WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Prefontaine
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 28 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Jared Leto, R. Lee Ermy, Ed O’Neill, Amy Locane, Lindsay Crouse, Breckin Meyer, Laurel Holloman & Bryan McGovern

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): Hollywood Pictures Home Video
(Catalog Number): 10437 AS
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 107
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Steve James
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DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.82:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital 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:
Prefontaine tells the true-life story of legendary track star Steve Prefontaine (Jared Leto). Filmed documentary-style, this triumphant drama follows “Pre” through his younger years, a brave kid who was not cut out for football or baseball, but found his calling on the track. Egotistical and charismatic, Pre defies the rules and broke the records as he ran his way to the Olympics in Munich 1972. Sadly, this was the year of shocking terrorist attacks, and Prefontaine’s results were disappointing. He is forced to push for gold in Montreal, but fate stopped him short at the age of 24.

LaserDisc Picture:
The documentary-style picture, matted at 1.82:1, exhibits inconsistent visual qualities. Overall, color fidelity is good with natural fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with good shadow detail and contrast.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 and matrix PCM soundtracks are inconsistent though at times ambient sound effects are directionalized in the discrete surrounds. Otherwise, the sound is often conventional and the overall production is mediocre.
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(Aggressive System Surround):
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(Aggressive Split Surround):
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(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: