BLU-RAY REVIEW

Rabbit Hole

Featured In Issue 156, April 2011

Picture4.5
Sound3.5
WSR Score4
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):
Image Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
29922
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Mature thematic material, some drug use ad language
(Retail Price):
$39.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
92
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2010
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
04/19/11
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
John Cameron Mitchell
(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 Digital 5.1, DTS HD Lossless 7.1
(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):

Penned by acclaimed playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, adapted from his Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Rabbit Hole is a vivid, hopeful, honest, and unexpectedly witty portrait of a family searching for what remains possible in the most impossible of all situations. Becca (Kidman) and Howie (Eckhart) are returning to their everyday existence in the wake of a shocking, sudden loss. Just eight months ago, they were a happy suburban family with everything they wanted. Now, they are posing as normal; blindly looking for footing in a sea of new emotions. This is the remarkably moving journey of a couple finding their way back to love. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director John Cameron Mitchell, Writer David Lindsay-Abaire, and Cinematographer Frank G. DeMarco; three deleted scenes (HD 03:07); the theatrical trailer; and up-front previews.

The 1.78:1 1080p AVC picture was photographed digitally and displays a nicely balanced pallet of saturated color, deep blacks, and excellent shadow delineation. Contrast is excellent, with nice highlights and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution also is excellent, with revealing detail, especially in close-ups of facial features, clothing, and object textures. Fleshtone hues are accurate and revealing. Overall, this is a perfectly natural-looking picture that is very satisfying visually. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1-channel soundtrack is dialogue focused, with at times, excellent spatial delineation, using all seven channels to support spatial depth. At other times the dialogue collapses, which is surprising when compared to the spatial segments. The primary music piano/viola score is limited. When engaged, the music extends to the surrounds, but is subdued. Still, the added two side channels enhance the effective spatial dimension of the music. Atmospheric sound effects are limited as well but reserved spatially. Deep bass is pretty much nonexistent. Overall, the sonic focus is frontal, with limited surround engagement, but nonetheless the soundtrack provides serviceable support for telling the story. (Gary Reber)