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| Dvdivas
was founded by John Gabbard in 2000. It's purpose has been and
remains to be to provide you, the entertainment community with
the latest dvds and movie reviews. It will continue to be your
link to the most popular dvd movies. |
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“Heartburn”
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Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Comedy |
| Video: |
2.35:1 |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
Surround 5.1 |
| Languages |
English |
| Subtitles |
English |
| Length |
109 minutes |
| Rating |
R |
| Release Date |
7/6/04 |
| Studio |
Paramount
|
| Commentary:
|
None |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
None |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
None |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
Restored
mono soundtrack, enhanced for 16:9 TVs |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Meryl Streep,
Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, Maureen Stapleton, Stockard Channing,
Richard Masur, Catherine O’Hara, Steven Hill, Milos Forman |
| Written
By: |
Nora Ephron
based on her novel |
| Produced
By: |
Mike Nichols
and Robert Greenhut |
| Directed
By: |
Mike Nichols
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| Music:
|
Carly Simon |
| The
Review: |
Nothing like a dark, bitter satire
on marriage and divorce to sooth the soul. Mike Nichol’s 1986
classic “Heartburn” comes to DVD with all of its pithy comments,
witty asides and dark moments intact but, sadly, without any
additional venom in the form of extras. Adapted from by Nora
Ephron from her semi-autobiographical novel about her marriage
to Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post, “Heartburn” skewers
the 80’s so well that it runs the hazard of becoming a dated
piece of work. Luckily, Nichols deft comedic direction, the
sharp, funny performances by Streep, Nicholson and the supporting
cast and Ephron’s unique microscopic examination of the insanity
of marriage helps “Heartburn” break through that barrier.
---
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| Image
and Sound: |
“Heartburn”
looks better than the wedding cake that most couples save in
their freezer. The transfer appears a bit soft at times but
the colors are accurate with deep, rich blacks that belong in
a pudding cup. Nestor Alemendros’ great cinematography with
its natural light effects and unique use of shadows to give
us a peak into the future of this couple’s marriage, receives
a very nice transfer capturing much of the detail from the film
without sacrificing anything in the process. The restored mono
sound (which I find odd—what could have happened to the mono
soundtrack in the last fifteen years?) and 5.1 mixes are definitely
at odds with each other. The mono sound comes across really
well. The 5.1 Surround Sound transfer plays a bit flat without
as much depth as I would have expected from a movie this young.
--- |
| The
Extras: |
I suppose
that Paramount must have had Nichols sign a prenuptial agreement
prior to the corporate marriage that produced this film. If
there are any extras, it appears that Paramount got nothing
in the deal (or maybe vice versa). Either way, a visit to
the past might have been in order with a great featurette.
---
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| Commentary:
|
Nichols may
have had a lot to say about this film but we’ll never know.
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| Final
Words: |
A great
cast, a very funny script, sharp performances and wicked direction
highlight this classic film about the travails of love and marriage.
I love the work that Paramount has put into transferring this
film which looks really, really good but wish they had also
put some thought into extras for this film. A little bit of
Zantac might have helped make this pleasing meal go down a little
easier with a great desert of cheesecake extras but I suppose
we’ll have to settle on a no frills desert of Maalox. |
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