Suffragette

Inspired by true events, Suffragette is about the women willing to lose everything in their fight for equality in early 20th Century Britain. Galvanized by the outlaw fugitive Emmeline Pankhurst (Streep), Maud (Mulligan) joins the U.K.’s growing Suffragette movement alongside women from all walks of life who will sacrifice their jobs, homes, and even their lives for the right to vote. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Sarah Gavron and Screenwriter Abi Morgan; the featurettes Inside Suffragette (HD 10:31), Suffragette: Looking Back, Looking Forward (HD 07:10), and Making The VFX For Suffragette (HD 05:07); upfront previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture exhibits a dark appearance and requires, for optimal viewing, a display capable of superb black-level performance. The imagery is photographed on Kodak film stock in Panavision® with a fine grain texture. Largely shot in dark interiors, in a dingy-lit laundry factory and under overcast skies, the cinematography effectively conveys conditions of the time period. Shadows are predominant, and delineation of characters, clothing, objects, and structures are veiled and barely discernible. Yet, the feel is authentic throughout. The color palette suffers under such low-light conditions, but hues enliven in the overcast daylight to exhibit natural hues. During the horse-race scene, under brighter skies, the imagery is most natural in appearance. Resolution is impacted by the dim lighting, softening the image in shadows, contrasted to the daylight settings, where detail is far more revealing. This is an effectively realistic and authentic-looking picture, which its dark tones enhance. The imagery really does an excellent job of establishing the feel of the period and the struggle for women's right to vote. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a brooding affair with a lush, but reserved orchestral score. Atmospherics are often nuanced but effectively realistic. Sound effects, such as motor cars during this period, machinery, and explosions also are effectively realistic. As the state of anarchy intensifies, the effects become more dynamic and energized. Foley also is noteworthy and adds to the realism. Dialogue is nicely integrated spatially, with excellent reverberation in certain segments, but at times unintelligible. Surround envelopment is mostly that of the orchestral score, but at times sound effects energize the surrounds. The music's presence in the surrounds is nicely weighted. Deep bass extension at times extends to sub-25 Hz frequencies but never sounds unnatural. This is a very effective soundtrack that conveys a unique character that enhances the realism of the imagery. (Gary Reber)