BLU-RAY REVIEW

Thelma & Louise

Featured In Issue 267, May/June 2023

Picture5
Sound4
WSR Score5
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):
The Criterion Collection
(Catalog Number):
1180
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Strong language and for some violence and sensuality
(Retail Price):
$39.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
130
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
1991
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
5/30/2023
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Ridley Scott
(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):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

When a tragic event at a roadside dive initiates a run from the law across the American southwest, "Thelma & Louise" (Geena Davis & Susan Sarandon) face their uncertain future. The friendship that strengthens between the two is both vital and spirited and the only thing that lends hope and guidance in a world that is collapsing in on them. With an Academy Award®-winning script by Callie Khouri, and stellar Oscar®-nominated performances by Sarandon and Davis, this poignant film crosses all boundaries and will stir the critical imagination for decades to come. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary by Ridley Scott, Screenwriter Callie Khouri and Actors Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon); new interviews with Scott and Khouri; the featurette "Thelma And Louise: The Last Journey" (SD 59:43); "Boy And Bicycle" (SD 27L50); Scott's first short film and one of his early commercials; the original theatrical featurette with optional promotional narration (SD 05:23); storyboards; 16 deleted and extended scenes; extended ending with director's commentary; Glen Frey's music video "Part Of Me, Part Of You" (SD ) multi-angle storyboards: "The Final Chase"; the "Part Of You, Part Of Me" music video by Glenn Frey (SD 04:27); the original theatrical trailer and TV spots and a 36-page color booklet..

The 2.35:1 1080p picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on Eastman Color 35 mm film stock using the Arriflex 35-III | Panavision Panaflex Platinumand camera systems and sourced from a new 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Visually, this is a reference quality transfer but at about 2.21:1, not 2.35:1. The color balance is faithful to the fidelity of the theatrical projection. Colors are nicely saturated and revealing of nuance with warm and rich hues. The western vistas are spectacular. Flesh tones are perfectly rendered and natural in appearance. Contrast is superb with natural black levels, revealing shadows and bright natural white levels. Resolution is excellent with fine facial features exhibited throughout. Clothing is finely detailed as well as object texture, such as the lines and surfaces of the green convertible. This is a wonderfully rendered reference Blu-ray Disc that will thrill fans of this classic. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack features a sound design that is excellent with a sporadic aggressive surround presence. There is an enormous sense of dynamics and directionality in the surround channels that envelops the soundfield and supports the panoramic cinematography. The dramatic music score and sound effects will shake up your room with a wide and deep soundstage and surround presence. Fidelity is excellent. Deep bass is effective such as the sound effect of an oil tanker explosion. Dialogue generally has good spatial integration but ADR-production is occasionally poorly executed. This is a well-crafted, though dated-sounding holosonic® soundtrack that is compelling. (Gary Reber)