Drive (1997) 4K UHD Screenshots (Patreon)

Video

Well, this presentation is wonderful. Dripping with fidelity, texture, and sharpness, Drive shows exemplary definition all around. Exteriors and wide shots reveal nuance everywhere. Close-ups push facial detail for days. Flawlessly resolved grain keeps Drive's filmic texture alive, never betraying the source. A few remaining specks of dust aside and noticeable vertical banding on bright skylines aside, this is spotless.

Dolby Vision doesn't play subtle games. Light sources bloom wonderfully, giving the image pizazz. Sparks from missing gunshots look more vibrant than real world fireworks. Intense shadows barely fall into crush, and only as intended by the cinematography. Rich blacks keep Drive wholly dynamic, and well beyond the lower budget origins ever expected to be.

Although slightly pushed toward magenta, the saturated color grading doesn't limit primaries. This disc glows, accurate flesh tones included. Kadeen Hardison's red car is absurdly vivid, and that's only one example.

Audio

Debuting a new Atmos mix, it's an uneven, quiet track that needs better range to work. The score produces excellent low-end, yet the action's flat, empty, and hollow sound doesn't amplify anything. Kicks and gunshots go nearly untouched by the LFE, and if so, create a murky, puffy sound rather than tight rumble. Bumping the volume to pick up on dialog means exaggerating the bass that is featured. There's no winning here.

Inconsistent positional work moves dialog around, yet sounds artificial, even hollow. Gun play doesn't utilize the rears, strictly stereo at best.