Astroid City

Asteroid City" takes in a fictional American desert town circa 1955. Junior Stargazers and Space Cadets from across the country assemble for the annual, Asteriod Day celebration –– but the scholarly competition is spectacularly upended by world changing events. The movie is equal parts comedy, drama, and romance with a touch of science fiction. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurette "The Making Of Asteroid City" (HD 07:20) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 1.33:1/ 2.39:1 1080p picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on Kodak Vision3 film stock in anamorphic Master Scope and Super 35 using the Arricam LT and Arricam ST cameras and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture's imagery is as weird as the story and the environments in which it takes place. The picture shifts between black and white framed in 1.33:1 and color framed in 2.39:1. The black-and-white gray scale appears well balanced. The color palette is comprised of pastel hues that are saturated with character pronounced within the staging. Production design is limited to simple set designs. Flesh tones appear mostly natural with reddish skin tones on some characters, The outside desert world is orangish in hue as in dirt with blue cloudy skies overhead. The entire look is strange. Contrast is excellent with brilliant sun drench white levels, realistic shadows and natural black levels. Resolution is excellent with fine detail exhibited in the set structures and signage, in facial features, and and costumes. This is a strange visual experience but nevertheless captivating. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1-channel soundtrack is dialogue focused supported with realistic atmospherics and diverse sound effects. The music is diverse and well recorded with a wide soundstage that extends to the surrounds. Other surround envelopment is comprised of atmospheric din and sound effects such as rifle fire and atomic explosions. Deep bass is effective during the spacecraft movement and explosions but generally limited. Dialogue is the main sound element and is intelligible but often ADR produced and forward sounding. At times the dialogue is directionalized but there are numerous more opportunities in which directionalization would have been effective. This is a strange holosonic® soundtrack with sonic surprises throughout. (Gary Reber)