It seems that we’ve been waiting forever for Boiling Point to arrive on the physical home formats, but it looks like that wait was more than worth it as Second Sight has served up a limited edition Blu-ray to absolutely devour. Dripping with bonus stuff, and presented in style that we’ve come to expect from the distributor of fine, collectible home entertainment, this is the definitive version of one of the best films of the year.
Released in the UK all of the way back in January after a hugely successful film festival run during the second half of 2021, Boiling Point has been a critically acclaimed marvel that deserves this take away treat that fans will absolutely feast upon.
Set in a restaurant and kitchen during the run-up to Christmas on one of the busiest nights of the year, the action is captured in one continuous take – an uncut, free-flowing shot following the staff, led by tormented head chef Andy Jones (a superb Stephen Graham), as they deal with the challenges of the evening.
From zealous health inspectors, wedding proposals, expectant Instagram influencers, and even celebrity chefs (a wonderful Jason Flemyng), the team has to endure it all, one event leading onto another, all of which escalate over the course of a breakneck ninety minutes of immersive, tension building cinema unlike anything else you’ll have to endure in front of a screen this year.
Directed skilfully by Philip Barantini (Villain), Boiling Point is an absolute masterclass from all involved. The acting is second to none, but this is a technical marvel as well – from the excellent production design to the brilliant, weaving camerawork from Matthew Lewis, and the exceptional sound team – 30-plus mics were reportedly used on the production to capture every performance and action.
We are, of course, taken behind the scenes in the multiple featurettes served up across this one-disc limited edition. And that disc is loaded to the brim. The stand-out is ‘The Making Of Boiling Point’ – a thirty-minute (ish) doc which features interviews with cast members (a notable absentee being Stephen Graham), the producers Bart Ruspoli and Hester Ruoff, Barantini and writer James Cummings, and more, all of whom guide us through how the project was brought to the screen. We start in 2018 and the award-winning short of the same name and head through pre-production, and then production of the feature film in March 2020, the shoot wrapping just hours before the coronavirus lockdown.
There are two brilliant audio commentaries; one with the producers, Ruspoli and Ruoff, along with writer James Cummings, and then another with an acting slant, featuring actors Jason Flemyng and Ray Panthaki, who are also so, so good in the film. There are also individual interviews with the producers and writer Cummings in three separate featurettes.
Other limited edition contents, which we didn’t get sight of for our review include a 70-page booklet with essays from esteemed critics, and an exclusive interview with cinematographer Matthew Lewis, and six postcards.
This is A-game collectible home entertainment – just about as good as it gets. An absolute feast for fans of filmmaking and the art behind it. A worthy disc for such a groundbreaking piece of British cinema, a film that’ll have a place in recent history as one of the greats of its time. Unmissable.
Boiling Point
Summary
A release worthy of the quality of the film. Beautifully presented and crafted, this limited edition should absolutely be at the top of every cinephile’s list this Christmas.
