WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Player, The
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 03 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Gallagher, Brion James, Cynthia Stevenson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Dean Stockwell, Richard E. Grant, Dina Merrill, Angela Hall & Lyle Lovett

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2
Sound Rating: 2
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals
Numerous supplements and commentaries by the filmmakers are featured.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Criterion Collection
(Catalog Number): CC1318L
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $99.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 124
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1992
(LD Release Date): 04/01/93
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Robert Altman
(Screenplay/Written By): Michael Tolkin
(Story): NA
(Music): Thomas Newman
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Stephen Altman
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Alexander Julian
(Editor): Maysie Hoy & Geraldine Peroni
(Supervising Sound Editors): Michael Redbourn
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Cary Brokaw
(Co-Producers): Scott Bushnell
(Producers): David Brown, Michel Tolkin & Nick Weschler

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): Ultra Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Ultra Stereo
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on Michael Tolkin’s novel and directed by Robert Altman, The Player is a clever satirical thriller about Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins), a top studio executive and major Hollywood player, who looses control when he receives a series of threatening postcards from a mysterious screenwriter. Paranoia sets in deeply and Griffin hunts down the alleged mystery writer, murders him and quickly falls in love with the dead man’s girlfriend.

LaserDisc Picture:
The digital transfer at 1.85:1 is clear, soft, and bright, but the color balance is poor and inconsistent. A print rather than interpositive negative was used and no amount of tinkering could make it look right.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
Although the soundtrack was recorded in Ultra Stereo® and mixed at Skywalker Sound, a THX dubbing theatre, it sounds mono.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: