Best Buy is giving one of Steven Soderbergh’s hidden jewels a 4K makeover. On October 11, fans will be able to rediscover the film that sparked the director’s creative revival, The Limey, a 1999 criminal thriller depicting one man’s inexorable pursuit for revenge in Los Angeles. The release will be available exclusively on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray steelbook. Unfortunately, the filmmaker then went on to make three of his most famous and successful films, Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and Ocean’s Eleven, therefore the picture was quickly eclipsed. The Limey is a dark and suspenseful criminal thriller that stars Terence Stamp as an ex-con from Britain who travels to Los Angeles in quest of answers about the “accidental” murder of his daughter.
When he looks into it, he discovers that the incredibly rich music producer Terry Valentine is the main suspect (Peter Fonda). He soon discovers that Valentine is more dubious than the audience was led to think by his record label, but he is no easy target because of his large security team. Even nevertheless, Wilson’s relentless pursuit of the truth leads him closer and closer to the truth and, ultimately, to his inevitable retribution. Although it was well-received by critics, the picture ultimately failed at the box office, grossing only $3.2 million on a budget of $10 million. Soderbergh assembled an impressive cast for Billy Budd, with Stamp leading a trio of Oscar candidates for his supporting part.
Oscar nominations went to Lesley Ann Warren for her supporting part in Victor/Victoria and Henry Fonda for his main performance in Ulee’s Gold. In addition to Emmy nominee for Petrocelli Barry Newman, the film also included Independent Spirit Award nominee Luis Guzmán, who went on to star in additional Soderbergh masterpieces. While the new steelbook version is light on extras, the audio commentary might be useful in understanding the picture.
Soderbergh and Dark City screenwriter Lem Dobbs sit down for a candid dialogue about the film in one commentary, while Fonda, Stamp, Newman, and Warren join the two in another for a more in-depth discussion. In addition, the steelbook set comes with a disc of the film’s isolated score, so fans may hear experienced artist Cliff Martinez’s score without any distractions. On October 11, The Limey debuts in a special 4K and Blu-ray steelbook exclusive to Best Buy. Box image depicts Stamp’s face behind red prison bars that, when slid off, set him free to continue his quest for vengeance; the packaging is pretty attractive.