BLU-RAY REVIEW

For No Good Reason

Featured In Issue 191, November 2014

Picture4.5
Sound4.5
WSR Score3.5
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):
Sony Pictures Classics
(Catalog Number):
44217
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Language, some drug content and brief sexual images
(Retail Price):
$40.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
90
(Color Type):
Color With B/W Sequences
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2012
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
09/02/14
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Charlie Paul
(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 the documentary "For No Good Reason," Ralph Steadman, who is best known for caricatures he created alongside the work of longtime friend, Journalist Hunter S. Thompson, provide valuable insight into his artistic process. This is an in-depth look at one of the trailblazers of the "Gonzo" movement, revealing the methodical way Steadman maintains a delicate balance between chaos and focus. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Charlie Paul and Producer Lucy Paul, the "Cherrywod Cannon" animated short (HD 07:28), extended interviews (HD 18:06), six deleted scenes (HD 18:49), the Toronto International Film Festival Q&A with Ralph Steadman and Charlie Paul (HD 28:20), the theatrical trailer, and upfront previews.

The 1080p AVC picture is a collage of color and black-and-white imagery, both moving and still. Image quality varies with the source material, but the final product is quite artistic and engaging. The color palette is perfectly natural, with rich and warm hues and deep, solid blacks. Contrast is excellent throughout. Resolution is also excellent, with fine detail exhibited in facial features, hair, clothing, drawings, and object texture. This is beautifully produced documentary that is visually stimulating throughout. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack features a beautifully recorded music score with excellent fidelity and dynamics that spans the soundstage and extends to the surrounds. Deep bass is punctuated in the .1 LFE channel in support of selected music segments and atmospherics. Nuanced sounds, such as Steadman's drawing, are fantastic. Dialogue, both direct and narrative, is always intelligible and pristine. This is an inventive soundtrack that is always sonically engaging, with wonderful fidelity. (Gary Reber)