Standard Operating Procedure (Blu-ray)

Connect to Facebook/Twitter, recommend via email and much more.

---

Video:
The 2.40:1 1080p image employs a wide variety of media and post-production effects (such as skipped frames, added grain/noise, bleached contrasts, etc.), but the "untouched" video footage of the camera starting straight at interviewees´ faces reveals nothing but pristine perfection. The picture is usually very sharp, very detailed, and very dimensional. The "dramatic" moments are understandably degraded for emotional impact, but even those segments are clearly of the highest quality.

Audio:
This movie´s Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English audio track is a shining example of why so many loud action movies don´t necessarily have the best sonics. Voices are crisp and strong. Danny Elfman´s music cues emanate from every direction and frequently have strong bass presence despite the lack of "booms" that are usually associated with subwoofer effects. The dynamic range is very wide, but the audio sounds natural and not artificial as with the "sweetened" tracks for action movies.

Extras:
Upon loading, the disc plays a promo for Sony´s Blu-ray products.

The Blu-ray shares an audio commentary by Errol Morris and nine additional scenes with the DVD version. Morris goes into great detail about his personal feelings, what he himself learned during the making of the movie, and his artistic decisions with regards to approaching such a troubling matter.

The Blu-ray also offers an additional two hours of new interview footage. This is a tremendous source of information, though the main feature is already a skillful presentation of persuasively-argued materials.

There are two featurettes that were recorded at the Berlin Film Festival. First up is a press conference with Errol Morris and producer Julie Ahlberg, and the other one is a panel discussion about geopolitical concerns after the 11 September attacks.

You can also watch footage from a Q&A session with Errol Morris at the movie´s premiere in Los Angeles.

Finally, you also get trailers for the main feature as well as other Sony releases.

(The disc is programmed with BD-Live connectivity, but I´m unable to ascertain that there are any BD-Live features that are related directly to the movie.)

Bottom Line:
"Standard Operating Procedure" is an important, powerful movie. Sony has created a top-notch Blu-ray Disc. This title should be in every Blu-ray collection.