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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Some Mother’s Son
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 28 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Helen Mirren, Fionnula Flanagan, Aidan Gillen, David O’Hara & John Lynch

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

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): C2522
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $34.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 112
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1996
    (LD Release Date):
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):

    Credits Information
    (Director): Terry George
    (Screenplay/Written By):
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    (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 Stereo SR
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital):
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Some Mother’s Son is the depressing, heartfelt tale of two women brought together during the conflict in Northern Ireland in 1979. Kathleen Quigley (Helen Mirren) is unwittingly caught in the political crossfire when her son Gerard (Aidan Gillen), secretly involved with the IRA, is arrested by the British. She soon develops a relationship with the gruff, IRA-supporter Annie Higgins (Fionnula Flanagan), another woman whose son is jailed. When they learn their sons are involved in a hunger strike, Kathleen’s pacifism turns into activist anger. Together, they must confront a shattering dilemma: honor their sons’ beliefs, or intervene to save their lives.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture, matted at 1.85:1, exhibits good color fidelity with natural fleshtones, rich colors and deep, solid blacks. Interiors occasionally seem a bit plugged-up, though exteriors appear lush and natural. Images are sharp and detailed with good shadow delineation. Slight noise and minor artifacts are apparent.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby® Digital soundtrack provides aggressive surround envelopment with the nicely recorded music score. Occasional sound effects are heard in the surrounds, but does not appear to be 5.1. Dialogue is generally natural.
    (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: