“The Mask” in 4K UHD – Still “S-ssss-ssss-sssss-smokin'!”
- Bill Kelley III
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
4K ULTRA HD REVIEW / HDR SCREENSHOTS
Jim Carrey became a Hollywood superstar in 1994 through his roles in “The Mask,” “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” and “Dumb and Dumber.” Here, he plays nerdy bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss, who finds a mysterious wooden mask that changes his life!
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“THE MASK”
4K Ultra HD; 1994; PG-13 for stylized violence
Best extra: “The Man Behind ‘The Mask’” featurette
WHEN New Line Cinema first pitched “The Mask” to director Chuck Russell, they conceived it as a horror adaptation of the four-issue Dark Horse comic book set in mythical Edge City. But Russell, who had previously directed “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3” (1987), felt it would be too much like Wes Craven’s creation of Freddy Krueger.
In the enclosed booklet, Australian critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas’ essay says, there were obvious parallels between ‘The Mask’ character and Freddy, since both “clearly have a passion for ironic, darkly comic pithy one-liners, and irrational bodies.”
She also felt there were fundamental tensions between the masked and unmasked personas of nerdy bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss, who discovers the wooden mask floating in the river, thinking it was a drowning victim. Comic sensation Jim Carrey (“Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” “Bruce Almighty,” “The Truman Show”), known for his physical attributes, became the perfect Stanley, the larger-than-life character, part real and part animated effects.
(1&2) Edge City Savings co-workers Charlie Schumacher (Richard Jeni) and Stanley Ipkiss are bowled over by the beauty of new customer Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz). (3) Scammer mechanics Burt (Johnny Williams and Irv (Tim Bagley) tell Stanley his Honda Civic needs new brakes and a transmission - although he only came in for an oil change. The scene was filmed in the same L.A. building used in “Ghostbusters” (1984). (4) Gangster Dorian Tyrell (Peter Greene) runs the Coco Bongo nightclub. (5) Stanley finds the wooden mask in the river.
The late Roger Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and “At the Movies” TV show, said in his original review, “I could sense some of Carrey’s unrestrained energy and gift for comic invention, and here, where the story and the décor and the idea of the mask provide an anchor for his energy. Carrey demonstrates that he does have a genuine gift.”
In late summer of 1994, “The Mask” became an enormous blockbuster and finished as the No. 8 box office movie of the year, with over 29 million tickets sold in North America. The film also launched the motion picture career of 21-year-old Cameron Diaz, a successful model since age 16, as the flirty Tina Carlyle, who had real chemistry opposite Carrey, especially during their magical dance number at the Coco Bongo Club.
In a rare achievement, Carrey clocked three No. 1 films in 1994 with “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” The Mask,” and “Dumb and Dumber.” During the ‘90s, Carrey was the No. 10 top actor for the decade. Jack Nicholson and Tom Hanks were respectively No. 1 and No. 2.
(1&2) Stanley is bewitched and transformed by Loki's mask - much to the horror of his landlady, Mrs. Peenman (Nancy Fish). (3&4) Stanley turns the tables on a gang of thugs and their leader (B.J. Barie) when they try to mug him.
VIDEO
Warner Brothers handled the 4K/16-bit scanning of the original 35mm camera negative in Burbank, and then the folks at Duplitech, also in the L.A. area, worked the digital restoration and HDR10 and Dolby Vision grading. The results are first-rate – especially with the numerous VFX shots created by Industrial Light & Magic.
Film grain is well defined and structured and, overall, the clarity is very good, several notches over the old 2K master used for the previous Blu-ray. The only time the clarity drops is during the composite visual effects. The colors are well saturated throughout, with a natural facial palette.
Arrow Video orchestrated the restoration, and the final master was approved by director Chuck Russell.
AUDIO
The original DTS-HD MA six-channel is carried over, but a brand-new Dolby Atmos mix was created, which elevates the enveloping auditable experience. The bass response is very good. The soundstage fidelity is separated across the front and surrounds during the nightclub scenes with big band, Latin, and hip-hop rhythms. Music from Tony Toni Tone, Harry Connick Jr., Royal Crown Revue, and K7. Randy Edelman (“The Last of the Mohicans,” “DragonHeart”) provides the musical score.
(1&2) Stanley is questioned by Lieutenant Mitch Kellawy (Peter Riegert) of the Edge City Police regarding Mrs. Peenman’s scare. (3) Reporter Peggy Brandt (Amy Yasbeck) questions Stanley at his workplace. (4) Stanley experiences some odd, nocturnal fantasies about singer/dancer Tina. (5&6) Stanley scores big before Tyrell’s mobster goons can rob the bank.
EXTRAS
The 4K includes two commentaries – The best one, with Russell, was originally recorded for the 1994 laser disc and the second, also with Russell and his top crew members, including New Line co-chairman Bob Shaye, screenwriter Mike Werb, executive producer Mike Richardson, producer Bob Engelman, VFX supervisor Scott Squires, animation supervisor Tom Bertino, and cinematographer John Leonetti.
“The Man Behind ‘The Mask’” (20 mins.) features a new interview with Russell, who details his early life and inspirations. The director said he was always looking for something fresh, and he knew the combination of Carrey in his “almost R-rated cartoon,” with first-timer Diaz and its “top-flight effects” from ILM was going to be something special.
