WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Imaginary Crimes
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 13 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Harvey Keitel, Fairuza Balk, Kelly Lynch, Vincent D’onofrio, Diane Baker & Chris Penn

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 3
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number): 13739
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $$34.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 106
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1994
(LD Release Date): 3/1/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Anthony Drazan
(Screenplay/Written By): Kristine Johnson & Davia Nelson
(Story): NA
(Music): Stephen Endelman
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Joseph T. Garrity
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Elizabeth Kling
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Gary Barber, Ted Field & Robert W. Cort
(Co-Producers): Stan Wlodkowski, Kristine Johnson & Davia Nelson
(Producers): James G. Robinson

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.80:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Imaginary Crimes is based upon the book by Sheila Ballantyne about a believer in the American Dream, and how he will one day strike it rich if he keeps hustling. Ray Weiler, played by Harvey Keitel, is a charmer who lives for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity but fails to see that his family is being hurt by the schemes that come to nothing. Elder daughter Sonya (Fairuza Balk) has started to see her father with unforgiving eyes, and understands why her deceased mother lived such a despondent life. Her chance to enter the University of California, Berkeley, is dashed when her father is arrested for a bad land deal and then jumps bail to escape to Nevada, abandoning the two girls to their fate.

LaserDisc Picture:
Colors are vivid in this sharp 1.80:1 matted transfer. Fleshtones are problematic, however, as they appear to be filtered excessively with an orange hue in some interior scenes. Contrast is good and blacks are deep and solid. Artifacts are minor.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The sound is nothing special with virtually no surrounds and a mono presence. The interior scenes are recorded in stereo.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: