NOTE: This 4K release is currently only available as part of Sony’s Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection Volume 4. Since each film comes packaged in its own 4K keepcase, we will first review each film separately, followed by an overall review of the collection and its deluxe packaging.
Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) is a work-obsessed Manhattan advertising executive whose career is looking up—he has just been assigned to a major account. He comes home to share the exciting news with his wife of 8 years, Joanna (Meryl Streep), but is shocked to find her holding a packed bag. She announces that she is unhappy and leaving him, and walks out the door. Kramer had been too busy with work to be a present father for 6-year-old son Billy (Justin Henry), but now he’s got to quickly learn some parenting skills as he tries to balance his career with caring for his son alone. While he does get some help from neighbor Margaret (Jane Alexander), Ted’s job performance starts to suffer. However, he’s started to realize that being a present father for his son is more important than any job. When his now ex-wife re-enters the picture, looking to obtain custody of their son, Kramer must fight to keep Billy. He has formed a bond with his son over the past 18 months and can’t imagine his life without him.
Kramer vs. Kramer is another one of these films I had never seen before its 4K debut in Sony’s new Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection Volume 4. It received Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman) and Best Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep) as well as nominations for supporting cast members Justin Henry and Jane Alexander. Given all the hype (and the film’s title), I was expecting Meryl Streep and the court case to be a much larger part of the film. However, the movie is much more about Dustin Hoffman’s character, Ted, learning to become a single father and trying to balance his career (which had once been his highest priority) with being there and present for his son. Both Hoffman and newcomer Justin Henry give really strong, emotional performances. The natural chemistry between them is great, making you feel like you are just watching real life play out between a father and a son. Hoffman, who had been going through his own divorce at the time, channels this sense of reality and emotional depth into his character. Initially Ted feels like this jerk who cares more about his job than his family, but then we see this other side of him as he becomes a loving and attentive father. On the flip side, I never felt the movie was successful in making me feel sympathy for Meryl Streep’s character. Joanna abandons her son, making no contact for 15 months, and then shows up out of the blue trying to steal him back. I cared more about Jane Alexander’s Margaret, who was going through a similar situation as Ted, having divorced her husband and was now caring for her children on her own. I felt that Streep’s performance here was a bit overrated as she’s probably only in the film for 15 minutes.
Kramer vs. Kramer generally finds a nice balance between the emotional drama and the humor, and while I found the film entertaining overall, it’s not a movie that I see myself revisiting often.
Kramer vs. Kramer makes its 4K UHD debut as part of Sony’s Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection Volume 4. The release includes both a 4K and a Blu-ray disc. The 4K disc features Dolby Vision and a new transfer restored from the original camera negative. The image generally looks crisp and clean, with a pleasant level of film grain. Though there are a few moments where the grain is a bit heavy. The new Dolby Atmos soundtrack provides clear dialogue, and a nice general ambiance throughout.
The 4K and Blu-ray discs come packed on either side of a standard 4K keepcase. An insert provides instructions for redeeming a 4K Movies Anywhere digital copy of the film. The 4K disc contains two new bonus features—a somewhat bland new audio commentary by a film professor, and a collection of five never-before-seen deleted scenes—as well as the film’s trailer and some clips from a Q&A with writer/director Robert Benton and star Justin Henry. The Blu-ray disc, which appears to be identical to Sony’s previous 2009 release, contains an excellent 48-minute Making Of featurette.
What’s Included:
Film: (1:44:48)
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4K UHD:
- 2160p / Widescreen 1.85:1
- Dolby Vision / HDR10
- English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible), English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Mono DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, German 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Italian 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish (Castilian) 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish (Latin American) 5.1 Dolby Digital, Thai 5.1 Dolby Digital, Turkish 5.1 Dolby Digital
- Subtitles: English, English SDH, Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish (Castilian), Spanish (Latin American), Swedish, Thai, Turkish
- 1080p / Widescreen 1.85:1
- English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
- Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Blu-ray:
Extras:
All bonus material can only be found on the Blu-ray discs, which appears to be identical to Sony’s 2009 release.