Russell continues his story, growing up in Chicago, loving comedy, and making a fake ID to get into the ‘The Second City’ improv theater to see what he called, “The greats.” Second City veteran Harold Ramis became a “bit of a comedy mentor to me.” Next, he got his feet wet as one of the producers for Rodney Dangerfield’s “Back to School” (1986). Then he directed the third installment in the Freddy Krueger series, in which he put his own comical spin on the franchise. “They trusted me,” and it became the highest-grossing independent film of the year.
A few years later, while cruising through a comic book shop, he stumbled upon “The Mask” and “The design was amazing.” Strangely, within a week, “I guess by good luck,” the studio, New Line, reached out about the movie project. The original script was “super dark with people’s faces getting ripped off. In some ways, it was darker than the comic. We called it ‘Splatterpunk.’”
(1-3) Tina charms Stanley during a performance at the Coco Bongo, leading to one of the film’s animated dance numbers. (4&5) Stanley faces a showdown when confronted by Tyrell and his men at the club.
“From Strip to Screen: Adapting the Comic into a Blockbuster” (18 mins.) features new interviews with creator/executive producer Mike Richardson and screenwriters Mike Werb and Mark Verheiden. Richardson reveals that he conceived the first drawings for “The Mask” in 1985 and, once the comic was published, New Line approached him about a possible movie. He worked up a treatment, and he and comic friend Verheiden started the script’s first draft with a Tex Avery cartoon flair – literally stealing a couple of scenes from the cartoon.
“Green Faces Blue Screens: The Visual Effects of The Mask” (14 mins.) a new interview with ILM visual effects supervisor Scott Squires, and how they used the Avery cartoons for ‘The Mask’ style. Squires got his start with effects master Douglas Trumbull during the production of Spielberg’s sci-fi classic “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977).
“Ssssssplicin’!: Editing ‘The Mask’” (7 mins.) another new interview with editor Arthur Coburn.
“Ask Peggy: Amy Yasbeck Tells All!” (12 mins.) the only interview with a cast member, as Yasbeck played newspaper reporter Peggy Brandt. She had just finished a role in Mel Brooks’ “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993) and later married actor John Ritter (ABC TV show “Three’s Company) until his sudden death in 2003.
“Toeing the Conga Line: Making ‘The Mask’ Move” (10 mins.) interview with choreographer Jerry Evans includes some rare, behind the scenes footage of Carrey dancing on the Warner Bros. backlot street scene. He remembers when Russell told him, “The studio thinks were making a horror film, but secretly we’re making a musical.”
“Terriermania: ‘The Mask’ and America’s Obsession with the Jack Russell Terrier” (10 mins.) a video essay with critic Elizabeth Purchell, who focuses on the increase of dogs in movies and TV shows during the 1990s. We will never forget Stanley’s dog Max – who just happens to be a Jack Russell Terrier.
(1) Stanley visits Dr. Arthur Neuman (Ben Stein), mythology expert and author of “The Masks We Wear,” in an attempt to learn more about The Mask. (2-4) Stanley tries to escape Edge City cops, leading to another, fabulous dance extravaganza. (5) Tyrell threatens Tina about her connection to The Mask.
Archive featurettes: “Return to Edge City” (27 mins.), “Making of” (3 mins.), “Interview Bites” (4 mins.), “Introducing Cameron Diaz” (13 mins.), “Cartoon Logic” (13 mins.), “What Makes Fido Run” (11 mins.)
“Deleted Scenes” features four scenes; two with commentary from the director.
“B-Roll” (5 mins.) Behind-the-scenes footage.
Theatrical Trailer, Image Galleries, mini-poster, and postcards
The 38-page color booklet:
“Masks of Dreams, Masks of Nightmares” essay from Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.
“Original Production Notes” are broken into three sections.
“About the Production” details the daily four-hour transformation of Carrey into his ‘Mask’ character from Oscar-winning make-up wiz Greg Cannom. It also highlights the work of costume designer Ha Nguyen and production designer Craig Stearns creating all of the live-action scenes in Los Angeles.
“About the Cast” provides bios for each of the leading cast members, including Carrey, Diaz, Peter Riegert, Richard Jeni, Amy Yasbeck, Peter Greene, and Max (Milo) the dog.
“About the Filmmakers” provides bios for Russell, producer Bob Engelman, the crew at ILM, and cinematographer John R. Leonetti.
“The Mask” is an enjoyable 4K UHD upgrade. Whether you’re a first watch or “smokin’” fan, it’s still fun and laugh-out-loud crazy. We hope the partnership between Arrow and Warner isn’t derailed with a possible purchase of the studio from a streaming mega studio.
— Bill Kelley III, High-Def Watch producer
(1) Stanley attempts to escape jail with the help of his dog, Milo. (2) Tyrell tries the mask and becomes a Devil-like character. (3&4) Milo finds The Mask and gives it a try.
SPECS:
100 GB disc
TRUE 4K mastering
35mm film stock captured with spherical lens, in the original theatrical aspect ratio 1.85:1.
Video bitrate: Varies from the upper 50 Megabits per second to over 100 Mbps.
HDR10 maximum light level: 488 nits
Max frame average light level: 302 nits
Box office: $120 million domestically and $351 million worldwide, with a production budget of $23 million.
Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Effects, Visual Effects.
Rotten Tomatoes: Top Critics 78 percent, Moviegoers 68 percent. “The Mask” was No. 5 in the RT Top 30 Jim Carrey Movies. No. 1 was “The Truman Show” and No. 2 “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”
Metacritic: Critics 59 percent, User score 7.6
