I think there's a range of this depending on what's been done to the print. The phenomenon you're seeing is likely due to the 4K restoration process, which is sometimes overdone.

IIRC you've been to some recent theatrical screenings of old films (Palm Springs?)...do you have the same sense when you see them? The restored films from French noir that we've screened do not generally have the type of overdone effect, so it could be localized to American-made blu-rays.