Big Short, The

Based on the book by Michael Lewis, The Big Short details the true story of four outsiders who risked everything to take on the big banks during the greatest financial fraud in U.S. history. (Gary Reber)

Special features include five featurettes: In The Trenches: Casting (HD 15:51), The Big Leap: Adam McKay (HD 1:31), Unlikely Heroes: The Characters (HD 11:28), The House Of Cards: The Rise Of The Fall (HD 14:01), and Getting Real: Re-creating An Era (HD 11:13); 10 deleted scenes (HD 06:28); and an UltraViolet digital copy

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture was photographed on Kodak film stock using the Arricam LT camera and exhibits a cinematic veneer with a tight grain structure. The color pallet is warm and rich with strong primaries that at times pop, and fleshtones that are accurately rendered. The imagery is vibrant in character with well-balanced contrast, deep blacks, and revealing shadow delineation. Everything appears natural throughout. Resolution is excellent, with very fine detail exhibited throughout. The imagery is sharp and clean. Close-ups are particularly well resolved, with details exhibited in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. Both exterior and interior settings are terrifically crisp. This is a superb filmic presentation that demonstrates just how wonderfully gorgeous film production can achieve. This is a reference-quality presentation. (Gary Reber)

The DTS:X/DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1-channel soundtrack features height channels but is perfectly compatible with the standard Master Audio format. Still, both the added two ear-level channels and the height channels nicely enhance the sense of envelopment and spherical sound. In two instances, computer mouse clicks become intensified within the soundfield and overhead, throughout the listening area. Atmospherics, such as office chatter and noise, even insects flying around, are often strongly and aggressively positioned, which enhances the sense of realism. Sound effects, such as gunfire in a shooting range and the sound of slot machines in casino settings, also convey convincing realism. The music score is spread wide and deep across the soundstage and extends aggressively to the surrounds. The music is a mix of genres, including heavy metal and bass-emphasized rap. Deep bass is substantial at appropriate segments and provides a natural LFE foundation. Dialogue is perfectly intelligible and natural sounding with generally good spatial integration. This is a reference soundtrack throughout, with touches of holosonic® envelopment that conveys the realism of the natural world as portrayed in the imagery. (Gary Reber)