• Login

    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Erin Brockovich

    Featured In Issue 170, October 2012

    Picture4.5
    Sound4
    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):
    61122178
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Language
    (Retail Price):
    $19.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (HD-30)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    132
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    2000
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    06/05/12
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Steven Soderbergh
    (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):

    Reminiscent of Silkwood, Erin Brockovich tells the true story of an unlikely crusader in the battle against corporate greed and the misuse of public trust. Out-of-work divorced mom Erin (Roberts) finagles a clerk's position in a small law firm after they lost her winnable auto collision claim. While dealing with the office gossips who disapprove of her short skirts and casual manner, she discovers evidence in a file for a real estate case that she suspects indicates improprieties on the part of the PG&E utilities company in regard to their handling of the deadly illnesses that have been developing among the residents of a small California town. Erin sets out to prove the accountability of the multi-billion-dollar company that knowingly allowed deadly chemicals to seep into the town's water. (Tricia Spears)

    Special features include deleted scenes with optional commentary by Director Steven Soderbergh (SD 30:07), the featurettes Erin Brockovich: A Look At A Real Life Experience (SD 03:58) and Spotlight On Location: The Making Of Erin Brockovich (SD 15:12), the theatrical trailer, 100 Years Of Universal: Academy Award® Winners (HD 09:35), 100 Years Of Universal: The Lot (HD 09:25), BD-Live, up-front ads, and the DVD.

    First reviewed in Issue 41 as an anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD, the picture exhibited a picture that could be exquisitely sharp. This new Blu-ray Disc™ release features a new transfer encoded in 1.85:1 1080p VC-1 and approved by Director Steven Soderbergh. Cinematographer Ed Lachman photographed the film with the intent of portraying the "true story" character. Much of the picture is stylized with warm, golden overtones, but colors are otherwise nicely balanced. Fleshtones are perfectly natural and healthy. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered. Resolution is excellent, with fine details exhibited, especially in close-ups of facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. The imagery is impressively pristine and combined with the stylized picture will absolutely please. (Gary Reber)

    The repurposed DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is dialogue-driven and features fine fidelity. The soundstage is generally balanced toward the screen, with very subtle surround activity that is dominated by music ambiance. Dialogue is presented at a comfortable listening level, and voices sound generally natural, though, spatial integration is sometimes compromised through overemphasis in the mid-bass. The low end is significantly limited, with very little .1 LFE, though, it is technically active in the soundtrack. The nicely recorded music projects a wide stereophonic image across the screen. This soundtrack is clearly of a quiescent nature and is oriented around the dialogue. (Gary Reber)

    Reason #67 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    Widescreen Review is by far the most in-depth and comprehensive publication in its genre. Readers of all levels of expertise can increase their knowledge and enhance their enjoyment of the Home Theatre experience. Widescreen Review is one of the few, if not the only publication, that actually affects manufacturer’s decisions in regards to their product lines. I believe one of the reasons DTS decoding is so common in consumer equipment is due to the efforts of Gary Reber and his associates. Additionally, the magazine has heralded the importance of a properly calibrated video monitor. Consumers who are so inclined now have the information needed in order for their equipment, from entry level to state-of-the-art, to be the best that it can be. Add to this the software reviews, articles on emerging technologies, and meticulous equipment reviews, and you have a magazine that sets the standard for others to emulate. This is why I read Widescreen Review.

    Louis R. Levin
    26864 Mandelieu Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 • Phone: 951 676 4914 • Fax: 951 693 2960
    Copyright © Information • All Rights Reserved • www.widescreenreview.com • Web Site Established In 1995 • Privacy Policy • Partners