BLU-RAY REVIEW

Debt, The

Featured In Issue 162, December 2011

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Sound4
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):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
62119711
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Some violence and language
(Retail Price):
$34.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
114
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2010
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
12/07/11
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
John Madden
(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):

The Debt compels retired espionage secret agent Rachel Singer (Mirren) back into action. In 1997, shocking news reaches Rachel and Stephan (Wilkinson) regarding their former colleague David (Hinds)—from their secret mission in 1965-1966 to track down Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel (Christensen) in East Berlin. At great risk, and at considerable personal cost, the team's mission was accomplished—or was it? Based on the film HA-HOV written by Assaf Bernstein and Ido Rosenblum and directed by Assaf Bernstein. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director John Madden and Producer Kris Thykier; three featurettes: A Look Inside (HD 03:17), Every Secret Has A Price: Helen Mirren (HD 03:16), and The Berlin Affair: The Triangle At The Center (HD 02:18); My Scenes; a pocket Blu app; and BD-Live functionality.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture is stylized when the action reverts back to 1965-1966, with a subdued color palette, while maintaining a natural aged presence. The 1997 segments are brighter and vibrant, with a perfectly natural appearance. Resolution is excellent, with fine detail revealed in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. Black levels and shadow delineation are nicely rendered and establish an intriguing mysterious mood. Overall, this is a haunting visual image that fully supports dramatics. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely produced with a terrific orchestral music score that delivers a wide and deep soundstage presence and extended surround envelopment. Very much dialogue driven, spatial integration sounds well balanced. Deep bass extension is, at times, energized in the .1 LFE channel to dramatic effect. Atmospherics and sound effects are effectively presented, to heighten the spatial dimension. This is an effectively rendered soundtrack experience that supports the gripping storytelling. (Gary Reber)