The rise of Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), a 19-year-old sentenced to six years inside a French prison.

CRITIQUE

Jacques Audiard’s (The Beat That My Heart Skipped) Oscar-nominated A Prophet (Un Prophète) just gets better and better the more I watch it. Having the opportunity to only see it once back at the start of the year before I wrote my original theatrical review, I have now watched it three times at home (one of those listening to the audio commentary) since receiving the Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Classics. This film has power. This film has punch. This film is a masterpiece.

To quote my Feb. 2010 review:

“I loved so much of this picture it’s hard to know where to begin. The opening sequences are shrouded in a cloudy elegance that is both disturbing and thought-provoking, Malik’s decision to acquiesce to César’s demands one that is both detestable but also viscerally rational. He literally has no choice unless he wants to sacrifice himself for a fellow Arab he doesn’t even know, his choice one of survival the majority of us thankfully will never have to make.

It is what he does after this choice is made, however, that gives Audiard’s epic its emotional power. Instead of crumbling and becoming a hardened shell of his former self, Malik instead takes César’s power over him as a challenge to better himself. Slowly but surely he begins to learn things he never cared to during his youth, realizing that knowledge is indeed power and the more he has of it the better the likelihood he can ultimately leave prison on top of the food chain instead of at its very bottom. Like a master chess player he starts putting the pieces in place for an eventual coup, and while it isn’t certain he’ll be the last man standing if things work out as planned the chances of his falling down the ladder of power are virtually nil.

All the actors here are great, the cast an expansive and extensive once. But as good as they all are (especially a magnificent Adel Bencherif playing Malik’s best friend, confidant and eventual cancer-stricken business partner Ryad) none of them hold a candle to the film’s central figures. Both Rahim and Arestrup work in beautiful tandem together, and as one grows in stature the weight falling on the shoulders of the other as his influence falters is positively earth shattering. These two actors knock it clean out of the park, their last scene together one of such extreme emotional power I swear I sat their watching it with my mouth agape in awe.”

All of that remains true and then some. Additionally, some of my earlier reservations in regards to the film being too packed and having too much plot to support even a 155-minute running time have mostly ebbed away, the film packing so much more of a wallop on subsequent viewings did it did that first time sitting in the theatre. Granted, I do still think Audiard rushes the finale, the last 15 minutes or so still not as perfectly delivered as I keep hoping one of these viewings I will suddenly discover them to be. But as complaints go that’s really it, A Prophet a sensational, completely engrossing criminal thriller the likes of which I honestly just can’t get enough of.

THE VIDEO

A Prophet is presented in 1.85:1/1080p widescreen. This is a stunning transfer, really exceptional, easily one of the best I’ve ever seen from Sony in regards to their Sony Pictures Classics titles.

THE AUDIO

Available audio tracks include French and German 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks with optional English, English SDH, German, Turkish and French subtitles. Didn’t listen to the German dub so I can’t tell anyone how that sounds, but the original French track is extraordinary. Let me just say again, Sony has done a stupendous job on this release. I’m totally blown away.

THE EXTRAS

Extras here include:

Commentary with director Jacques Audiard, actor Tahar Rahim and co-writer Thomas Bidegain: While the commentary is in French and is subtitled, it is still just wonderful offering numerous insights into the film and its making. Really worth a listen.

Deleted Scenes (SD): Some of what I mused about wanting more of in my theatrical review can be found in these deleted scenes. I have to admit, after watching them, Audiard’s decision to excise all of them was probably the correct one.

Also on hand is a collection of video footage (presented in standard definition) shot during pre-production in the form of Tahar Rahim screen tests and Tahar Rahim and Gilles Cohen rehearsal footage.

Rounding out the extras is the film's Theatrical Trailer (HD) and a host of Previews (HD). 

The disc is also BD-Live enabled.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A Prophet is a magnificent film that has been given a truly sensational presentation on Blu-ray. A must-buy.