BLU-RAY REVIEW

On Chesil Beach

Picture4
Sound4
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):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
57198418
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Some sexual content and nudity
(Retail Price):
$29.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
110
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
AB
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
8/7/2018
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Dominic Cooke
(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):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

"On Chesil Beach" takes place in 1962 England where two young people from drastically different backgrounds—well-to-do Florence (Ronan) and working-class Edward (Howle)—meet and begin an idyllic courtship. Though their love is true, the societal pressures and sexual mores of the time cause strain between the young couple, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurette "The Story Behind On Chesil Beach" (HD 09:09), seven deleted scenes (HD 06:05), upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed in Techniscope on Kodak Vision3 film stock using the Arricam LT and Arricam ST camera systems, and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. While film projects can exhibit impressive sharpness and resolution, this project exhibits slightly soft imagery with a light grain structure. While texturing is excellent, edges and intricacies of objects are soft. And fast movements are a touch blurred upon examination. Depending on lighting, fabric textures and objects do come alive, as well as facial features and hair. The color palette is wonderfully rich and warm with nicely saturated hues. The picture's palette is beautiful. Contrast is excellent with a very natural and realistic and good dynamic range that exhibits deep blacks, white levels, and respectful shadow delineation. This is a good-looking picture that is pleasing to view. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is focused on dialogue as one would expect. Dialogue is intelligible throughout with good spatial integration. ADR quality is excellent during the row on the beach, as well as Foley sound effects. Atmospherics are realistic such as in a rock club, a movie theatre, and a concert performance theatre. The sonic setting for the string quartet/quintet has a natural presence. Natural ambiance is effectively presented throughout. The orchestral music is wonderful. In one scene Florence demonstrates for Edward the new rage "stereophonic sound" played on vinyl with the orchestra first sounding out of the console's loudspeakers crescendoing to full orchestra spread wide and deep across the soundstage. The music nicely shapes the film's narrative and characters. Atmospherics enhance the realism. Sound effects are sporadic but also realistic, without exaggeration. Surround energy is subtle throughout. With good music support and fidelity, this is a very enjoyable soundtrack. (Gary Reber)