Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983) (4K Ultra HD Review)
DIRECTED BY: Richard Pryor
STARRING: Richard Pryor
RATED: UR/Region: O/1:85/2160P/NUMBER OF DISCS 1
AVAILABLE FROM Sony Pictures
There are stand-up comedy specials, and then there are stand-up comedy events where the comedian basically walks onstage, grabs the microphone, and proceeds to dismantle every sacred cow in sight. Richard Pryor: Here and Now falls firmly into that second category.
Starring the incomparable Richard Pryor, this 1983 concert film captures the legendary comedian doing what he did best: telling brutally honest, wildly inappropriate, and painfully funny stories about life, fame, addiction, and pretty much anything else that wandered into his brain that night. Pryor doesn’t just tell jokes — he confesses them. Half the time it feels like you’re listening to a therapy session that somehow turned into a comedy masterclass.
The material itself is classic Pryor. He bounces from hilarious observations about marriage and relationships to some deeply personal moments about his own struggles. One minute you’re laughing at something completely ridiculous, and the next minute he’s casually dropping a brutally honest line that makes you go, “Oh… wow… okay.” It’s that balance of vulnerability and sharp humor that made him one of the greatest stand-ups to ever hold a mic.
Now, about that shiny new 4K release. Let’s just say if you’re expecting a razor-sharp demo disc that will melt your eyeballs with clarity… you might want to manage those expectations. The image is serviceable at best. The presentation looks a bit soft and murky at times, but that’s probably less the fault of the disc itself and more the reality of the original source material. The film was never exactly lit like a Hollywood blockbuster to begin with — it’s basically Pryor on a stage with moody concert lighting doing his thing — so there’s only so much magic any remaster can pull off.
Still, even if the visuals aren’t exactly reference quality, the performance is the real reason anyone is here, and on that front the release absolutely delivers. Pryor’s timing, physical comedy, and storytelling are still electric decades later. The audience reactions alone are worth it — you can practically feel the room shaking with laughter.
At the end of the day, Richard Pryor: Here and Now isn’t about pristine cinematography or a crystal-clear 4K transfer. It’s about witnessing one of the greatest comedians of all time doing what he did better than almost anyone before or since.
And honestly, when Richard Pryor is on stage firing on all cylinders, the picture quality is the last thing you’re thinking about anyway.
Extras
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