WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Gummo
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Linda Manz, Max Perlich, Jacob Reynolds, Chloe Sevigny, Jacob Sewell & Nick Sutton

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 2.5
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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): ID4313LI
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 89
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Harmony Korine
(Screenplay/Written By): Harmony Korine
(Story):
(Music): NA
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Dave Doernberg
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Christopher Tellefsen
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Ruth Vitale & Stephen Chin
(Co-Producers): Robun O’Hara & Scott Macaulay
(Producers): Cary Woods

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio):

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Writer/director Harmony Korine must thrive on shocking visuals and subjects. Gummo offers a fictional glimpse of life in Xenia, Ohio 20 years after a devastating tornado. For some reason, the town never recovered, nor did its people. Of the more unusual characters in town are two boys who hunt stray cats to sell to a middle-man for a local restaurant; using their profits for milkshakes and airplane glue. This movie is not for everyone, but its docudrama style and quirky music may appeal to some.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture is strangely stylized with a documentary look that sometimes exhibits natural colors, accurately rendered fleshtones and deep, solid blacks. Other times, the picture looks oversaturated and plugged up with bleeding colors that lack clarity and texture. At times, images are extremely sharp, while other times wanting in detail and again, perhaps purposely out-of-focus. Contrast and shadow detail are mediocre. Presumably, this film wasn’t made to look good, and due to many inconsistencies, looks mediocre at best. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Surround soundtrack is poorly produced and definitely low budget with varying quality. The sound is documentary and fits the real-life feel of the movie.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: