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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Luzhin Defence, The
Genre: Drama

Reviewed In Issue 55 (Dec 2001) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
John Turturro, Emily Watson, Geraldine James, Stuart Wilson, Christopher Thompson, Fabio Sartor & Alexander Hunting

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 3.5
DD Sound Rating: 4
DTS Sound Rating: NA
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links
http://www.cthe.com

Special Features
Includes audio commentary, a featurette, filmographies and a trailer.


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 06389
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Rating Reason):

Sensuality and thematic elements
(Retail Price): $29.95
(DVD Type): Single Side, Single Layer (DVD5)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 109
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 2000
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 09/18/01
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Marleen Gorris
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  DVD Picture Information

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  DVD Sound Information

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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Set in the late 1920s, The Luzhin Defence examines the life of Alexander Luzhin (Turturro), an eccentric chess master whose unstable childhood has made him incapable of relating to others. Yet, he meets and falls in love with the caring Natalia (Watson) at a North Italian lakeside resort, where he

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD exhibits a generally pleasing picture, with images that are generally sharp, but at times lacking in finer details and definition. Colors nicely compliment the setting of the movie, and are quite rich, with accurate fleshtones and deep blacks. Edge enhancement is noticed, and is especially distracting in high contrast scenes, like black uniforms against a snowy background. Pixelization is occasionally detected. (Suzanne Hodges)

Soundtrack:
The soundtrack, in Dolby