WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Trial And Error
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 27 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Michael Richards, Jeff Daniels, Charlize Theron, Jessica Steen, Austin Pendleton & Rip Torn

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Video
(Catalog Number): ID421OLI
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $29.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 98
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Jonathan Lynn
(Screenplay/Written By):
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(Music):
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DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.0:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.92:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Trial And Error is a wacky comedy about Richard (Seinfeld’s Michael Richards), an unemployed actor who attempts to help his best friend, Charly Tuttle (Daniels), with a simple legal case. When the case is scheduled, Richard poses as Charly and must weave an intricate case of insanity on behalf of his “client,” Benny Gibbs (Rip Torn), a mail-order con artist who has been defrauding prisoners by selling “engraved copper portraits of Abraham Lincoln.”

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, matted at 1.92:1, exhibits excellent color fidelity with natural fleshtones, vivid and rich colors and deep, pure blacks. Exterior scenes are extremely natural looking. Images are sharp and detailed with excellent shadow detail and contrast. There is only the slightest noise in interiors, but no artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
Both the Dolby® Digital and PCM matrix soundtracks are rather conventional with the music score providing most of the subtle surround envelopment. Otherwise, the sound is predominately mono in character aided by room tone in the interior scenes. The music score is reminiscent of “Laugh In”-styled interludes and is well recorded.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
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(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
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(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: