WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Ordinary People
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 13 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton.

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): LV 8964-2WS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $$39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 124
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1980
(LD Release Date): 1/1/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Robert Redford
(Screenplay/Written By): Alvin Sargent
(Story): NA
(Music): Marvin Hamlisch
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Phillip Bennett & J. Michael Riva
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Jeff Kanew
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Ronald L. Schwary

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:
The “ordinary” life of an upper-middle-class couple, played by Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore, is devastated by the death of their oldest son in a boating accident. The younger son, played by Timothy Hutton, is so consumed by guilt after the drowning that he contemplates suicide. Judd Hirsch is the caring psychiatrist who helps him to survive.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.85:1 matted picture is extremely soft and undefined. Fleshtones are inaccurate. The picture appears very much out-dated and mediocre. Slight grain and noise are noticeable throughout along with some artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is undistinguished mono but the dialogue is always intelligible.
(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: