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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Beautiful Country, The
Genre: Drama

Reviewed In Issue 104 (Jan 2006) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Nick Nolte, Tim Roth, Bai Ling, Temuera Morrison & Damien Nguyen

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 3.5
DD Sound Rating: 3.5
DTS Sound Rating: NR
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 4
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Special Features
Special features include commentary with director Hans Petter Moland, a 20-minute interview with screenwriter Sabina Murray, and previews. There are also up-front ads.


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 10865
(MPAA Rating): R
(Rating Reason):

Language and a crude sexual reference
(Retail Price): $24.96
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 125
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 2004
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 12/13/05
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Hans Petter Moland
(Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
(Story): Subscribe Now!
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(Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
(Production Designer): Subscribe Now!
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(Costume Designer): Subscribe Now!
(Editor): Subscribe Now!
(Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
(Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
(Executive Producers): Subscribe Now!
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(Academy Awards): Subscribe Now!

  DVD Picture Information

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(Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

  DVD Sound Information

(DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
When circumstances lead to his having to flee Vietnam, "The Beautiful Country" he was raised in, Binh (Nguyen) sets off for America in search of his father (Nolte). With his young half-brother Tam (Tran Dang Quoc Thinh) in his care, the two end up in a prison camp in Malaysia where they meet Ling (Ling), a woman who shows kindness to them both. Eventually they escape and gain passage on a refugee ship to the land of the free, where heartbreak and disappointment paves the way to eventual happiness . (Tricia Spears)

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD picture exhibits satisfying image quality with pleasing fleshtones and generally deep blacks. Colors are subtle and understated, but are often naturally balanced. The picture can have a soft quality to it, but details are adequate. The source element is quite clean, with only a few flecks of dirt noticed at times. Minor edge halos and pixelization can be noticed. (Suzanne Hodges)

Soundtrack:
Surrounds are used well to create a deep sense of ambience in the Dolby