BLU-RAY REVIEW

Stone

Featured In Issue 154, February 2011

Picture4.5
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):
Anchor Bay Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
BD21681
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Strong sexuality and violence, and pervasive language
(Retail Price):
$39.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
105
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2010
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
01/25/11
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
John Curran
(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):

In Stone, Jack Mabry (De Niro), a parole officer days away from retirement, is asked to review the case of Gerald "Stone" Creeson (Norton), who's in prison for arson. Now eligible for early release, Stone needs to convince Jack he has reformed, but his attempts to use his wife Lucetta (Jovovich) to influence the older man's decision have profound and unexpected effects on them both. This tale of passion, betrayal, and corruption skillfully weaves together the parallel journeys of two men grappling with dark impulses, as the line between lawman and lawbreaker becomes precariously thin. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a making-of featurette (HD 06:16), the theatrical trailer, and up-front previews.

The 1080p AVC picture is well produced, with an excellent natural appearance that exhibits good detail. The color palette is naturally hued, with perfectly balanced saturation. The prison scenes are characteristically greenish hued, due to the interior institutional treatment. Yet fleshtones retain a perfectly natural characteristic throughout. Resolution is excellent, with vivid detail, especially in close-ups of facial features, clothes, and object textures. Contrast is well balanced as well, with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. This is an effective visual experience that perfectly supports the storytelling. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby® TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack sounds natural throughout, with an effective spatially integrated dialogue presence. The sound is, at times, spatially engaging, with aggressive surrounds that convey holosonic® envelopment, especially when the music score is engaged. The prison scenes are effectively engaging spatially, with a wide and deep soundfield presence. Bass extension at times is strong, with below-25 Hz .1 LFE energy, for enhanced dramatic effect. The music is nicely recorded with a wide and deep soundstage. This is a nicely produced soundtrack that perfectly complements the storytelling and provides engaging dramatic effect. (Gary Reber)