BLU-RAY REVIEW

Goldfinch, The

Featured In Issue 247, January 2020

Picture5
Sound4.5
WSR Score4.5
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):
Warner Bros . Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
3000082715
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Drug use and language
(Retail Price):
$24.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
149
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
12/3/2019
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
John Crowley
(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):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):

"The Goldfinch" is based on the novel by Donna Tartt. The last time 13-year-old Theo Decker (Fegley) saw his mother, she was gliding away from him into another gallery of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Seconds later, a terrorist bomb exploded, destroying priceless pieces of art...and shattering Theo's life forever. The tragedy changes the course of his life, sending him on a stirring odyssey of grief and guilt, reinvention and redemption, friendship and even love. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes "The Goldfinch Unbound" (HD 12:54) and "The Real Goldfinch" (HD 08:38), 13 deleted scenes with commentary from Director John Crowley, upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 1.85:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa Mini and Arri Alexa XT Studio camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The imagery is very natural throughout with superb cinematography helmed by Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC. The picture is at times stylized using in-focus and out-of-focus camera techniques. Throughout, the appearance is superb with excellent color fidelity and resolution. Hues are naturally saturated with strong primaries. The flashback scenes of the museum's explosion wreckage are desaturated to create a haunting effect. The desert "suburbs" of Las Vegas are strikingly stylized. Fleshtones are natural and accurate throughout within the production design's lighting scheme. Contrast is well balanced with revealing shadow delineation, deep blacks and perfectly-lit interiors using excellent spot effects. Both interior and exterior scenes are visually wonderful. Resolution is excellent whether in the context of facial features, clothing, or object textures. Close-ups of costumes are especially satisfying. This is a wonderful visual experience and is reference quality throughout. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is stitched together with a orchestral score that is somber and nuanced with a frontal focus and subtle surround envelopment. At times, though, segments of pop music and orchestral music are presented with an aggressive presence. Dialogue is intelligible throughout with excellent spatial integration and is often projected with virtually no background atmospherics. Theo's narration is perfectly weighted forward. Foley sound effects perfectly enhance the realism of the settings. Atmospherics enhance the convincing realism of the settings. Sound effects are not overbearing, but there is one segment of a brief thunderous rainstorm that projects and is supported with deep bass extension. Overall surround envelopment is subtle but dimensionally enveloping and limited to the music and weather events. This is a satisfying soundtrack that perfectly supports the dialogue-focused storytelling. (Gary Reber)