kal
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:32 pm Post subject: The Wolf of Wall Street [Blu-ray] |
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The Wolf of Wall Street (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD)
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| Quote: | Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, and Adapted Screenplay, 'The Wolf of Wall Street' stands as my favorite film of 2013. This epic chronicle of greed, larceny, bad behavior, and the heady, destructive trappings of excess charts the rise and fall of both a man and an era with an attitude as cocksure as its eponymous character and plenty of Scorsese panache. Brash, bold, and searingly funny, this often shockingly depraved black comedy keeps us transfixed throughout its three-hour running time, thanks to Leonardo DiCaprio's dazzling portrayal, Terence Winter's audacious, expletive-laced script, and Scorsese's pitch-perfect treatment of the subject. Paramount's Blu-ray presentation skimps on supplements, but features terrific video and solid audio, both of which bring the film to brilliant life. If you're easily offended or at all prudish, it might be best to skip this wild and crazy ride, but for everyone else, this raucous, riveting motion picture comes very highly recommended.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Crisp, clean, and vibrant, 'The Wolf of Wall Street' video transfer beautifully showcases the lavish interiors, exotic exteriors, and all the film's chaotic mayhem. The eye-filling 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 rendering is largely free of grain, and no nicks, marks, or scratches dot the pristine source material. A warm glow and polished sheen lend the image a lovely richness, while excellent contrast and clarity enhance the sense of depth. Background elements are always easy to discern, shadow delineation is strong, and patterns and textures possess plenty of presence.
Blacks are bold and inky, whites are stable and resist blooming, and fleshtones remain natural-looking throughout the lengthy running time. Colors flaunt lovely saturation levels, with vivacious reds and mellow blues coming off best, although pastels exude a nice creaminess that slightly softens the picture. Razor sharp close-ups highlight fine facial details well, and no digital doctoring seems to have been applied. Banding, noise, and pixelation are all absent, too.
There's a lot of bling and razzle-dazzle in 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' and this exceptional transfer showcases the yachts, mansions, and penthouse apartments in all their glory. Even the dingy settings look good. Fans of the film will be thrilled with this superior effort that truly makes Scorsese's canvas come alive.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track isn't as active as I might have hoped, but its excellent modulation unifies all the sonic elements into a cohesive whole and provides a satisfying aural experience. Surround activity ebbs and flows, with potent accents bleeding into the rears especially during the wild party scenes, episodes of office chaos, and, most notably, the turbulent yacht storm sequence. Other than that, the majority of sound remains anchored up front, but it's enhanced by some noticeable stereo separation and a purity of tone that allows subtle nuances to shine. The wide dynamic scale handles the bright highs and weighty lows with ease, while keeping distortion at bay, though the subwoofer doesn't get much opportunity to strut its stuff.
Scorsese almost always augments his movies with a soundtrack of eclectic tunes perfectly paired to the on-screen action, and the songs, which range from Billy Joel and Eartha Kitt to Bo Diddley and Devo, all fill the room with ease, thanks to exceptional fidelity and marvelous tonal depth. Dialogue, however, fuels the film's engine, and it's reproduced well here. Whether whispered or shouted, delivered in a quiet room or amid the roar of a poolside bash, the expletive-laced lines are always clear and comprehendible.
Though not quite reference quality, the lossless audio complements the film well, and there's enough varied activity to keep the ear engaged. Good job, Paramount. |
Kal
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