BLU-RAY REVIEW

Invention Of Lying, The

Featured In Issue 146, January/February 2010

Picture3.5
SoundNR
WSR Score3.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number):
3000024320
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Language, including some sexual material and a drug reference.
(Retail Price):
$35.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
99
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2009
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
01/19/10
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

In a world where people speak the truth and have no concept of deception, a young man about to lose everything invents the "lie" and goes on to change not just the nature of moviemaking, but creates the basis of religion. After much effort, he also gets the girl he loves.(Tricia Spears)

Special features include the following featurettes: Prequel: The Dawn Of Lying (SD 06:30), Meet Karl Pilkington (SD 17:48), and A Truly "Honest" Making-of Featurette With Ricky Gervais (HD 07:17); five additional scenes; four "Ricky and Matt's Video Podcasts"; outtakes (SD 05:33); and a digital copy of the film.

The 1080p VC-1 picture is flat and plain, with unimpressive shadow depth and dimension. Colors are natural enough, but the imagery appears often subdued and uninteresting, perhaps purposely. Contrast is, at times, excellent, but overall rather limited in scope. Blacks are deep and solid, and shadow delineation is generally satisfactory. Fleshtones are natural throughout. It is only during close-ups that the resolution is sufficient to resolve facial features and object textures. Backgrounds are consistently soft and blurred. There appears to be a veil of slight grain that further has a softening effect. But then the imagery is generally inconsistent throughout. At times, the picture is quite pleasing. Overall, this is a mediocre picture that is undistinguished. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby® TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack is conventional and just as bland as the picture. The sound just limps along, with a weak and uninteresting music score that is well-enough recorded but impactless. LFE support is generally limited to the bass lines in the few music numbers during the movie. Sound effects are limited as well. But then this is a dialogue-focused soundtrack. Dialogue is intelligible but at times subdued and softly spoken. Surround envelopment is wanting throughout, with limited engagement. Dialogue is production sound and monaural focused with no integrated spatial support from the other channels. Fidelity overall is satisfactory, but the sound is uninvolving. Generally, this is an undistinguished and mediocre soundtrack that drags the story along. (Gary Reber)