse Now Final Cut. If so, those that put together this home video release have got a present for you. Included is a storyboard collection—done as an image gallery so you can take your time treasuring these pics. There is a priceless photo achieve of promotional shots, as well as ones from the unit photog. Then, there are those old trailers. There’s even a radio spot, poster gallery and lobby cards!
Lastly, the audio commentary track by Coppola is solely available on the Redux Version only.
Film Grade: A+
Bonus Features: A++