The Founder features the true story of how Ray Kroc (Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald (Lynch and Offerman), who were running a burger operation in 1950’s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. The story details how Kroc maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire. (Gary Reber)
Special features include four featurettes: The Story Behind The Story (HD 04:32), Michael Keaton As Ray Kroc (HD 03:08), The McDonald Brothers (HD 04:01), and The Production Design (HD 07:06); Building McDonald's: Time Lapse Video (HD 01:21); a press conference with filmmakers and cast (HD 37:44); a gallery; upfront previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy.
The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture, photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa XT camera system in anamorphic Panavision, is terrific with generally bright, vividly colorful imagery. Hues are nicely saturated with a warm and rich tone, with strong primaries. Colors often pop with bright reds and, of course, the yellow “Golden Arches.” Fleshtones are perfectly natural throughout. Contrast is excellent, with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is excellent as well, with fine detail evident throughout in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. This is a beautifully executed picture that nicely captures the period with brilliant color and contrast that is reference quality throughout. (Gary Reber)
The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely executed with effective atmospherics whether in the sonics of the behind-the-counter operations or in the crowds and openings. Sound effects are nuanced but effective. The music score is nicely complementary with, at times, a dynamic presence, and a soundstage that extends to provide surround envelopment, with at times, directionalization. Dialogue is, of course, a significant focus of the storytelling, and spatial integration is generally good throughout. The soundtrack is perfectly complementary, with a great music score and atmospheric
sonics. (Gary Reber)