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Silkwood [Blu-ray]
(Mike Nichols, 1983)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: ABC Motion Pictures Video: Kino Lorber
Disc: Region: 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player) Runtime: 2:11:05.858 Disc Size: 31,937,362,816 bytes Feature Size: 27,574,824,960 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.95 Mbps Chapters: 8 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: July 25th, 2017
Video: Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
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)
Subtitles: English (SDH), None
Extras:
• Interview with Producer Michael Hausman (16:03)
Bitrate:
Description: The controversial true story that inflamed a nation! Meryl Streep (Still of the Night) stars in this stunning, provocative and daring drama about one woman s struggle against a huge corporation. Karen Silkwood (Streep) lives a free-spirited existence with two friends, Drew Stephens (Kurt Russell, Death Proof) and Dolly Pelliker (Cher, Moonstruck), who work with her at an Oklahoma nuclear facility. It's only when she discovers she's been exposed to radiation that Karen's conscience awakens, and soon she is digging for evidence of wrongdoing at her company. But her sudden zeal for safer working conditions may come at a high price as she alienates friends and possibly even puts her own life in peril. Excellent direction by Mike Nichols (The Graduate) with a screenplay by Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle) and Alice Arlen (Alamo Bay) and a stellar supporting cast that includes Craig T. Nelson (Poltergeist), Diana Scarwid (Mommie Dearest), Fred Ward (Tremors), Ron Silver (Blue Steel), Charles Hallahan (The Thing), Josef Sommer (Witness), David Strathairn (Limbo), M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple), Tess Harper (Tender Mercies) and Will Patton (No Way Out). Nominated for 5 Academy Awards: Actress (Streep), Supporting Actress (Cher), Director (Nichols), Original Screenplay (Ephron, Arlen) and Editing (Sam O Steen).
The Film:
The taut Mike Nichols drama Silkwood (1983) was based on the real life case of a plutonium processing plant metallurgy worker, Karen Silkwood (Meryl Streep), who discovered corporate powers were covering up radiation leaks at Oklahoma's Kerr-McGee plant. Karen's whistle blower efforts as a union activist to reveal Kerr- McGee's possible radiation poisoning of its employees ended tragically. Karen had been a union activist with the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers' Union who was a vocal advocate for plant safety. Reportedly on her way to meet with New York Times reporter David Burnham, Karen died in a suspicious one-car accident in November 1974. Some believed the accident was actually an intentional murder for Karen's outspoken critique of Kerr-McGee plant safety. Others blamed Karen's abuse of alcohol and drugs, found in small quantities in her blood.
The entire cast is exceptional, especially Sudie Bond, as one of Karen's
older co-workers; Craig T. Nelson, as a man who may be doctoring
negatives for the company's protection; Josef Sommer and Ron Silver, as
union executives; Bruce McGill, who must represent virtually the entire
Kerr-McGee management team, and Graham Jarvis, as one of the specialists
who alerts the union members to the dangers they face. Excerpt from theNYTimes located HERE
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. The dual-layered Kino Lorber Blu-ray of Silkwood has the early 80's stock softness we have seen so often. The visuals are consistent and thick in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This seems how the film looked theatrically, not ant weakness in the transfer, digitization or source. Colors have a richness and there are moments exporting depth but generally the visuals are, authentically, flat and heavy. Certainly not 'demo' but true. It looks fine in-motion. This Blu-ray gave me a very watchable viewing in regards to the picture quality.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :Kino Lorber use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1555 kbps (16-bit) in the original English language. There are effects in the film - prominently the warning alarm has intensity. Georges Delerue (Mister Johnson, Jules et Jim, The Woman Next Door, The Last Metro, Day For Night) did the score and it benefits from the uncompressed rendering creating both a folksy and ominous atmosphere depending on the scene. And, of course, Streep sings Amazing Grace. There are optional English subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.
Extras : Kino include a 16-minute interview with producer Michael Hausman who sheds some light on the production side of Silkwood. Plus there are two trailers (domestic and foreign) and 6, 30-second, TV Spots.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze July 27th, 2017
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I
find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. 60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD
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