Search - Ordinary People on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Watch With Your Teen Movie Release: 1980 DVD Release: 08/14/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 4 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 20 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Family Drama See Also: Ordinary People [I Love the 80's Edition] [DVD/CD]

Robert Redford's directorial debut ended up the 1980 Oscar winner for Best Picture. It is a simple but painfully emotional story of the disintegration of a "perfect" family. Teenager Conrad (Timothy Hutton) lives under a cloud of guilt after his brother drowns after their boat capsizes in Lake Michigan. Despite intensive therapy sessions with his psychiatrist (Judd Hirsch), Conrad can't shake the belief that he should have died instead of his brother; nor do his preoccupied parents (Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore) offer much in the way of solace. The boy is brought out of his doldrums through his romance with Jeannine (Elizabeth McGovern). A winner in every respect, Ordinary People (adapted from the novel by Judith Guest) scores highest in the scenes with Mary Tyler Moore, who superbly and perceptively portrays a blinkered, ever-smiling suburban wife and mother for whom outward appearance is all that matters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Donald Sutherland - Calvin
Mary Tyler Moore - Beth
Judd Hirsch - Dr. Berger
Timothy Hutton - Conrad
Elizabeth McGovern - Jeannine

The word "ordinary" could easily describe this Paramount DVD edition of the Oscar-winning film Ordinary People. Starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, and Timothy Hutton, the Academy Awards were much kinder to this family drama than Paramount is to this disc. Sporting a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, this title suffers from excessive grain, imperfections, and age. The images often look very flat and dull, with colors suffering from bleeding and fading. Considering this title is over 20 years old, some flaws can be forgiven, but this transfer could easily have been cleaned up to look more presentable. Most black levels are even, though some edge enhancement is noticeable. Audio for Ordinary People is presented in Dolby Digital Mono 1.0 (in both English and French) and is adequate, though definitely nothing impressive. Since this is a dialogue-driven film, the mono track suffices just fine. The dialogue, musical score, and minimal effects are usually clear and concise with no distortion present. Hiss is heard in some spots during the film, but once again age has more to do with this imperfection than the audio transfer. Also included on the disc are English subtitles.
For a movie that won four coveted Oscars, it's baffling that Paramount has decided not to include any real substantial bonus material on the disc. Besides an anamorphic theatrical trailer, =Ordinary People is as bare as they come. Someday down the road this acclaimed drama deserves better treatment than what Paramount has dished out this time around. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide