|
|
|
Perfect Stranger
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - United Kingdom - Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Samuel Scott (11th February 2015). |
|
The Film
 ***This is an A/V and Extras review only. For reviews on the movie from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** How far will you go to keep a secret? When her friend's affair with married ad exec Harrisons Hill (Bruce Willis) ends in the woman's murder, investigative reporter Rowena Price (Academy Award winner Halle Berry; Best Actress, Monster's Ball, 2001) vows to bring the killer to justice. Suspecting Hill of the crime, she goes undercover by posing as two highly alluring women: Katherine, a sexy temp who works within his agency, and Veronica, a seductive temptress he chats up online. Engaging in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, both Rowena and Hill begin to realise things may not be what they seem. For some people will go to great lengths to protect their secrets, even if it means risking everything.
Video
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment have released the thriller "Perfect Stranger" on to Blu-ray using the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The transfer is 1080p and receives an AVC MPEG-4 encode. Although from the format's infancy, the transfer looks impressive even now - seven years on. Director James Foley and cinematographer Anastas Michos have opted for quite a warm monochrome palette, with lots of browns with white and silver backdrops. Black levels are very good throughout, consistently deep and inky with minimal crush, only occasionally coming slightly unstuck in the mid-range shadows. The various shades of browns, whether it be clothing, Halle Berry's hair and skin, or furniture, show great depth and really show off the clarity of the transfers coolness. Details are also excellent, especially when it comes to facial close-ups of Bruce Willis and Halle Berry, with every little wrinkle in the skin, and contour of lips, perfectly visible. The more minute details in clothing and in background items, especially in the office environment, also look superb. There is a consistent thin layer of natural film grain for the duration, and there are no signs of excessive tinkering such as edge enhancement, digital noise reduction or general sharpening. The transfer is, as expected for a movie from the last decade with an A-list cast, very clean with no signs of damage. The feature is uncut and runs 108:57.
Audio
The following options are available: - English LPCM 5.1 - English Dolby Digital 5.1 - Italian LPCM 5.1 - Czech Dolby Digital 5.1 - Hungarian Dolby Digital 5.1 - Italian Dolby Digital 5.1 - Polish Dolby Digital 5.1 - Russian Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Audio Description Dolby Digital 5.1 For my viewing I opted for the lossless English LPCM 5.1 track, though before you hit play, do note that the lossy English Dolby Digital 5.1 track is what plays by default. Although the LPCM track is good, it isn't quite up to the standard of the transfer. What we have here is a track that utilises the surrounds for Antonio Pinto's ("Lord of War", "Collateral") score, yet isn't quite as immersive when it comes to more subtle environmental effects. Although footsteps and background chatter filter through, the effects can feel quite front heavy in comparison to similar movies. Dialogue is clear at all times, and volume levels are consistent. There are no issues such as drop outs, scratches, or background hiss. The track is wholly competent, but is just missing that edge. Optional subtitles are available in Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English, English HoH, Estonian, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Slovenian, and Turkish.
Extras
The only extra of any note is a featurette entitled "Virtual Lives" (12:13). This is very much a fluff piece featuring film footage among standard interview sound bites from various cast and crew members including Bruce Willis, Halle Berry and Giovanni Ribisi. It's a featurette that is worth a watch for fans of the film, but it doesn't offer anything particularly in-depth or substantial. There are also bonus trailers for "Ghost Rider" (2:11), "Reign Over Me" (1:58), "Surf's Up" (2:27), and "Spider-Man 3" (2:31).
Overall
|
|||||
|