Hanging Up
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Cast: Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan, Lisa Kudrow, Walter Matthau
Extras: Documentary, Isolated Score, Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, Trailer
Rating:
’Hanging Up’ is a sweet and romantic look at the relationship three sisters have to their cranky father. It is a lighthearted comedy with some dramatic and emotional undertones that is perfectly brought to live through Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan, Lisa Kudrow and Walter Matthau.
Columbia TriStar Home Video has included a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen version of the film, as well as an open matte full screen transfer. The source print from which the transfer has been struck is very clean and without defects or blemishes. The DVD transfer is highly detailed and brings out the best of the photography of the movie, which utilizes a lot of soft filters to create faded backgrounds that give the movie a very soft and warm look. Color fidelity is incredible, bringing out the powerful hues just as well as the subtler nuances and natural skin tones. The presentation is mostly free of compression artifacts, although I did notice some hints of pixelation in a number of scenes.
The disc contains a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track as well as a Dolby surround track. Both tracks are well produced. The discrete 5.1 mix seems somewhat more expansive and with its dedicated bass extension has a little more weight. Surround usage is good, though unaggressive for the most part, mainly working to create subtle a ambiance for the movie. The score is well integrated and has a very wide frequency response, with good basses and crystal clear high ends. Dialogues are always understandably integrated in the overall mix.
The DVD also contains a good documentary with interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits, deleted scenes and a funny gag reel, as well as the film’s beautiful score isolated on a separate audio track. Production Notes, Biographies and trailers make his DVD a great comedy entry for DVD fans.
’Hanging Up’ is a truly charming movie that is well written and beautifully staged by Diane Keaton. It is one of those warm films they don’t make too much any more, and as such it is a very refreshing release.
