BLU-RAY REVIEW

Informers, The

Featured In Issue 142, September 2009

Picture5
SoundNR
WSR Score3.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
32123
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Strong sexual content, nudity, drug use, pervasive language, and some disturbing images
(Retail Price):
$34.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
98
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A, B & C
(Theatrical Year):
2009
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
08/25/09
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Gregor Jordan
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby TrueHD 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, The Informers is an interweaving tale, which unfolds in Los Angeles in the decadent '60s: a city ruled by addictions of every type—from sex, to drugs, to power—where youth is wasted, where love is fleeting, where every night is a headlong rush to the next orgy of sensation. Sooner or later, the party has to end...and the hangover is bound to be a killer. (Gary Reber)

Special features include director and cast commentary, the featurette Human Intersections: Making The Informers (HD 15:26), previews, and BD-Live interactivity.

The 1080p AVC picture is excellent, in terms of contrast and shadow delineation, as well as color fidelity. Blacks are deep and solid throughout, and shadows are nicely rendered and reveal good depth. Colors accentuate primary hues and exhibit a rich and warm palette. The imagery is varied, with scenes that are bright and others that are dark. Fleshtones are consistently accurate and reveal fine variations in complexions. Resolution is superb, resulting in sharp and clear images, with fine facial expressions and object textures revealing of detail. The picture is impressively dimensional as well. This is a finely resolved and colorful picture that is often striking in appearance. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby® TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely produced, with well-resolved low-level atmospheric sound effects that, at times, create an enveloping holosonic® soundfield. The music, when present, contributes to the sense of spatial envelopment. Dialogue is nicely recorded and spatially integrated, for a very natural presence, with excellent fidelity that does not sound bloated. The music is well recorded, with a wide and deep soundstage, and often effectively heard softly in the background, providing a sense of depth to the scene. Low bass provides a solid foundation and sounds natural, not overly exaggerated and "produced." The club scene sound is very spatial and dramatic. Overall, this is an effective soundtrack that nicely extends the visuals into the room, for a dimensional experience.f(Gary Reber)