WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Rainmaker, The
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 29 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Matt Damon, Claire Danes, John Voight, Mary Kay Place, Mickey Rourke & Danny DeVito

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Video
(Catalog Number): LV335033-WS
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 137
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Francis Ford Coppola
(Screenplay/Written By): Francis Ford Coppola
(Story): NA
(Music): Elmer Bernstein
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Howard Cummings
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Aggie Guerard Rodgers
(Editor): Barry Malkin
(Supervising Sound Editors): Michael Kirchberger
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): Georgia Kacandes
(Producers): Michael Douglas, Steven Reuther & Fred Fuchs

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Panavision
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital Surround
(Theatrical Sound): DTS & Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on the novel by John Grisham, The Rainmaker is considered to be the novelist’s greatest adaptation to date due to Francis Ford Coppola’s careful screenplay and direction. A young lawyer (Matt Damon), fresh out of law school, is pit against a major insurance company that denied the claim of a family looking to find medical treatment for their leukemia-afflicted son.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, framed at 2.35:1, exhibits naturally rendered color fidelity with accurate fleshtones, rich colors and deep, pure blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with convincing textures. There is no apparent noise, but only minor artifacts. Contrast and shadow detail are also nicely presented for a superb visual presentation overall.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
Both the Dolby® Digital discrete 4.0 and PCM matrix soundtracks are wonderful. The Dolby Digital version projects a deeper low frequency response when compared to the PCM, even though there is no .1 LFE bass signal during the picture. Dialogue sounds generally natural though closely miked. The music score is nicely recorded and images virtually the same on both versions. Surround envelopment is subtle, though more prominent in the preferred matrix soundtrack.
(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: