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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Surviving Picasso
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 25 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Anthony Hopkins, Natascha McElhone, Julianne Moore, Joss Acklnad, Dennis Boutsikaris, Peter Eyre, Peter Gerety, Susannah Harker, Jane Lapotaire, Joseph Maher, Bob Peck, Diane Venora, Dominic West & Joan Plowright

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 5
    Sound Rating: 3
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 14483
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 126
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1996
    (LD Release Date): 3/9/97
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):

    Credits Information
    (Director): James Ivory
    (Screenplay/Written By): Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Richard Robbins
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Luciana Arrighi
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Andrew Marcus
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Donald Rosenfeld & Paul Bradley
    (Co-Producers): Humbert Balsan
    (Producers): Ismail Merchant & David L. Wolper

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.90:1

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Surviving Picasso is the powerful drama starring Anthony Hopkins as the legendary artist and womanizer Pablo Picasso. He begins an affair with the beautiful Francoise Gilot (Natascha McElhone) while maintaining ties with two previous lovers—one of whom is raising his daughter. Of the five women depicted in his life, she alone possesses the intelligence and self-assurance to withstand Picasso. Based on the book by Arianna Stassinopoulos Huffington.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The 1.90:1 picture is breathtaking with its natural fleshtones, excellent color fidelity and deep solid blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with excellent contrast and shadow detail. There is only the slightest noise apparent.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack’s music score sounds constricted, pulled toward the center and lacks imaging depth and soundstage perspective. Dialogue is generally natural, though forward in presence and sounding chesty in ADR-produced scenes. Sound effects are subdued with surround envelopment both subtle and at times aggressive with deep bass.
    (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: