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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    One-Trick Pony
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Paul Sinon, Blair Brown, Rip Torn, Joan Hackett, Allen Goorwitz, Mare Winningham, Michael Pearlman & Lou Reed

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 2
    Sound Rating: 2.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
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    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 1045
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $34.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 100
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1980
    (LD Release Date):
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Robert M. Young
    (Screenplay/Written By): Paul Simon
    (Story):
    (Music): Paul Simon
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Woods Mackintosh & David Mitchell
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Ed Beyer, Barry Malkin & David Ray
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers): Michael Hausman
    (Producers): Michael Tannen

    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 Stereo A
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    One-Trick Pony is Paul Simon’s autobiographical story of Jonah Levin (Simon), a once-popular singer/songwriter, who is struggling to keep his head above water as his band evolves from recording a song-of-the-decade in the ’60s to playing smaller and smaller clubs as the years pass. His wife (Blair Brown) still loves him, but has been put aside for much too long. Still, Jonah would give anything for his music, so he seeks help from a “hit” producer (Rip Torn), losing control of everything he has worked for.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture, overmatted at 1.95:1, exhibits mediocre color fidelity with very poor shadow detail and black delineation. Colors are muted though fleshtones appear naturally rendered at times. This is an overall darkly rendered picture that exhibits minor noise and artifacts.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    Except for the 10-song score written and performed by Paul Simon and his band, the sound is mono focused. The music recording sounds dated, but is nicely balanced with good bass extension and an aggressive surround presence. While the soundtrack is mediocre, Paul Simon’s music is the highlight of this 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: