WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Hi-Lo Country, The
Genre:Western

Reviewed In Issue 34 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Woody Harrelson, Billy Crudup, Patricia Arquette, San Elliott

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): PolyGram Video
(Catalog Number): ID5850PG
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $29.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 115
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Stephen Frears
(Screenplay/Written By): Walon Green
(Story): NA
(Music): Carter Burwell
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Patricia Norris
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Patricia Norris
(Editor): Masahiro Hirakubo
(Supervising Sound Editors): Stefan Henrix
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Rudd Simmons
(Co-Producers): Liza Chasin
(Producers): Barbara DeFina, Martin Scorsese, Eric Fellner & Tim Bevan

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): 2.35 Research
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.32:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): DTS, SDDS & 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 novel by Max Evans, The Hi-Lo Country stars Woody Harrelson and Billy Crudup as Big Boy and Pete, two close friends and hard-livin’ cowboys from Hi-Lo, New Mexico. They return from duty in World War II to discover their town has been taken over by corporate cattle rancher Jim Ed Love (Elliott) and the two begin a campaign to maintain the traditional cattle ranching ways. To make this range war worse, Big Boy begins a torrid affair with Mona (Arquette), the wife of Jim Ed’s foreman. But when Pete finds about the tryst, his own feelings for Mona come to light, straining his friendship with Big Boy.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 2.32:1 LaserDisc has a hazy appearance with distracting noise throughout. Colors are nicely rendered, with a warm overall appearance, though slightly yellow in saturation. Contrast and shadow delineation deliver a natural gradation between darkness and picture black. Due to excessive noise and poor clarity, the picture is only mediocre.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
(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): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: