Lincoln

Lincoln is the inspiring and revealing drama that focuses on the 16th President's tumultuous final four months in office, as this visionary leader pursues a course of action to end the Civil War, unite the country, and abolish slavery. Based in part on the book Team Of Rivals: The Political Genius Of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes: In The Company Of Character (HD 10:23), Crafting The Past (HD 10:43) Living With Lincoln (HD 27:04), and In Lincoln's Footsteps (HD 16:35); and a digital copy.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture perfectly creates the believable feel of 1865 America, thanks to Janusz Kaminski's intimate and sweeping cinematography and Director Steven Spielberg's beautifully evocatively told story bolstered by Rick Carter's dimensional production design and Joanna Johnston's costumes. The two's work is artfully executed as in a series of paintings framed in contrasting light and shadow. The color palette expresses the period in bluish-gray hues, pale greens, and fleshtone browns, yet while nuanced is strongly presented. At times, hues are richly and vividly expressed, to accentuate. Contrast is perfectly balanced with natural and revealing shadow delineation and deep, finely textured blacks. Resolution is exemplary, with nuanced detail exhibited in facial feature, hair, clothing, and object texture. According to American Cinematographer, Kaminski, Panavision Super Speed lenses were used to achieve the filmic appearance. The imagery is absolutely pristine and reveals the fine diffuse lighting design and particle-filled air. This is an incredible reference visual presentation that artfully engages the senses. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1-channel soundtrack is striking in its execution of low-level soundscape nuances and Foley sound effects. The sonic contrast between the battlefield fighting and the Congressional fighting is absolutely engaging. Both convey an immersive, enveloping presence, with the battlefield sequences aggressively directionalized and the chamber sequences defined by reverberant subtleties. Dialogue, whispered or shouted, is firmly rooted in a frontal presence, beholden to whatever room or hall is inhabited, or exterior setting. Dialogue is always intelligible and impressively integrated spatially within each setting. The .1 LFE channel is generally subdued but effectively energized, as needed, to provide low-frequency support. The added two surround channels are positioned in accordance with the Dolby® 7.1 theatrical format in which they are positioned to the rear of the soundfield. Still, the added spatial presence creates a more dimensional sense of dimension, to define each scene's environment. Interior acoustics are impressively natural in dimension and ambient character. When appropriate, directional effects and pans are involving. Dynamics are well balanced. John Williams' orchestral music score provides the emotional backdrop to the storytelling and perfectly complements the other sound elements. This is an immensely powerful reference holosonic® achievement that perfectly balances dynamics and nuance with quality fidelity. (Gary Reber)