We live in a world, it seems, where every single thing anyone ever does gets criticized and argued about no matter how absolutely fantastic and incredible things are. No matter what a company or someone does, there’s always going to be someone upset, irritated, annoyed, or whatever about the product and why is X getting a release but not Y and so forth. The conversation is simply exhausting, especially when it’s about Criterion, who have released 80+ 4K titles so far (93 by the end of the year) and not a singular release has been a miss. So, whether it is the incoming 8 ½ (1963) that is getting the 4K treatment or one of the very best of 2023 in Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, let’s just celebrate the excellence that Criterion puts out and celebrate one of the most beautifully heartbreaking films of the twenty-first century which boasts some of the best extras in a Criterion in *ages*.
For the original digital release review, head over to EoM Contributor Mallory Moore’s home release review for All of Us Strangers.
Andrew Scott as Adam in ALL OF US STRANGERS. Photo by Chris Harris, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
The film focuses on struggling screenwriter Adam (Andrew Scott) while he finds a new outlet to grieve over losing his parents 30 years ago. He is drawn to his childhood home to process the loss while writing his new screenplay and sees the ghosts of his parents, Mum and Dad (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell respectively). While working on his screenplay, dealing with the grief, and revisiting his childhood home, he has a chance encounter with Harry (Paul Mescal). The two of these characters live in the same apartment complex and, during a fire alarm, start a budding relationship, one that takes off in an unexpected way. Truly a way to capture the chances of meeting a love in a chance encounter, their relationship blossoms as Adam tries to navigate his new screenplay, seeing his parents through his writing and mind, and balancing his new found relationship with Harry.
L-R: Andrew Scott as Adam and Paul Mescal as Harry in ALL OF US STRANGERS. Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
There is something simplistic and beautiful about their relationship and character builds that just strikes the heartstrings in more ways than one. However, as the film progresses, the script penned by Haigh (Lean on Pete) based on the novel by Taichi Yamada not only breaks the audience it, completely shatters them. With every word spoken, and every action taken, All of Us Strangers wiggles its way into one’s heart, nestles in there for the rest of your life, then explodes from the inside, shattering one’s heart into a literal million pieces. This movie hits the audience like a ton of bricks, and nothing can prepare audiences for the emotional devastation.
Now we dive into the nitty gritty. I first saw this as a screener provided by Disney at home, and was completely immersed and taken aback by how gorgeous this film was. I was so blown away, in fact, that I went with a friend to see it in theatres so I could audibly sob and disturb people around me with my emotional devastation. The theatre presentation was absolutely stunning and an equally immersive experience, and that was just in the small VIP (needing massive renovations) auditorium. Then, what hit me falling piano, similarly to the movie, was that this was never going to get a home release. It was a Searchlight presentation and, since their acquisition by Disney, home releases were never certain. I even *almost* bought the UK 4K because I knew I needed this in my collection, but as I was about to check out, I found out that All of Us Strangers was getting the Criterion treatment and I needed it, immediately.
B-F: Jamie Bell as Dad and Claire Foy as Mom in ALL OF US STRANGERS. Photo by Chris Harris. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
The 4K on this is presented in Dolby Vision HDR and absolutely shines; astonishingly the best it has looked across all three of my watches. I know that sounds a little silly on a 2023 release, but the colors and vibrancy of this film truly shine with the warm 4K digital mastering. Another thing Criterion excels at is their bonus features, and the essay from film critic Guy Lodge may be the best essay, or at least one of, that Criterion has ever put out. If you’re not a fan of reading the essays, I cannot highly recommend enough reading this specific one. Moreover, there is more than an hour of special features on this edition, and between the conversations between Haigh and Michael Koresky and the interview with the cinematographer Jamie D. Ramsay (See How They Run), every faucet of information is tapped here. Combine that with the behind-the-scenes documentary and featurettes and everything one could want to know about the making of All of Us Strangers is truly answered.
L-R: Director Andrew Haigh and actors Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ALL OF US STRANGERS. Photo by Chris Harris. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
The 4K criterion of All of Us Strangers is an absolute hands-down must for anyone who appreciates Haigh’s quintessential masterpiece. There is no question that this is the best the movie has ever looked, and not relying on a streaming service to have the movie available to watch at your leisure is the ultimate deciding factor. There is so much love, heart, and soul placed into this home release that it truly is a no brainer to have this incredible movie in your collection. Do not wait, do not stop, just go to your closest computer or store that sells physical media and assure yourself that you will obtain and own one of the best modern romantic, heartbreaking movies of all time in All of Us Strangers.
All of Us Strangers Special Features:
- 4K digital master, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio and uncompressed stereo soundtracks
- One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
- *NEW* conversation between director Andrew Haigh and author and critic Michael Koresky
- *NEW* interview with cinematographer Jamie D. Ramsay
- Behind-the-scenes documentary and featurettes
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and English descriptive audio
- PLUS: An essay by film critic Guy Lodge
- New cover by Anthony Gerace
Available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray September 10th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official The Criterion Collection All of Us Strangers webpage.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Recommendation
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