Sea of Love 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Sea of Love is a 1989 neo-noir film directed by Harold Becker (Malice, Taps). The film features Al Pacino as New York City Detective Frank Keller, who is investigating a series of murders where the killer uses singles ads to find victims. Keller collaborates with another detective, Sherman (John Goodman), from a different precinct who is investigating a similar case involving a murdered man. They theorize that the killer is a woman using singles ads. To catch the suspect, they arrange blind dates through personal ads, leading to Keller meeting Helen (Ellen Barkin), a single mother working at a shoe store. Despite professional ethics, Keller starts a relationship with Helen, even though evidence points to her as the prime suspect.

The film’s stylistic elements are heavily influenced by the classic film noir genre, adapted to a contemporary urban setting. The use of shadows, blood, and mystery creates a dark and moody atmosphere that permeates the narrative. The cinematography emphasizes the isolation and vulnerability of the characters, often framing them against the gritty backdrop of New York City. The film’s visual style is marked by its high contrast lighting, which highlights the stark differences between the characters’ public personas and their private lives.

Key components of the film’s style include the presence of a femme fatale, embodied by Helen, whose enigmatic allure and potential danger captivate both the protagonist and the audience. Detective Frank Keller, portrayed by Al Pacino, is the quintessential noir detective, driven by a mix of professional duty and personal obsession. His descent into the moral ambiguities of his investigation blurs the lines between right and wrong, further enhancing the film’s neo-noir credentials.

The Video

Sea of Love comes from a brand hew HDR/Dolby Vision master – from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative. The included Blu-ray is from a brand new HD master from the same new 4K scan. The movie is presented on the 4K disc in a 1.85:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodement. There is nicely refined grain layered over the image, providing a palpable texture to clothing and facial features. The colors and highlights pop nicely, such as Ellen Barkin’s cherry red leather jacket or the city lights.

The Audio

Sea of Love hits this 4K release from Kino Lorber with lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. I like the 2.0 mix the best as it seems to have a better-defined stereo image while still offering clear dialogue and good dynamics. The 5.1 mix is more ambient with a little more diffusion in the stereo mix, but still clean dialogue.

The Supplements

There only one new bonus included and that is the new audio commentary by Berger, Mitchell, and Thompson. An archive audio commentary by director Becker is also included alongside deleted scenes and a ‘making-of’ featurette.

Bonus Features:

• Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson (NEW)
• Audio Commentary by Director Harold Becker

Blu-ray-Only Bonus Features:

• The Creation of Sea of Love: Featurette (SD; 00:14:28)
• Deleted Scenes (SD; 00:06:10)
• Sea of Love – Trailer 1 (1080p; 00:02:37)
• Sea of Love – Trailer 2 (SD; 00:01:33)
• Serpico – Trailer
• The Big Easy – Trailer
• No Way Out – Trailer
• The Onion Field – Trailer
• The Black Marble — Trailer

The Final Assessment

A saucy, sexy, atmospheric neo-noir with a sultry Ellen Barkin and gritty Al Pacino on a top-notch 4K disc from KL Studio Classics.

Sea of Love is out on 4K Ultra HD January 28, 2025 from Kino Lorber

• Rating Certificate: R
• Studios & Distributors: Bregman/Baer Productions | Universal Pictures | Kino Lorber
• Director: Harold Becker
• Written By: Richard Price
• Run Time: 114 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• Primary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo
• Secondary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH