8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
Tells the true story of the Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world’s oldest and most trusted institutions.
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John SlatteryDrama | 100% |
Biography | 74% |
History | 44% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
2015 saw the release of two high profile films that take audiences inside the news room to tell the stories of how the stories were reported. First out of the gate in wide release was Truth, a film that goes behind the scenes of the "60 Minutes" special that, it was later revealed, wrongly painted a picture of then-President George W. Bush's military service in the Vietnam era. The film dealt with both the build-up to and the fallout from the story. Released to theaters only weeks later was Spotlight, Director Tom McCarthy's (The Visitor) picture that depicts how the Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team unraveled the deep-seeded and long-standing Catholic priest sex abuse scandal in an exposé that revealed the story to the world, shook the church to its core, and redefined the way many look at the church. Aside from their intimate examinations of the inner-workings of the 21st century news rooms, however, the films could not be more disparate. Where Truth stumbles every which way, Spotlight shines. With a more gripping narrative, sublime direction, awe-inspiring performances, and a vastly superior pace, cinematic vitality, sense of purpose, and technical craftsmanship, McCarthy's film is a pleasure to watch, even as it tackles incredibly difficult subject matter. It has earned several key Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), and Best Supporting Actress (Rachel McAdams).
Hearing it firsthand.
Spotlight's 1080p transfer never disappoints. The movie's bright white and light color-dominant office segments don't see significant color saturation, but details are fantastic. The offices are a playground of visual richness. Little odds and ends -- reams of paper, folders, books, furniture, old file cabinets -- showcase fine wear textures, tangible material details, and legible print even across the room. Skin is complexly presented down to the finest pores and lines and clothing textures are intricately nuanced, whether fine wrinkles or intimate suit jacket appointments. Colors gain significant saturation beyond the office walls. A scene at Fenway Park shows gorgeous green grass, Red Sox red seats, vibrant clothes, and healthy skin tones. Ditto a golf course scene that follows. Black levels hold deep in the few lower light scenes. Compression artifacts are never a concern. This is an attractive, cinematic presentation from Universal.
What Spotlight's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack lacks in bluster it makes up for in satisfying nuance. The track frequently makes strong, well integrated use of all speakers in the delivery of ambient effects. Background restaurant details, general office space chatter and clatter, crowd murmurs and public address announcements at Fenway Park, and street level din such as squealing brakes and slowly moving traffic bring most of the movie's environments to impressively detailed and realistic life. Musical delivery satisfies; spacing comes effortless, clarity throughout the range impresses, and the low end satisfies requirements for added depth and definition. Dialogue predominantly features. Aside from a couple of brief instances of sharp-edged harshness, it plays with smooth, efficient, and natural center placement and prioritization above, mostly, the background ambiance of any given location.
Spotlight contains three featurettes. A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy are included.
Spotlight is an exemplary film. Supremely crafted, expertly performed, and skillfully cut, the movie proves the value of grounded, story-centered cinema in an age where visual effects and noise tend to dominate the scene. Universal's Blu-ray is unfortunately lacking a meaningful supplemental package to match the movie's worth, but video and audio are terrific. Very highly recommended.
Collector's Edition
2010
1966
2013
2019
2015
Two-Disc Special Edition | featuring All the President's Men Revisited
1976
2013
2011
2008
1987
2008
1999
2010
2015
2005
2018
2013
1982
2016
2014