WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Clockers
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 19 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Delroy Lindo, Mekhi Phifer, Isaiah Washington, Keith David, Pee Wee Love & Regina Taylor

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 3
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MCA/Universal Home Video
(Catalog Number): 42730
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 129
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1995
(LD Release Date): 3/1/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Spike Lee
(Screenplay/Written By): Richard Price & Spike Lee
(Story): NA
(Music): Terence Blanchard
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Andrew McAlpine
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Ruth Carter
(Editor): Sam Pollard
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Rosalie Swedlin & Monty Ross
(Co-Producers): Richard Price
(Producers): Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee & Jon Kilik

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): DTS Matrix Surround
(Theatrical Sound): DTS Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on the book by Richard Price, Spike Lee’s Clockers is an intercity drama about Brooklyn’s homicide detective Rocco (Keitel) and his partner Mazilli (Turturro) who work the streets of a drug-infested housing project to find the person who murdered a drug dealer. Their investigation leads them to two brothers who are as opposite as good and evil. Victor (Isaish Washington) is a clean-cut family man who works two jobs and leads a respectable life. His younger brother Strike (Phifer) is a “clocker” working for the ruthless drug lord Rodney Little (Lindo). One of the brothers is guilty of the crime, and it’s up to Rocco and Mazilli to unravel the truth.

LaserDisc Picture:
The matted 1.85:1 picture exhibits poor contrast, color fidelity and shadow detail. Colors are oversaturated and the imagery is dark and plugged-up. There is no noise or artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The sound quality is uneven with the opening music sequence showing promise but wanting thereafter in fidelity and dialogue clarity. Surround envelopment is limited to the score.
(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: