Safe Passage (1994)
New Line Home Entertainment
Cast: Susan Sarandon, Sam Sheppard, Sean Astin, Robert Sean Leonard
Extras:
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Susan Sarandon is one of the finest actresses in Hollywood for a long time. The 1994 drama ’Safe Passage’ once again underscores the actress’ tremendous ability to create very natural performances and characters that could apply to anyone of us. In New Line’s ’Safe Passage’ she plays the mother of seven sons who is getting increasingly unhappy with her life as her marriage is turning sour. Just when she decides to turn her life for the better, tragedy strikes and after an accident one of her sons is in a life-threatening situation. Her life will never be the same again.

New Line Home entertainment is once again serving up a top-notch presentation on this DVD with an anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer that is absolutely clean and clear, free of speckles or defects. There is no grain evident and colors are stable throughout. Never oversaturated they powerfully reproduce the film’s natural looking production and also renders skintones absolutely realistic. Black levels are solid and create deep blacks and shadows that never break up. No edge-enhancement is evident and the compression is without flaws.

The audio on the release comes as a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital track. Given the nature of the film, the track is not overlay aggressive but makes good use of the surround channels throughout. Subtly it manages to create a living and breathing atmosphere through careful use of ambient surround effects. Dialogues are well integrated and always understandable.

’Safe Passage’ is a powerful with remarkable performances from the entire cast, including Sam Sheppard and Sean Astin in a supporting role. New Line turned this small, overlooked movie into a great looking DVD – albeit devoid of extras. Make sure to check it out the next time you’re looking for a human drama with characters you can truly identify with, as Susan Sarandon once again lights up the screen.