• Login

    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Whistleblower, The

    Featured In Issue 164, February 2012

    Picture4
    Sound4
    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):
    20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    2278084
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Disturbing violent content including a brutal sexual assult, graphic nudity and language
    (Retail Price):
    $29.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    112
    (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):
    01/24/12
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Larysa Kondracki
    (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):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    In The Whistleblower, Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac (Weisz) accepts a U.N. peacekeeper position in postwar Bosnia. There she uncovers a deadly sex trafficking ring. After learning that fellow peacekeepers and military contractors are involved in the ghastly practice and its cover-up, Bolkovac risks her own life to save the lives of others and expose the corruption. The film was inspired by actual events. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include the featurette Kathy Bolkovac: The Real Whistleblower (HD 05:31) and up-front previews.

    The 1080p AVC picture is shot with a realistic, slightly gritty texture, which exhibits slight 35 mm film grain. The appearance is very filmic. The color palette is naturally hued with realistic tones and primaries. Fleshtones are perfectly natural throughout. Contrast is well balanced, with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is generally excellent, with revealing detail exhibited in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture, but at times the picture is a bit softly focused. The overall effect is to present a picture experience that appears realistic and nicely supportive of the "true events" nature of the storytelling. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack delivers a suspenseful realistic sonic experience supported with well-produced sound elements. The primary focus is frontal, but the surround appropriately kicks in with an aggressive presence during the more intense scenes. Atmospherics and sound effects are directionalized across the soundstage and at times in the surrounds. The .1 LFE channel is engaged in support of the more dynamic sequences. The music score is nicely recorded with an engaging holosonic® presence. Dialogue is naturally voiced, though, ADR often restricts convincing spatial integration. Overall, this is a solid sonic presentation that nicely supports the storytelling. (Gary Reber)

    Reason #105 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    Since Issue 5 (my first), I focused on reviews of Laser Discs and now DVDs, and From The Editor's Couch. Also, WSR has a lot of punch in the new equipment features. The technical essays have been superb! My home theatre setup depended (and still depends) on knowledge gained from WSR. WSR has become the media reference for me with regard to picture and sound quality assurance in display equipment and widescreen entertainment (movies, music events, and documentaries). I still do not have Issues 1 through 4 or the Premiere Special Edition of WSR and hope you put them on the subscribers' site eventually, so that I can giggle at some of the early typos and slips (if you leave them in). However, I'm sure that the early editions make for interesting historical reading as well, because I believe WSR has moved the display industry forward through the pushing the envelope attitude of Gary Reber. Carry on.

    Jerry Daca
    26864 Mandelieu Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 • Phone: 951 676 4914 • Fax: 951 693 2960
    Copyright © Information • All Rights Reserved • www.widescreenreview.com • Web Site Established In 1995 • Privacy Policy • Partners