Nixon (Blu-ray) Official AVSForum Review [Text View]

Ralph Potts

08-14-08, 10:17 AM

<img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=116030&d=1216991200"hspace="12"align="left">
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )

Film: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109946&d=1210373692">

Extras: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109946&d=1210373692">

 Audio/Video total rating:
 ( Max score: 100 )
<h2>84</h2>
 
Studio and Year: Hollywood Pictures - 1995
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 213 Minutes
Genre: Drama

Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1,
Resolution: 1080p/24
 
Audio Format(s): English Uncompressed 5.1 channel PCM, English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, James woods, Ed Harris, Powers Booth, E.G. Marshall, David Paymer, Bob Hoskins, Paul Sorvino, David Hyde Pierce, Mary Steenburgen
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Music by: John Williams
Written by: Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, and Oliver Stone
Region Code: A,B,C

Blu-ray Disc release Date: August 19, 2008

 
<center><h2>"He had greatness within his grasp"</h2></center>

<h4>Film Synopsis:</h4>Anthony Hopkins electrifies the screen as Nixon in the acclaimed hit from controversial director Oliver Stone. Nominated for four Academy Awards, including best actor, Anthony Hopkins, 1995, Nixon takes a riveting look at a complex man whose chance at greatness was ultimately destroyed by his passion for power, when his involvement in conspiracy jeopardized the nation's security and the presidency of the United States.

<h4>My Take:</h4>Wow…I have only seen this film in bits and pieces over the years. Sitting down to watch it in its entirety was quite a feat considering it is three and a half hours long in this extended Director’s cut which adds an additional 28 minutes. It was long but I would not call it boring. This film paints quite a portrait of former U.S. President Richard Nixon. To me he seemed like the guy everyone loved to hate. It didn’t seem to matter whether or not he was doing something positive or not. According to the film that would explain part of the reason for his paranoia. Amidst all of the problems he did do a lot a good for the country. I can remember when he ran against George McGovern in 1972. I was 8 years old and in third grade and it was a big deal in school. I clearly remember the Watergate scandal and seeing his resignation speech on television. I have no personal feelings regarding him other than I think that he made some serious errors in judgment. The most serious of them was thinking that the president was above the law. I won’t go any further regarding my opinion of President Nixon or the accuracy of the film because I really couldn’t say. Looking at the film on its own I found it to be excellent. Fact, fiction, or both this is a powerful dramatic portrayal that features an incredible cast. Hopkins was nominated for an Academy Award and Joan Allen for best supporting actress, neither won. I thought that Paul Sorvino did an outstanding job in his portray of Henry Kissinger. Like him or not Oliver Stone did a remarkable job in his direction of this film. It did jump back and forth which required strict attention so that timelines were not misinterpreted. The film covers many different points in Nixon’s life including his childhood and glimpses at his college years at Whittier. It focuses on the turbulent period between 1972 and 1974 and what from his life possibly lead Nixon to that point. It seemed obvious that Nixon had a real need to be liked and appreciated. He wanted to be remembered as a president who made a difference. I think that he did make a difference but not in the way he intended. I thought that at three and a half hours this film played a bit too long and that it’s theatrical cut was probably better served. In either case this is a very good piece of film making in my opinion.

<h4>Parental Guide:</h4>The rating is for language and perhaps some thematic elements that would not be appropriate for younger audiences.

 AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65 

**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)

<h4>Audio: 82</h4>
<ul>
<li>Dynamics: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109946&d=1210373692"></li>
<li>Low frequency extension: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109946&d=1210373692"></li>
<li>Surround Sound presentation: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109946&d=1210373692"></li>
<li>Clarity/Detail: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109947&d=1210373692"></li>
<li>Dialogue Reproduction: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109946&d=1210373692">
</li></ul>

<h4>Video: 86</h4>
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)

<ul>
<li>Resolution/Clarity: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109946&d=1210373692"></li>
<li>Black level/Shadow detail: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109946&d=1210373692"></li>
<li>Color reproduction: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109947&d=1210373692"></li>
<li>Fleshtones: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109946&d=1210373692"></li>
<li>Compression: <img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109948&d=1210373692"</li></ul>Nixon comes to Blu-ray Disc from Disney/Hollywood Pictures featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 21 mbps and lossless uncompressed PCM 5.1 channel audio that has a constant bitrate of 4.6 mbps.This was a challenging film to evaluate due to the various visual styles used. It uses black and white film, grain, color film, and a wide variety of camera angles, tricks and lighting to obtain the director’s vision. The bottom line is that it excellent. Detail was abundant and definitively descriptive at times. The scene in chapter 12 at the Santa Anita race track where Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover are talking looks stunning. The close up camera work reveals fine detail in the skin texture and pattern in the actors clothing. The white fedora worn by Hoover has a black band around it. This shot showed a nice balance in contrast so that the band looked detailed and deep black and white detail in the rest of the hat was clearly visible. Colors were well saturated and natural with no signs of blooming or exaggerated primaries. Black and white scenes looked solid with punchy contrast and excellent gradation in grays. Grain was used to give some of the flashbacks a gritty appearance. This was done to good effect as grain was fine at times and heavier at others but always appeared well preserved and didn’t impede fidelity. There were segments that used low lighting and filtering that made the image look less detailed and dark. This had nothing to do with the encoding. I saw no signs of compression related anomalies or serious video artifacts.The audio presentation was excellent for a 13 year old film like Nixon. Dynamics were authoritative and defining. The elements contained within the soundtrack appeared to be preserved and were rendered with clear tonal distinction. The mix made superb use of the entire system at times as the sound field came alive with discrete and ambient driven sounds. This painted an impressive aural picture that enveloped the sweet spot to create a well balanced and articulate sounds cape. Bass reproduction was sneaky deep at times. When you were not expecting it there would be a low frequency burst that would quietly roll through the room attached to a scene where you would least expect it. Of course there were times where it was present when you were like the aforementioned scene at Santa Anita. The pounding of the horses hooves as they left the gate and sped around the track had plenty of low frequency bite. Dialogue was crystal clear when it was meant to be and unfortunately hard to hear when it was meant to be. I found that sometimes I had to crank the volume to make out some of the low level dialogue. Overall though this sound mix sounded very good.

<h4>Bonus Features:</h4>

The bulk of the bonus content is on disc two and is definitely less in quantity but strong in quality. The Beyond Nixon piece is quite good and features recent interviews with John Dean, Gore Vidal, Robert Novak, Howard Zinn and others. If you are an Oliver Stone fan and really want to get his take on this project then the remainder of the content here is well worth your time. He loves to talk abut why he did this and what the thought processes were etc. Interesting stuff. 

Disc 1:Audio Commentary tracks with Director Oliver StoneDisc 2:<ul>
<li>Deleted scenes: 59 Minute segment as Director Stone introduces the content removed for the theatrical cut </li>
<li>(HD) Beyond Nixon: 35 Minute Documentary where various interviews are conducted where Nixon’s abuse of power and his legacy is discussed </li>
<li>Charlie Rose interviews Oliver Stone featurette: 55 Minute segment from the CR show that features in depth discussion of the film </li>
<li>Original Theatrical Trailer </li></ul>

<h4>Final Thoughts:</h4>

Nixon is a poignant film that offers a look at a part of our history that to this day still has an impact. I can’t say how accurate a picture it paints of Richard M. Nixon but as a film it is powerful storytelling, wonderful acting and excellent direction. Disney has brought it to Blu-ray Disc in tidy package that fans will be grateful for. I recommend that you pick this one up. 

<img src="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=109949&d=1210373731" align=left>
 
 Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews

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