WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Donnie Brasco
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 26 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 3
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 82516
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 127
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date): 8/9/97
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Mike Newell
(Screenplay/Written By): Paul Attanasio
(Story): NA
(Music): Patrick Doyle
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Donald Graham Burt
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Aude Bronson-Howard & David Robinson
(Editor): Jon Gregory, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors): Ian Fuller
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Patrick McCormick & Alan Greenspan
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Mark Johnson, Barry Levinson & Louis DiGiamaimo

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.38:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on the true-life story as told in the book by Joseph D. Pistone with Richard Woodley, Donnie Brasco poses a powerful question: How many identities can one man assume before they split him completely apart? FBI agent Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp) takes on the persona of gangster Donnie Brasco and maneuvers his way deeper into the Mafia chain of command with the help of Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino). As he tries desperately to keep the balance with his real-life family, Donnie realizes he is not only crossing the line between federal agent and criminal, but is also leading Lefty to a death sentence.

LaserDisc Picture:
The Super 35 picture, framed at 2.38:1, exhibits images that are generally sharp and detailed. Color fidelity is excellent with rich and warm colors, natural fleshtones and deep solid blacks. Shadow detail is superb, but noise is apparent throughout.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is rather conventional and often monaural, with the music providing the only stereo soundstage presence. Dialogue is predominantly ADR-produced and wanting in spatiality. This is a mediocre soundtrack with missed opportunities.
(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: