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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Substance Of Fire, The
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 26 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Tony Goldwyn, Timothy Hutton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ron Rifkin.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3
    Sound Rating: 3
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
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    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Miramax Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 10479 AS
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.99
    (Running Time In Minutes): 101
    (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): Daniel Sullivan
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
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    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): Dolby Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): Dolby Digital
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital):
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Based upon Jon Robin Baitz’s play, in The Substance Of Fire Isaac Geldhart (Ron Rifkin), a headstrong book publisher, pushes his family to their limits by refusing to “sell out” by releasing anything but the most melancholy war novels. When his business partner son, Aaron (Tony Goldwyn), discovers a surefire best-seller, his father’s stubbornness convinces Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Martin (Timothy Hutton) to hand their shares to Aaron in order to avoid bankruptcy—a decision that threatens to destroy the family.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture, matted at 1.85:1, looks generally natural with accurate fleshtones and deep blacks. Sometimes images seem to be a bit washed out in exteriors and other times plugged up in interior scenes. Images are generally sharp and detailed, with good shadow detail and contrast. Noise and artifacts are apparent throughout.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack features naturally produced dialogue with excellent spatial integration, and a nice music score, though fidelity is slightly bright sounding.
    (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: