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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Bulworth
    Genre:Comedy

    Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Oliver Platt, Paul Sorvino, Jack Warden, Isaiah Washington

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3
    Sound Rating: 4
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals
    The theatrical trailer is included.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 0051185
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 108
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 4/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Warren Beatty
    (Screenplay/Written By): Warren Beatty & Jeremy Pikser
    (Story): Warren Beatty
    (Music): Ennio Morricone
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Dean Tavoularis
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Robert C. Jones & Billy Weber
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Lauren Shuler Donner
    (Co-Producers): Victoria Thomas & Frank Capra III
    (Producers): Warren Beatty & Pieter Jan Brugge

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Warren Beatty wrote, directed and stars in this inspired comedy with some very serious words about American culture and politics. California Democrat Jay Bulworth is up for re-election. His life in a tailspin, he buys an enormous amount of life insurance and puts a contract out on his own life. While waiting for the hit man to catch up to him, he decides to tell the truth about who politicians really work for and just how corrupt big corporations can be.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The 1.82:1 LaserDisc is sharp and detailed, with generally good shadow delineation and contrast. Some scenes are wanting in visual information in the darkest scenes. Color fidelity is fully saturated and sometimes stylized with yellow hues, but otherwise accurate fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, sometimes undefined blacks. Occasionally, the picture appears plugged up, oversaturated and wanting in clarity. Noise is mostly apparent in the darker scenes, while artifacts are apparent.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack is a disappointment. Dialogue sounds too forward and chesty due to close-miking and ADR-processing. Spatial integration of ambience is absent or too low a level to be appreciated, and many scenes collapse to mono. The matrix PCM soundtrack is much better at low level ambience recreation. When fully engaged the discrete version is more satisfying, but there are still inconsistencies. Bass extension is deep and the discrete is enhanced with .1 LFE.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (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:
    		 No
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    When compared to the LaserDisc, the non-anamorphic DVD, viewed in component video, exhibits significantly less noise and crisp, more finely detailed images with better background definition. Both versions are sharp and detailed, with generally good shadow delineation and contrast. Some scenes are wanting in visual information in the darkest scenes. Color fidelity is fully saturated and sometimes stylized with yellow hues, but otherwise accurate fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, sometimes undefined blacks. Occasionally, the picture appears plugged up, oversaturated and wanting in clarity, especially on the LaserDisc. Noise appears digital on the DVD and is mostly apparent in the darker scenes, while artifacts are apparent on both versions. Both discs are matted at 1.82:1. The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete DVD and LaserDisc soundtrack is a disappointment. Dialogue sounds too forward and chesty due to close-miking and ADR-processing. Spatial integration of ambience is absent or too low a level to be appreciated, and many scenes collapse to mono. The matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtrack is much better at low level ambience recreation. When fully engaged the discrete version is more satisfying, but there are still inconsistencies. Bass extension is deep and the discrete is enhanced with .1 LFE.