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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Directed by Agnieszka Holland
USA 1997

 

She must choose between her father’s fortune and the man she loves! Riveting performances from an all-star cast highlight this passionate tale of a young heiress who must choose between love or money. Jennifer Jason Leigh (Rush) is Catherine, a lonely young woman in search of happiness... until she is swept off her feet by the handsome Morris Townsend (Ben Chaplin, Feast of July). Suspicious of the young man's true intentions, however, her controlling father (Albert Finney, Looker) threatens to disown Catherine if she follows her heart and marries against his wishes. Directed by Agnieszka Holland (Olivier Olivier) with a screenplay by Carol Doyle (Veronica Guerin), based on a novel by Henry James (The Heiress). Maggie Smith (A Room With a View), Judith Ivey (Hello Again), Jennifer Garner (Elektra) and Peter Maloney (The Thing) co-star in this timeless story both powerful and entertaining.

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AThis film is the second effort to bring to the screen the 1880 Henry James novel of the same title (the first was The Heiress in 1949). Set in 1850 among the aristocracy of New York, Washington Square examines the inhibitions of Catherine Sloper (Jennifer Jason Leigh), the only child of wealthy Dr. Austin Sloper (Albert Finney). Catherine is clumsy and shy and something of an embarrassment to her high-class father. Dr. Sloper still unconsciously resents the child because her birth caused the death of his wife. He also disapproves of Catherine's attraction to Morris Townsend (Ben Chaplin), warning her that the handsome young man is after her money. He takes Catherine to Europe and warns her to break off her relationship with Morris, but she defies him. Townsend proposes, and Catherine accepts despite her father's threats to disinherit her if she marries him.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 12th, 1997 (Toronto International Film Festival)

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:55:49.776         
Video

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 21,662,533,705 bytes

Feature: 20,955,955,200 bytes

Video Bitrate: 20.96 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1555 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1555 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 21,662,533,705 bytes

Feature: 20,955,955,200 bytes

Video Bitrate: 20.96 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

NEW Audio Commentary by director Agnieszka Holland
Trailer (1:59)


Blu-ray Release Date:
January 2nd, 2019
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 8

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Kino Lorber bring the period-piece Washington Square to single-layered Blu-ray in 1080P with a modest bitrate. It can look very soft and thick but this appearance is consistent throughout the presentation. It is in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio and the image is flat and heavy. It looks acceptable in-motion but lacks crispness and depth - which may be appropriate for the film - unless we compare we can't know without doubts. It certainly is not, visually, the height of the format. 

The film is presented in 2.0 channel DTS-HD Master (16-bit) and this period film requires few effects. It has a very fitting score by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek (Passchendaele, Get Low,
) with his The Tale Of The String, Tu chiami una vita and L'Absence (quartet and orchestra versions). The audio quality is decent and dialogue is clear and audible. There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray.

Extras include a new audio commentary by director Agnieszka Holland (which I have yet to indulge) and a trailer.

This is an interesting film of love and family with a great performance by Jennifer Jason Leigh. The
Blu-ray image is weak but the film has me thinking of it days later. I look forward to indulging in the  commentary. Those keen on period dramas will see value in this.

Gary Tooze

 


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Box Cover

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Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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