6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
François Pignon, a very bland sort of man who works as an accountant in a rubber factory, is about to be fired. His new neighbour comes up with an idea to prevent such a thing to happen: he spreads the rumor that he's gay so that the factory management might be afraid they'll be sued for sexual discrimination. Of course, nothing happens as it should, but the changes in François Pignon's life -and other people's too- is drastic !
Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu, Thierry Lhermitte, Michèle Laroque, Jean RochefortForeign | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
French SDH, English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Francis Veber's "Le placard" a.k.a. "The Closet" (2001) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French distributors Gaumont. The supplemental features offered with this release include an audio commentary with director Francis Veber; standard featurette; promotional materials; and filmographies. In French, with optional English and French SDH subtitles. Region-Free.
Gerard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Francis Veber's Le placard arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French distributors Gaumont.
This is a strong high-definition transfer. Fine object detail is very good, clarity pleasing and contrast levels consistent throughout the entire film. The color-scheme is also very strong - blues, greens, yellows, reds, browns, blacks and whites look warm and natural. Edge-enhancement is never a serious issue of concern; neither is macroblocking. I also did not detect any traces of heavy noise reduction. Generally speaking, the fine film grain appears to have been preserved, though some of it is also mixed with light noise. Finally, there are no serious stability issues to report in this review. I also did not see any large scratches, stains, or marks. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).
There are three audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For the record, Gaumont have provided optional English and French SDH subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
The French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is strong. The bass is rarely active but still quite effective, the rear channels intelligently used and high-frequencies not overdone. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable and very easy to follow. There are no balance issues with award-winning composer Vladimir Cosma's music score either. Finally, I did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, hissings, or dropouts to report in this review.
I tested only a couple of scenes with the English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. Frankly, I am unsure why anyone would want to see Le placard with the English dub as the overwhelming majority of the hilarious scenes feel very different in English - especially when Depardieu and Auteuil's voices cannot be heard.
Note: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray disc are placed on a separate SDVD. They are also encoded in PAL. Therefore, you must have a Region-Free Blu-ray disc player, or Region-Free SDVD player, capable of converting PAL to NTSC in order to view the supplemental features in North America, or another territory where PAL is not supported.
La saga Pignon - a standard featurette focusing on director Francis Veber and his film. In French, not subtitled. (55 min).
Commentary - an audio commentary with director Francis Veber. In French, not subtitled.
Strategie de communication -
-- French teaser. (1 min).
-- French theatrical trailer. (2 min).
-- U.S. teaser. (1 min).
-- Behind the scenes footage. (2 min).
-- Filmographies (in text format).
Those of you who enjoyed Francis Veber's The Dinner Game should consider seeing his The Closet, a hilarious film about a straight man who pretends to be gay in order to save his job. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of French distributors Gaumont, looks and sounds very good. It is also Region-Free. RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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