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DEAD CALM
DEAD CALM is a solid, entertaining thriller that been given a solid, basic DVD release. Warner Home Video has priced DEAD CALM to sell and the disc is well worth acquiring. Recommended. |
This DVD review 
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DVD
reviews are Copyright © 2000 THE CINEMA LASER and may not be copied
or reprinted without the written consent of the publisher. |
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DEAD
CALM ($20) is a terrific thriller that proves that a great director
needs no more than three talented actors to make an unforgettable movie.
The plot of DEAD CALM is simplicity itself, a couple sailing out
in the middle of the ocean come across another boat in distress and make
the mistake of picking up the other ship's lone survivor. DEAD CALM
stars Sam Neill as John Ingram, a naval officer who takes his distraught
wife Rae (Nicole Kidman) out to sea on small private yacht, so the two
of them can try to work past the tragic death of their young son. While
sailing around the Pacific, John and Rae encounter Hughie Warriner (Billy
Zane), the sole survivor from a slowly sinking schooner. Nearly delirious
from his ordeal, Hughie claims that his traveling companions died from
botulism, which left him unable to manage the ship. As a naval officer,
John feels compelled to investigate the sinking craft before it goes down.
Unfortunately, John discovers the truth about Hughie's precarious mental
condition too late to stop the psychotic from making off with Rae and
leaving John on the sinking schooner. DEAD CALM is a slick and
engrossing thriller that is brilliantly directed by Phillip Noyce. Noyce
makes the most of the cramped quarters of the yacht, beautifully contrasting
them with the vastness of the open ocean, showing that his characters
truly have nowhere to run.
Warner
Home Video has done a great job with their DVD edition of DEAD CALM.
The film is offered in both full screen and wide screen presentations,
however without its scope framing in place, DEAD CALM becomes an
exercise in frustration. For its wide screen presentation, Warner has
given DEAD CALM a new 16:9 enhanced transfer that puts a fresh
face this decade old film. The image is clean and offers a very good level
of detail. Bright daylight sequences are especially pleasing; appearing
crisp and highly defined. The interiors of the boat also look quite good;
although there are times that film grain becomes noticeable in low lighting.
Color reproduction is very good, with many strongly saturated hues and
very natural looking flesh tones. There are no problems with either chroma
noise or color bleeding. Blacks are very accurately rendered and shadow
detail is generally good, but there are a few scenes where it is somewhat
lacking. Contrast is good throughout the presentation, however the sunlit
sequences where the blazing white light of the sun is used to backlight
the actors proves to be especially well rendered on the DVD. Digital compression
artifacts are held in check most of the time, with only a couple dark
sequences betraying their presence. 
The Dolby Digital 2.0 channel soundtrack decodes to standard surround
and is an example of a better matrixed track. Plenty of atmosphere emanates
from the active rear channels, while the forward soundstage delivers clean
dialogue and distinct sound effects. Bass reproduction is fairly solid
and Graeme Revell’s musical score is well integrated into the sound mix.
As good as this matrixed Dolby Surround track sounds, I am sure that a
new 5.1 channel discrete mix could have enhanced the overall impact of
DEAD CALM. A French language soundtrack is also encoded onto the
DVD, as are English and French subtitles. The interactive menus include
some sound effects, but are a rather basic affair. Through the menus system,
one can access the standard scene selection and set up features, as well
as a theatrical trailer.
