Blu-ray Movie Reviews

New Line Movie •••½ Picture ••••½ Sound •••• Extras •½

When Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling lock courtroom horns, Gosling's performance matches that of his more experienced counterpart every step of the way. So it would have been great to hear from the actors about their experiences working together, or from director Gregory Hoblit and cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau on their use of different color schemes to communicate ideas and create various moods. Alas, all we're offered is a half-hour of deleted scenes, including a couple of alternate endings that don't matter much.

At least the DVD is up to par on those all-important visuals. Swimming pools have a deep phosphorescent hue, and neon signs cast a red glow over an entire street. Occasionally, fast camera pans cause some aliasing, but this minor flaw does little to detract from the overall beauty of the picture.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is outstanding. From the opening credit sequence, where a lush piano-and-orchestra score overlays the sound of Hopkins running ball bearings through an elaborate contraption, the mix is entirely immersive without being overwhelming. Surround effects are put to superb use throughout the film, and the amplification of seemingly insignificant sounds serves to heighten the tension on more than one occasion. Particularly noteworthy is an uncomfortable dinner sequence, where the sound of silverware scraping against teeth adds the perfect counterpoint to the simmering dialogue.

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