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4k UHD:
- Commentary ith Film Professor Jennine Lanouette (1:44:49)
A new commentary provided by professor Jennine Lanouette, who teaches screenwriting/screenwriting analysis. I found this commentary to be quite slow and not very informative out of the gate, with Lanouette pretty much just stating the obvious of what’s happening on screen, with lots of pauses and dead air. These academic commentaries are usually filled with interesting trivia and factoids, but I found this one to be generally bland and not worth the time. - Deleted Scenes (6:21)
Collection of 5 never-before-seen deleted scenes sourced from the Columbia Pictures archive. They are presented in full frame black and white. The original audio could not be located, so they are presented with light environmental audio (such as chatter in the school hallway) and subtitles from the film’s screenplay. Play All, or select from:- Joanna’s Bathroom Cabinet (:34)
Joanna goes through the bathroom cabinet grabbing some perfume and a toothbrush. - Joanna Makes a List (1:34)
Joanna sits at the table smoking and drinking wine while making a list on the back of an envelope. - Margaret Calls Ted (1:31)
Margaret holds her daughter while calling Ted from a pay phone at the school to ask when he’s coming to pick up Billy. - Conversation at the Park (2:04)
Ted is teaching Billy how to ride his bike in the park when he runs off. Another “Saturday Father” offers advice on how to kill time with his kid. - Finding Billy (:45)
In the park, Billy runs away from his father towards a woman that looks like his mother.
- Joanna’s Bathroom Cabinet (:34)
- Featurettes (10:56)
Clips from a post-screening Q&A with writer/director Robert Benton and star Justin Henry (“Billy”). Play All, or select from:- Robert Benton on Acting (2:41)
Robert Benton talks about how he passed his direction of Justin through Dustin so that Justin would feel like it was coming from his father. He also talks about filming the ice cream fight scene between Billy and Ted. - Justin Henry on Acting (2:45)
Justin Henry talks about how he got cast for the film, and the acting process. - Mothers and Daughters (2:45)
Melissa Morell, who played Jane Alexander’s daughter Kim, asks if there were any casting changes in the film. Robert Benton mentions that there was a different well-known actress originally cast as Margaret but she froze up while filming one of the scenes. - Points of Pride (3:00)
Robert Benton talks about the scenes that stood out to him.
- Robert Benton on Acting (2:41)
- Theatrical Trailer (1:39)
- Making of Kramer vs Kramer (48:44)
The cast and crew talk about signing a disinterested Dustin Hoffman onto the project, rewriting the script based on Dustin’s own experiences, casting a busy Meryl Streep, casting the son, the relationship between Justin and Dustin, creating scenes based on truth, improvisation, making Justin cry on set, filming the glass break, the trial speech, reshooting the ending, the response to the film, and more. Includes clips, behind-the-scenes photos, and interviews with producer Stanley Jaffe, screenwriter/director Robert Benton, author Avery Corman, and stars Dustin Hoffman (“Ted Kramer”), Meryl Streep (“Joanna Kramer”), Justin Henry (“Billy Kramer”) & Jane Alexander (“Margaret Phelps”). Presented in full frame format. - Previews
Trailers for “Blu-ray DiscTM is High Definition!” and Stranger than Fiction.
Blu-ray:
Final Thoughts:
While Kramer vs Kramer is a well-acted dramedy, I can see the subject matter having limited appeal. I found it a bit surprising that this had won the Oscar for Best Picture as I don’t tend to see much replay value here. That said, I think Dustin Hoffman and newcomer Justin Henry have great chemistry as father and son and deliver some really emotional performances. Sony’s 4K release generally looks and sounds great, though there are a few moments where some excessive film grain creeps in. There are a couple of new bonus features included, but these consist of a forgettable commentary and 5 short deleted scenes without audio. The release also includes a legacy Making Of featurette that is really entertaining. Worth a look for fans of the film.
Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection Volume 4 (His Girl Friday/Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner/Kramer vs. Kramer/Starman/Sleepless in Seattle/Punch-Drunk Love) (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital) [4K UHD]
33% Off $215.99 $139.95 (as of April 26, 2024 09:37 GMT -04:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Kramer vs. Kramer
$12.99 (as of April 26, 2024 09:37 GMT -04:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
