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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Ridicule
    Genre:Comedy

    Reviewed In Issue 26 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Fanny Ardant, Charles Berling, Bernard Giraudeau, Judith Godreche & Jean Rochefort

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3
    Sound Rating: 3.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Miramax Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 10474 AS
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.99
    (Running Time In Minutes): 103
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1996
    (LD Release Date): 7/9/97
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):

    Credits Information
    (Director): Patrice Leconte
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
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    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.32:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): Dolby Digital
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital):
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
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    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award® in 1996, Ridicule is an exceptionally entertaining tale about the survival of the wittiest. A whimsical country engineer (Charles Berling), desperate to rebuild France’s waterways and save his disease-ridden hometown, quickly learns that an agile tongue is the key to open any door in the Versailles court of Louis XVI. His mission—to bring his plans straight to the king—is complicated when he finds himself caught between a cultured Countess (Fanny Ardant) and the Marquis’ daughter (Judith Godreche).

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture is framed at 2.32:1 and exhibits inconsistent color fidelity with generally natural fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks. The interior candlelit scenes seem slightly plugged up, exhibiting poor shadow detail that is grainy and wanting in definition. Images are sharp and detailed with some noise and artifacts apparent.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack is well produced with excellent sounding dialogue. Surround envelopment is subtle with a nice music score.
    (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: