WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

White Men Can’t Jump
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 02 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 1959-85
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 117
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1992
(LD Release Date): 12/92
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Ron Shelton
(Screenplay/Written By): Ron Shelton
(Story): NA
(Music): Bennie Wallace
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Dennis Washington
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Francine Jamison-Tanchuck
(Editor): Paul Seydor
(Supervising Sound Editors): Bruce Fortune, MPSE & Gordon Ecker, MPSE
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Michele Rappaport
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Don Miller & David Lester

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Billy Hoyle (Harrelson) is a chump. At least that’s what Sidney Deane (Snipes) thinks of him when they meet on the beachside basketball courts of Venice, California. Turns out, Sidney’s the chump after Billy beats him out of sixty-two dollars. What else can these two pick-up artists do but team up to hustle unsuspecting weekend athletes out of their hard-earned cash...or watches or rings or whatever else they’ve brought to the court. White Men Can’t Jump is good for a lot of laughs, and Rosie Perez is fantastic as Billy’s finance-minded girlfriend, Gloria.

LaserDisc Picture:
This is an excellent, speckle-free transfer with a 1.85:1 matted aspect ratio true to the filmmaker’s intended composition. Color fidelity is well balance, and the image is bright and focused throughout with accurate fleshtones.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The urban music score by Bennie Wallace and performances by jazz legends Bill Henderson, Sonny Craver and Jon Hendricks is recorded with an excellent sense of depth and wide stereo soundstage. The Dolby Surround® mix provides steady-state envelopment throughout. The Foley recording of the expertly choreographed basketball court scenes is remarkable for its realism. The sound really pulls you into the action and makes the film.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: