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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Medium Cool
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 13 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Robert Forster, Verna Bloom, Peter Bonerz.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3
    Sound Rating: 2.5
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Video
    (Catalog Number): LV6907-WS
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $$34.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 111
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1969
    (LD Release Date): 2/1/95
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Haskell Wexler
    (Screenplay/Written By): Haskell Wexler
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Mike Bloomfield
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Leon Erickson
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Verna Fields
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): NA
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Tully Friedman & Haskell Wexler

    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): Mono Sound
    (Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Medium Cool was filmed against the backdrop of the 1968 Democratic Convention by Oscar®-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler who is credited as director. The film takes a look at America’s continuing fascination with sensationalism and violence. The movie is told through the eyes of a TV news cameraman played by Robert Forster, whose daily life brings him in contact with political and social events as they are happening. Interwoven into the story is his relationship with a warmhearted Appalachian woman (Verna Bloom) who is trying to raise her son in a Chicago ghetto. The two be-come caught up in the infamous Chicago riots as protesters and the police square off in a maelstrom of fear and violence. Medium Cool captures the soul of a turbulent era expressed in a the powerful visual style of Wexler’s camera work.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The 1.85:1 matted picture suffers from poor shadow detail and inaccurate fleshtones for an undefined mediocre quality. Fleshtones are inconsistent throughout and the source element is apparently a print. Some slight grain is apparent but otherwise there are no real disturbing artifacts.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack is undistinguished mono with fidelity and dynamics wanting.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
    (Aggressive System Surround): No
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): No
    (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: