Free Guy 4K Ultra HD

In "Free Guy," a bank teller (Ryan Reynolds) who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, decides to become the hero of his own story—one he rewrites himself. Now, in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way… before it’s too late. (Gary Reber)

Special features include three deleted/extended scenes (HD 05:43); a gag reel (HD 04;48); four featurettes: "Dude vs Guy" (HD 15:55), "Creating Molotov Girl" (HD 07:06). "It's Taika's World" (HD 08:34) and "Welcome To Free City" (HD 15;13); three theatrical trailers and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa 65, Arri Alexa Mini and Arri Alexa SXT Plus camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The color palette is vivid throughout with natural elements exhibited in the human characters. Hues are nicely nuanced and often pop. Fleshtones on both the Free City game characters and the human game creators are perfectly natural. HDR contrast is nicely balanced with excellent and natural black levels, realistic shadows, and bright highlights that light up the screen. Resolution is excellent throughout and reveals fine facial features such as skin pores, hair, beard stubble, etc., clothing characteristics, and textures within the cityscapes and creators' offices. This is a sharp and beautifully created picture. The imagery is quite diverse and engaging, (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is oftentimes dynamic, such as the sonics of intense gunfire, wreckage and explosions. Atmospherics are realistic. At times, sound effects are strong and impactful with deep bass extension supported with the .1 LFE channel. The orchestral score extends wide and deep across the soundstage with effective extension to the four surrounds. Surround envelopment is also enhanced with city din sonics and directionalized sound effects. Dialogue can be both well integrated spatially and wanting in integration due to ADR.

The Immersive Sound element is quite active, though, without any music extension. There are countless car crashes, gunfire, explosions, helicopter flyovers, sirens, a train whistle, glass breakage, electric sound effects as in a video game, gun blasts and debris, and other sounds of mayhem and sound effects, all elevated to the height layer. While most of the effects are positioned in the front height layer, this is a satisfying enhancement to the excellent ear-level sonic experience.

This is a well-crafted holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that delivers an intriguing experience. (Gary Reber)