This special limited edition J-card MediaBook slipcase (designed by El'Cesart) is limited to 3,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Note: this release is available to be purchased on its own, or bundled with a special Cinématographe Compact Mirror. This Limited Edition Slipcase + Compact Mirror bundle is limited to 100 units. (mirror size is about 2.75" x 2.75") (Sold Out)
Taking its name from the Lumière Brothers invention of the same name, Cinématographe is a new sub-label from Vinegar Syndrome that seeks to fill gaps in the canon of American cinema. Offering a mix of auteur driven studio films produced during the New Hollywood era of the late 1960s and 70s all the way through the indie boom of the 1980s and 90s, Cinématographe will explore the wide breadth of American moviemaking, spanning numerous genres and scales of production. Curated and produced by Vinegar Syndrome's Justin LaLiberty, each limited edition release will be housed in a specially designed, cloth-bound, media book with embossed foil titles and custom molded disc trays accompanied by a slipcase featuring newly commissioned art and an individually numbered J-card.
Los Angeles vice squad detectives, and partners, Jake Rodriguez (Tupac Shakur, Juice) and Frank Divinci (James Belushi, Red Heat), stage a faux drug deal with a drug trafficker that they end up murdering and robbing, taking his cash and drugs in the process. Upon turning in the stolen cocaine at their precinct, Rodriguez and Divinci are notified that the person they murdered wasn’t a lowly street criminal but, in fact, a DEA agent in deep cover, igniting a citywide search for those responsible for his murder. Now Rodriguez and Divinci have to find someone else to pin the murder on, before it’s too late.
Written and directed by genre cinema stalwart Jim Kouf (Stakeout, The Hidden), GANG RELATED is an oft-overlooked entry in mid-90s crime cinema, anchored by an outstanding, would-be star-making, performance from hip hop star Tupac Shakur who would die only days after production wrapped, never able to see the final film. Shot on location on the streets of Los Angeles and featuring an eclectic ensemble cast that includes James Earl Jones, Dennis Quad, Lela Rochon, David Paymer, Gary Cole and rapper Kool Moe Dee, GANG RELATED is a vital time capsule of Los Angeles in the mid-90s as well as a potent swan song for Shakur. Cinématographe is proud to present Jim Kouf’s gritty, star-studded, police procedural in a new 4K restoration from its original negative, accompanied by hours of new extras.
directed by: Jim Kouf starring: Jim Belushi, Tupac Shakur, Lela Rochon, Dennis Quaid, James Earl Jones, Gary Cole, Terrence 'T.C.' Carson, Wendy Crewson, Kool Moe Dee, Reggie Miller, David Paymer 1997 / 111 min / 2.35:1 / English DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
New audio commentary with writer/director Jim Kouf and executive producer Lynn Bigelow-Kouf
Sounds of a City - a new video interview with Jim Kouf and Lynn Bigelow-Kouf
Dream Opportunity - a new video interview with producer and co-president of Orion Pictures, Brad Krevoy
Staying In Business - a new video interview with producer Steven Stabler
Shelf Life - a new video interview with executive in charge of music at Orion Pictures, Marcus Barone
Dynamic In His Range - a new video conference with Jonathan Abrams, author of The Come-Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop, on the legacy of Tupac Shakur
Archival Making Of Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
New text essays by film critics Quatoyiah Murry, Brandon Streussnig and Travis Woods
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.7261147 / 5 from 157 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
This limited edition release of 'Gang Related' by Cinématographe offers exceptional packaging, outstanding picture quality, and a peerless restoration process. The film, featuring a star-studded cast, is highly regarded by customers. The extras, including new interviews and featurettes, are detailed and informative. The audio and video quality is top-notch, making this a must-have for fans of mid-90s crime cinema.
"Great Film, Great Restoration, Great Packaging!" — Paul K.
"The movie is a tense drama that has great acting and a terrific storyline!" — Paul K.
"The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture!" — Paul K.
Reviews
Terrific 90s Crime Thriller
"Jim Belushi and Tupac topline this hugely underrated film, about a pair of corrupt L. A. detectives who seek to pin the blame on an innocent man when they unwittingly murder an undercover DEA agent. Both are great, and they're supported by a fine cast, including Dennis Quaid, Gary Cole, James Earl Jones, and Gregory Scott Cummins, who frankly should be in everything. The remaster looks great and the extras are very welcome (I'm always happy to get rid of an Olive release)."
— Kyle S. (4/5)
Cop procedural with a difference
"2 Dirty cops rip off street drug dealers making it look like a drug deal gone wrong for some extra cash until they kill the wrong guy. Who better to find someone to frame for it than them right ? Well fate intervenes with every move they make in this very black comedy of errors"
— KEVIN S. (4/5)
Great package
"First time watch for me and I loved it. Great performances, great restoration, great packaging."
— Jakob P. (5/5)
An excellent restoration of the
"An excellent restoration of the film. The picture is great. This is a good release with a good cast. It falls into an interesting time period for film in the 1990s. With the final performance of Tupac and Jim Belushi."
— Bradley T. (5/5)
Great edition on an underrated neo-noir
"Back in 1997, Gang Related got more attention for being the last film starring the late rapper-actor Tupac Shakur. With some time and distance, though, this picture now stands apart from its star's legacy: this is a terrific little neo-noir that effectively splits the difference between the crooked-cops milieu of a James Ellroy novel and a "dumb crooks bungle doing stupid crime" conceit that you might find in a Coen Brothers movie. The Cinematografe disc loads this film up with great features, all of which are engaging and informative."
— Joshua K. (5/5)
Fun and Unique Release
"A very fun and unusual release with a lot of personality. The presentation is strong, and the film’s energy comes through nicely. It is a great addition for collectors looking for something different and memorable."
— Thomas L. (4/5)
CORRUPTION, VIOLANCE, GREED & GRIT
"This was a blind buy, and I went in with only a vague idea of the plot based on the title. While I found the film engaging and compelling, it isn't always believable. It’s a difficult one to categorize—perhaps a police drama laced with dark humor describes it best. Though the story is often preposterous and riddled with plot holes, the director tends to gloss over crucial details with a certain laziness. Furthermore, the conclusion leaves the audience with little closure regarding the characters' fates. However, what impressed me even more than the film itself was the stunning treatment it received from Cinématographe. Not only is the picture quality exceptional, but the wealth of supplemental features is truly remarkable. The deep dive into the bonus features makes the purchase worthwhile despite the film's narrative flaws."
— Dennis B. (4/5)
Who would have guessed Tupac
"Who would have guessed Tupac and James Belushi would have the chemistry they did. What a great restoration"
— Ralph E. (5/5)
Good Film
"A good film with good acting. What might have been. ."
— Bruce K. (5/5)
Tupac shows his talents.
"Gang Related isn't one of Pac's better films, liked Gridlock'd, but it does show that his talents went beyond music."
— Marc F. (5/5)
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