BLU-RAY REVIEW

Margin Call

Featured In Issue 165, March 2012

Picture3.5
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):
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
31786
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Language
(Retail Price):
$29.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
107
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2011
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
12/20/11
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
J.C. Chandor
(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):

In Margin Call, Eric Dale (Tucci) is laid off from his investment firm and then sneaks a flash drive to his young colleague Peter Sullivan (Quinto) before being escorted from the building. Sullivan soon discovers that the information on the flash drive could change the fate of the company-and perhaps even the entire country. As more executives learn of this sensitive news, they are thrust into a high-stakes moral debate: do what's best for the company (and themselves)? Or what's best for millions of investors worldwide? Set in the 12 hours that launched the 2009 financial crisis. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Writer/Director J.C. Chandor and Producer Neal Dodson, two deleted scenes with optional commentary (HD 04:26), the making-of featurette Revolving Door (HD 05:58), "Missed Calls: Moments With The Cast & Crew" (HD 01:06), a photo gallery, and up-front previews.

The 1080p AVC picture was shot with the Red Camera and the imagery appears lightly contrasted with mediocre blacks and shadow delineation. The picture lacks density and weight, with an overall soft appearance, probably due to filtering. The color palette is generally subdued with weakened primaries. At times, though, detail does manage to heighten the image quality. Overall, this is a mediocre visual experience. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is generally reserved and dialogue focused. As such, there are few segments that provide surround envelopment. Dialogue is either production sound or ADR and generally a bit muffled. At times the trading floor and New York City atmospherics provide effective envelopment. Deep bass is really not a factor and the music score is generally limited. Overall, the soundtrack provides decent support to the storytelling but is basically a conventional production mix. (Gary Reber)