WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Analyze This
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 34 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow, Joe Viterelli Bill Macy, Leo Rossi, Chazz Palminteri

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 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): 16988
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 104
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1999
(LD Release Date): 08/99
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Harold Ramis
(Screenplay/Written By): Peter Tolan, Harold Ramis & Kenneth Lonergan
(Story): Kenneth Lonergan & Peter Tolan
(Music): Howard Shore
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Wynn Thomas
(Visual Effects): Balsmeyer & Everett, Inc.
(Costume Designer): Aude Bronson-Howard
(Editor): Christopher Tellefsen
(Supervising Sound Editors): Sandy Berman, MPSE
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Billy Crystal, Chris Brigham & Bruce Berman
(Co-Producers): Len Amato
(Producers): Paula Weinstein & Jane Rosenthal

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): DTS, SDDS & Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Analyze This stars Robert De Niro as stressed-out mobster Paul Vitti who is sorely in need of some therapy. Billy Crystal is Ben Sobel, the psychotherapist who is put in charge of turning Paul into a well-adjusted “family” man. No cement overshoes for these jokes—De Niro keeps us laughing with his spoof of his wise guy roles, and watching Crystal tip-toe around him for fear of making the wrong move just doesn’t grow old.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.82:1 LaserDisc picture exhibits excessive noise in some scenes. Images are generally sharp and detailed, with nicely rendered background definition. Colors are nicely balanced with accurate fleshtones, rich hues and deep blacks. Sometimes, colors seem a bit plugged-up. Shadow delineation is revealing of detail in the darkest scenes.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 and matrix Dolby Surround soundtracks are first-rate. Overall fidelity is exemplary natural-sounding, well-placed dialogue. The music is effectively integrated into the multidimensional soundfield to project an enveloping backdrop of melodies. In some cases, the music can have quite an aggressive presence, as can some sound effects. Gunshots are accompanied by deep bass frequencies via the main channels and the .1 LFE channel. Both the matrix and discrete soundtrack excel, but the discrete is preferred for the .1 LFE and for having a slightly better defined soundstage.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(Center Back Surround Imaging): Yes
(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:
No
Collector Edition:
No