7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Pleasantville is a 1950s sitcom enjoying cult status on a contemporary cable channel. David loves it, but his sister Jennifer is too hip. When a mysterious TV repairman gives them a new remote control, the pair are transported into the world of Pleasantville like it or not. They find themselves trapped in an alternate reality where the town exists in black and white--in a white bread world without passion or violence. But the teenagers have also brought an unexpected--and double-edged--gift to Pleasantville: a sense of possibility that spreads like wildfire throughout the town. There can be no turning back once the citizens begin experiencing such strange wonders as sex, art, rain... and ideas.
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, J.T. WalshComedy | 100% |
Coming of age | 53% |
Teen | 52% |
Imaginary | 37% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Latin & Castilian
English SDH, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Cantonese, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Norwegian, Swedish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Has there ever been such a thing as "the good ol' days?" Old men have long told tall tales of their idyllic youths, but their fathers did the same, as did their fathers before them. The good ol' days have always been and will always be a myth; an insatiable yearning for a simpler time when the weight of adulthood hadn't been realized, the challenges of parenthood had yet to present themselves and the worries of the world were less pressing. It's a thorny question among many thorny questions Pleasantville tackles in quick succession in what amounts to be a far more meaningful, far more memorable film than the high-concept, low-value comedy newcomers might expect. If only writer/director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) had figured out a way to navigate the perilous waters between comedy and drama with more finesse...
"We're supposed to be at home, David. We're supposed to be in color!"
Pleasantville, once brimming with stirring cutting-edge splendor, is rapidly approaching its thirteenth birthday... and it shows. Warner's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer isn't an outright disappointment, nor is it undone by overzealous edge enhancement or noise reduction. It's simply a fairly faithful but slightly dated presentation that doesn't live up to the standards set by the studio's more essential catalog releases. As far as specific issues are concerned, Pleasantville isn't affected by many -- an uneven grain distracts from time to time, artifacting rears its ugly head here and there, black levels are occasionally muted, and primaries don't pack quite as much visual punch as they do thematic resonance -- but even those it does struggle with aren't deal-breakers by any means. John Lindley's cinematography is as lovely as ever; warm hues, rosy skintones and many a savory shadow allow his color palette to bloom. Midrange grays look wonderful, whites are bright and clean, and contrast is strong and able-bodied throughout. Fine detail isn't what I'd call crisp, but neither is Lindley's original photography. Textures are well-resolved on the whole, object definition is pleasing and the softness that appears is inherent to the film's source. Moreover, banding, aliasing, crush, smearing and other digital oddities aren't a factor.
Pleasantville could benefit from a fresh remaster and a more thorough overhaul, that much is sure. How much it would benefit is more difficult to assess. As it stands, the Blu-ray transfer looks far better than its DVD counterpart and will draw more praise than criticism.
Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track isn't going to send chills down anyone's spine, but it is more than adequate, particularly as lossless catalog mixes go. Dialogue has a nice buoyancy to it, voices are clear and sound effects are nimble and convincing. Rear speaker activity leaves something to be desired, lending support to Randy Newman's score above all else, but the resulting soundfield still provides a mildly engaging experience. Directionality is decent, interior acoustics are believable, cross-channel pans are smooth and ambience is reserved but reliable. LFE output is merely serviceable as well, embracing a few select scenes without drawing too much attention to itself. Don't get me wrong: the track isn't mediocre in any sense of the word, it's just a polished and proficient presentation of a largely front-heavy sound mix.
Pleasantville strolls into town with the same special features that were included on its original Platinum Series DVD release. Unfortunately, its commentaries fall a bit short, its behind-the-scenes documentary has a somewhat narrow focus and all of the video content is presented in standard definition.
Pleasantville suffers through multiple identity crises, but makes it through each one intact. While a more consistent tone and a tighter script would have worked wonders, Ross's high-concept dramedy succeeds. Warner's Blu-ray release could have used some more tightening too. The film's AV presentation is strong but beginning to show its age and the studio's supplemental package is above average but nothing to write home about. Still, anyone who enjoys Pleasantville will enjoy this reasonably priced catalog release.
2009
25th Anniversary Edition
1995
2009
1994
2014
2013
Lamb of God
2013
1991
20th Anniversary Edition
1989
Special Edition
2007
2008
2009
2009
2004
Paramount Presents #14
2005
2012
Unrated + Theatrical
2006
1999
2003
1987