• Login
    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Gingerbread Man, The
    Genre:Thriller

    Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Kenneth Branagh, Embeth Davidtz, Robert Downey, Jr., Daryl Hannah, Tom Berenger, Famke Janssen, Mae Whitman, Jesse James, Robert Duvall

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3
    Sound Rating: 4.5
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals
    Includes commentary by Robert Altman.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): PolyGram Video
    (Catalog Number): ID4154PG
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 114
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 7/98
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Robert Altman
    (Screenplay/Written By): Al Hayes
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Mark Isham
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Stephen Altman
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Geraldine Peroni
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Mark Burg, Glen A. Tobias & Todd Baker
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Jeremy Tannenbaum

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

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): Dolby Digital
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Based on the story by John Grisham, The Gingerbread Man is a taut legal drama set in the gauzy shadows of Savannah, Georgia. Attorney Rick Magruder (Kenneth Branagh) offers to drive caterer Mallory Dross (Embeth Davidtz) home from a party after her car is discovered stolen. Learning that Mallory’s lunatic father (Robert Duvall) has been stalking her, Rick puts himself and his family in danger when he attempts to help her with her troubles.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The overall quality is dark and hazy, with colors that often lack clarity in interiors. Color fidelity is generally natural, though often brownish in hue, with deep, undefined blacks. Contrast and shadow delineation are mediocre on both versions, with the overall picture wanting in resolution. Minor noise and occasional artifacts are apparent on both, for generally mediocre presentations throughout. The LaserDisc is matted at 1.85:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 and PCM soundtracks are effectively haunting with a spatially aggressive surround presence that is quite dimensional. While the discrete version is better delineated overall, the matrix version sounds overall more spatial and better resolves low level ambience. The Dolby Digital soundtrack is preferred for its discrete surrounds and limited, but powerful, .1 LFE enhancement. Dialogue sounds generally natural and spatially integrated. The music score is nicely recorded with good soundstage imaging.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
    (Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): No
    (Directionalized Dialogue): No
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    		 Yes
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The LaserDisc and non-anamorphic DVD are similar in picture quality, though the DVD is slightly sharper with better detail. The overall quality is dark and hazy, with colors that often lack clarity in interiors, especially on the LaserDisc. Color fidelity is generally natural, though often brownish in hue, with deep, undefined blacks. Other times colors exhibit better vibrance with more subtly natural fleshtones on the DVD. Contrast and shadow delineation are mediocre on both versions, with the overall picture wanting in resolution. Minor noise and occasional artifacts are apparent on both, for generally mediocre presentations throughout. The LaserDisc and DVD are matted at 1.85:1. The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 DVD and LaserDisc soundtrack and the matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtrack are effectively haunting with a spatially aggressive surround presence that is quite dimensional. While the discrete version is better delineated overall, the matrix version sounds overall more spatial and better resolves low level ambience. The Dolby Digital soundtrack is preferred for its discrete surrounds and limited, but powerful, .1 LFE enhancement. Dialogue sounds generally natural and spatially integrated. The music score is nicely recorded with good soundstage imaging.