• Login
    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Trial By Jury
    Genre:Thriller

    Reviewed In Issue 12 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Armand Assante, Gabriel Byrne, William Hurt, Kathleen Quinlan, Margaret Whitton, Ed Lauter & Richard Portnow,

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3.5
    Sound Rating: 3.5
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 13515
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $$34.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 107
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1994
    (LD Release Date): 1/1/95
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Heywood Gould
    (Screenplay/Written By): Jordan Katz & Heywood Gould
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Terence Blanchard
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): David Chapman
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Joel Goodman
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Gary Barber
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): James G. Robinson, Chris Meledandri & Mark Gordon

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.80:1

    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:
    Trial By Jury is a courtroom drama and thriller with a jurist being threatened into voting ”not guilty.” Valerie Alston, played by Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, dutifully answers her call to serve on a jury and is picked for a highly controversial criminal case against mob boss Rusty Pirone, played by Armand Assante, who is being charged once more with murder. His only hope for acquittal is a hung jury. Valerie’s well-being is short-lived when a Pirone controlled, corrupt ex-cop, played by William Hurt, threatens the life of her son if she were to vote guilty. Although she knows she should turn to U.S. Attorney Daniel Graham (Gabriel Byrne) for protection, Valerie, after being physically assaulted by Pirone, makes her decision.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The matted 1.80:1 presentation has inconsistent fleshtones perhaps due to filtering, and slight grain and noise, but no marring artifacts.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby Surround® soundtrack produces nice spatial, but subtle surround and effective directional effects with good bass extension. But fidelity is wanting.
    (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: