BLU-RAY REVIEW

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Featured In Issue 208, July/August 2016

Picture3.5
Sound4
WSR Score3.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Paramount Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
2056610
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Pervasive language, some sexual content, drug use and violent war images.
(Retail Price):
$$39.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
111
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
(Disc Release Date):
6/28/2016
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Glenn Ficarra & John Requa
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS:X, DTS HD Lossless 7.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):

Based on the book The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days In Afghanistan And Pakistan by Kim Barker, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a satirical take on combat journalists and an illuminating story of self-discovery. The story follows Kim (Fey), as she decides to shake things up by taking a dangerous assignment in Afghanistan. There, in the midst of chaos, Kim discovers her true strength as she risks it all to find the next big story. (Gary Reber)

Special features include five featurettes: All In (HD 14:12), War Reporter: The Real Kim (HD 05:15), Embedded In Reality (HD 06:23), Wedding Party (HD 05:31), and Laughing Matters (HD 04:24); four deleted scenes (HD 05:14); an extended scene (HD 04:59); and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 1.78:1 1080p AVC digitally photographed picture generally exhibits natural imagery but interior scenes, even in daylight hours, appear a bit murky and veiled, with characters at times cast in shadows. Fleshtones are naturally rendered, at least during daylight scenes. Contrast is uneven, with at times, blacks that are crushed and shadows that lack definition. But outdoor scenes are generally well balanced. Resolution is excellent when out of the shadows but veiled otherwise. Overall, picture quality is mediocre and not distinguished. (Gary Reber)

The DTS:X/DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1-channel soundtrack is quite lively and often loud, with energy that excites all of the channels, including aggressive surround immersion with added height dimension. Atmospherics provide realistic support in defining the sonics of the various environments and scenes. Sound effects, such as gunfire, explosions, and helicopters provide intense impact sonics, with height enhancement. In one segment, a detonated bomb delvers strong .1 LFE impact with frequencies extending to sub-25 Hz. Both atmospherics and sound effects at times extend aggressively to the surrounds. Dialogue is, at times, a bit difficult to discern and, as well, is wanting in spatial integration. The music is a mixture of backgrounds and prominent pop selections, which are enhanced with height envelopment. Fidelity is excellent. Overall, the sonics are nicely supportive and often immersively holosonic®. (Gary Reber)