Official Secrets (2019) - 4 March 2020

[McCrutchy]

USPHE will release Official Secrets (2019) for eOne in Australia on 4 March 2020.

[El_Pollo_Hermano]

Yes! so happy this is coming to blu-ray. One of the better films of 2019. Wonder why only Australia, Germany and France so far?

[McCrutchy]

Now to be released on 11 March. Here is the back cover:

[ptb2010]

I'd not heard of it before. Now I want to see it. Political pressure keeping it from cinemas?

[Aunt Peg]

Originally Posted by ptb2010

I'd not heard of it before. Now I want to see it. Political pressure keeping it from cinemas?

No. It was released and tanked.

[SillyG]

I would be surprised if it was issued anything more than a limited release.

If it was given a wide release, then it's no wonder it tanked.

[Aunt Peg]

Actually turns out it wasn't such a flop but it hardly set the Oz box office on fire.

It opened 21 November on 62 screens and grossed A$182,972. Per screen average was $2,951. As of the past Sunday it has made $847,242 at the Australian box office.

A so-so result. Not great but not terrible

I didn't see the film because it was directed by Gavin Hood and I've never liked anything he has made. The subject matter struck me too as 'old news' and I've seen more than enough documentaries about that recent period of history made during the era and since.

[Bruce Morrison]

For some strange reason, this has only been released in the UK on DVD, not Blu-ray! I've been waiting for a few months to see if a Blu-ray is announced, but nothing so far.

I might capitulate and get this Australian release. Can anyone comment on its technical quality and the extras?

[SillyG]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

Can anyone comment on its technical quality and the extras?

Can't comment on the PQ as it isn't out yet, but the extras are listed in the back cover posted above, which is comprised of cast/crew interviews. I can't imagine the extras being particularly meaty, especially if it is not receiving a Blu-ray release in the UK/US.

[McCrutchy]

The interviews run approximately 26 minutes according to the BBFC:

https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/official...terviews-video

In addition to the eOne releases, these interviews also appear to comprise the extras on the French disc. I don't believe the Paramount US DVD release has any extras.

[El_Pollo_Hermano]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

The interviews run approximately 26 minutes according to the BBFC:

https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/official...terviews-video

In addition to the eOne releases, these interviews also appear to comprise the extras on the French disc. I don't believe the Paramount US DVD release has any extras.

So given it looks like there isn't going to be much/any bonus content, is it going to be worth picking up the French version as it is a nice steelbook for the same price as normal release? (I'm in the UK so it will actually be easier to get from France than Australia)

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by El_Pollo_Hermano

So given it looks like there isn't going to be much/any bonus content, is it going to be worth picking up the French version as it is a nice steelbook for the same price as normal release? (I'm in the UK so it will actually be easier to get from France than Australia)

I don't think the French Blu-ray is a SteelBook, I think it's just an amaray in a slipcover with rounded edges, which is a common mock up for Wild Side releases.

Also, IMDb claims that there is Mandarin dialogue in the film. Whether this is supposed to be subtitled in English for English-speaking audiences, I don't know, but in all likelihood the French release will not have any subtitles besides French.

[El_Pollo_Hermano]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I don't think the French Blu-ray is a SteelBook, I think it's just an amaray in a slipcover with rounded edges, which is a common mock up for Wild Side releases.

Also, IMDb claims that there is Mandarin dialogue in the film. Whether this is supposed to be subtitled in English for English-speaking audiences, I don't know, but in all likelihood the French release will not have any subtitles besides French.

Ah that makes more sense! Thanks, guess I will have to wait and see what releases are like.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I don't think the French Blu-ray is a SteelBook, I think it's just an amaray in a slipcover with rounded edges, which is a common mock up for Wild Side releases.

Also, IMDb claims that there is Mandarin dialogue in the film. Whether this is supposed to be subtitled in English for English-speaking audiences, I don't know, but in all likelihood the French release will not have any subtitles besides French.

If memory serves correctly, the Mandarin was subtitled.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I don't think the French Blu-ray is a SteelBook, I think it's just an amaray in a slipcover with rounded edges, which is a common mock up for Wild Side releases.

Also, IMDb claims that there is Mandarin dialogue in the film. Whether this is supposed to be subtitled in English for English-speaking audiences, I don't know, but in all likelihood the French release will not have any subtitles besides French.

The other point to bear in mind about French BD releases is that the French subtitles might be forced when the English language track is selected.

[El_Pollo_Hermano]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

The other point to bear in mind about French BD releases is that the French subtitles might be forced when the English language track is selected.

Just a further note, the French version has burnt French text on-screen for some location and character names. (As in literally part of the video file).

[Bruce Morrison]

As this has now been released, can anyone comment on the technical quality?

[Davidian]

The true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.



Video:

• 2.35.1 AVC Codec
• Runtine: 01:51:46

Audio:

• English 5.1 DTS-HD MA
• German 5.1 DTS-HD MA
• English Audio Descriptive

Subtitles:

• English SDH
• German
• Also includes English and German subtitles for Mandarin sections.

Special Features:

Interviews with Cast & Crew:

• Gavin Hood (Writer Director) 05:12
• Ged Doherty (Producer) 04:16
• Indira Varma (Shami Chakrabarti) 2:44
• John Heffernan (James Welch) 03:26
• Keira Knightley (Katharine Gun) 07:34
• Matt Smith (Martin Bright) 03:12
• Matthew Goode (Peter Beaumont) 01:32
• Ralph Fiennes (Ben Emmerson) 04:00

BDinfo:

Disc Title: Official Secrets – Blu-ray™
Disc Label: OFFICIAL_SECRETS
Disc Size: 36,959,583,851 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00004.MPLS
Size: 29,120,280,576 bytes
Length: 1:51:46.616
Total Bitrate: 34.74 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 29035 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz /  1701 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Audio: German / DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz /  1690 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Audio: English / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /   192 kbps / DN -31dB
Subtitle: English / 55.800 kbps
Subtitle: German / 49.068 kbps
Subtitle: English / 0.115 kbps
Subtitle: German / 1.483 kbps

Looks very good, I'd imagine it's filmed digitally as there's no real grain and some black crush going on.

Region Free.

[Jado3Dhead]

I know I'm late posting here but does the German release have the same special features as the Australian release?