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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Public, The

    Featured In Issue 242, August 2019

    Picture3.5
    Sound3
    WSR Score4.5
    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):
    Universal Studios Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    2114996
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-14
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $34.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    118
    (Color Type):
    Color With B/W Sequences
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    a
    (Theatrical Year):
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    7/2/2019
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    (Director):
    Emilio Estevez
    (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):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (Subtitles):

    In "The Public," an unusually bitter Arctic blast has made its way to downtown Cincinnati and the front doors of the public library where the action of the movie takes place. At odds with library officials over how to handle the extreme weather event, some homeless patrons turn the building into a shelter for the night by staging an "Occupy" sit in. What begins as an act of civil disobedience becomes a stand-off with police and a rush-to-judgment media constantly speculating about what's really happening. This David versus Goliath story tackles some of our nation's most challenging issues, homelessness and mental illness and sets the drama inside one of the last bastions of democracy-in-action: your public library. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include a Movies Anywhere digital code.

    The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed digitally using Arri cameras and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is low budget but color fidelity is naturally hued throughout. Mostly photographed in interior settings, especially within the Cincinnati Public Library, interior object hues are realistically rendered. Fleshtones are generally natural as well. Contrast is well balanced with deep blacks, good shadow delineation, and lighting, both within the library and exterior night scenes. Resolution is good, especially during close-ups, with numerous sharp long shots. This is a basic visual experience that underscores seriously problematic issues. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a typical mediocre soundtrack with the dramatic storytelling focused on delivering dialogue intelligibility. Atmospherics are frontal focused. The nicely recorded music score provides subtle envelopment. Overall, this is a mediocre sonic experience but very effective as complementary elements to the strong issue-focused storytelling. (Gary Reber)

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