WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Passion Fish
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 05 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Mary McDonnell, Alfre Woodard, Vondie Curtis-Hall, David Strathairn, Leo Burmester, Nora Dunn, Mary Portser, Angela Bassett, Sheila Kelley, Nancy Mette

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 3
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 53286
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $34.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 135
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 07/01/93
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): John Sayles
(Screenplay/Written By): John Sayles
(Story): NA
(Music): Mason Daring
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Dan Bishop & Dianna Freas
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Cynthia Flynt
(Editor): John Sayles
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): John Sloss
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Sarah Green & Magie Renzi

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Passion Fish is a discovery film about a soap opera star (McDonnell) who returns to her native Louisiana after being paralyzed in an auto accident. McDonnell earned an Oscar® nomination for her superb portrayal of a woman who undergoes emotional pain and hard adjustments to adapt to her physically challenged way of life. Her bold persona and difficult attitude drives away a succession of nurses she has hired to care for her until she meets her match in Chantelle (Woodard). They learn respect for one another, and together, forge a friendship of trust and hope for the future.

LaserDisc Picture:
The visual quality of this disc is superb. Human flesh tones look extremely natural. Color balance throughout is consistent and the picture is very sharp and focused with good shadow detail. The measured aspect ratio is about 1.66:1 although it was shown theatrically at 1.85:1.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is well recorded but with stereo ambience effects complementing the dialogue and very subtle surround. Dialogue sounds a bit bright but the music sounds good.
(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: