WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Benny & Joon
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 08 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
ohnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, C.C. H. Pounder, Dan Hedaya, Joe Grifash & William H. Macy

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals
This CAV Standard Play Deluxe Collector’s Edition is a fascinating collection of costume, make-up and lighting tests narrated by cinematographer John Schwartzman, which is a terrific exemplified lesson in the use of filtered photography, camera technique, and what a cinematographer does; a scene in which Benny takes Sam to a club for an audition which was deleted from the movie; the complete “Prom Queen Mutilator” horror movie scene Sam and Joon watchd on TV, and director Jeremiah Chechik’s full running filmmaking commentary.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MGM
(Catalog Number): ML104590
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $59.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 98
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 02/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Jeremiah Chechik
(Screenplay/Written By): Barry Berman
(Story): Barry Berman & Leslie McNeil
(Music): Rachel Portman
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Neil Spisak
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Carol Littleton, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Bill Badalato
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Susan Arnold & Donna Roth

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):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Benny & Joon is a unique and heartwarming romantic comedy about a young girl, Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), who’s a bit psychologically unbalanced, and her older brother, Benny (Aidan Quinn), who has devoted most of his life to over-protecting, and caring for his sister. The two lead a simple but wearing life, until Joon looses a poker game in which she and her brother must take in her opponent’s cousin Sam (Johnny Depp), an eccentric, whimsical misfit who soon charms his way into their hearts with his Buster Keaton persona becoming the love interest of Joon.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.85:1 images in this film are wonderful and colorful. The transfer has been mastered to digital video using the 35mm interpositive. Picture quality is sharp and flesh tones are accurate and natural with a soft, diffused appearance.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is excellent, well recorded and features “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by the Proclaimers. In fact there is a music video of the song following the movie’s trailer. There is little surround, and the stereo presentation is limited to the well recorded music.
(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: