RBG Blu-ray Review

Magnolia Home Entertainment's 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray presentation of "RBG" delivers a commendable viewing experience characteristic of high-quality documentary filmmaking. Newly recorded interviews stand out with impressive clarity, attributed to the expertise of credited cinematographer Claudia Raschke, whose distinguished background is evident. The film combines diverse visual elements, including vintage photographs, home movies, TV broadcasts, and news footage into a cohesive visual narrative through meticulous digital post-production. This synthesis ensures a visually smooth and engaging experience throughout the documentary.

The Blu-ray is authored with an effective average bitrate of 21.07 Mbps, ensuring a reliable and capable encode that handles the wide range of source materials admirably. This technical proficiency supports the film's visual continuity, maintaining consistency despite the varying quality of archival footage. Overall, the visual presentation of "RBG" on Blu-ray provides a well-balanced and smooth experience, leveraging modern digital cinema techniques to showcase both historical and contemporary content seamlessly.

The audio presentation of the "RBG" Blu Ray is proficiently encoded in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio (MA) 5.1, delivering a predominantly front-oriented soundstage. This aligns with typical documentary formats, focusing heavily on clear and precise voice tracks, essential for the interview-based narrative of the film. There is no traditional narration, aiding in a more direct conveyance of RBG's story through interviews.

The surround channels are effectively utilized to subtlety enhance the score composed by Miriam Cutler, known for her evocative work in documentaries such as "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib." This balanced distribution ensures the dialogue remains prominent, while the musical elements, including several well-curated pop tunes and the original song "I'll Fight," written by Diane Warren and performed by Jennifer Hudson, provide a tasteful audio backdrop. The surround expansion primarily serves to immerse the viewer in the understated yet impactful score, supporting a cohesive auditory experience throughout the documentary.

The Blu-ray extras for "RBG" provide an enriching extension to the film, offering deeper insights into Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life beyond the core documentary. The "Deleted/Extended Scenes" feature engaging behind-the-scenes content and key deleted moments that bring out additional facets of Ginsburg’s personality, such as an extended training session and her charming performance in a Kennedy Center production. "Additional Interviews" add valuable depth, with personal stories from close family, friends, and colleagues, creating a fuller picture of her impact and relationships. The included theatrical trailer and additional promotional content from Magnolia Home Entertainment round out the package.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted/Extended Scenes: Additional training session and cameo performance descriptions.
• Additional Interviews: Personal anecdotes from Ginsburg's family, friends, and colleagues.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original film trailer.
• Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment: Trailers for related documentaries and promotional content.
• BD-Live: Placeholder for future updates.

"RBG" is a highly engaging and meticulously crafted documentary, co-directed by experienced TV journalists and documentarians Julie Cohen and Betsy West. The film offers an incisive look into the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It employs a rich array of contemporary interviews, vintage photographs, and rarely heard audio recordings of Supreme Court arguments to paint a comprehensive portrait. Born in Brooklyn in 1933, Ginsburg's life story is one of resilience and triumph. From her early days excelling at Cornell University and Harvard Law School, to her pioneering work as general counsel for the ACLU, RBG meticulously details her journey that culminated with her appointment to the Supreme Court, where she fiercely advocated for gender equality and civil rights.

Notably, the documentary doesn't shy away from the controversies that have surrounded Ginsburg, including her critical comments about then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016. These elements enrich the narrative, showing Ginsburg as a complex figure whose impact extended beyond the courtroom to cultural and political spheres. Interviews with key figures like former President Clinton, who was convinced of Ginsburg’s merit within minutes of meeting her, add significant depth. Her enduring friendship with ideological opponent Justice Antonin Scalia highlights her ability to separate professional disagreements from personal relationships. The film also poignantly captures her rigorous workout regimen and the profound partnership with her late husband Martin, offering a rounded view of her life.

One standout aspect is RBG's exploration of how Ginsburg became a pop-culture icon late in life. Humorously buoyed by scenes such as her reaction to Kate McKinnon’s impression on "Saturday Night Live," these moments are juxtaposed with serious reflections on her legal battles and intellectual prowess. This balanced approach makes "RBG" not just an educational documentary but a celebration of a woman whose influence on American society has been both profound and enduring.

The Blu-Ray release of "RBG" offers an illuminating and meticulously crafted documentary that delves into the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The film adeptly chronicles her journey from her early days overcoming deeply ingrained societal biases to her landmark contributions in advocating for gender equality. Guided by a blend of historical context and personal anecdotes, "RBG" showcases how Ginsburg persisted with determination, making incremental yet significant strides towards dismantling discriminatory laws. The film doesn't merely highlight her victories but also underscores the perseverance and strategic finesse underlying her legal battles.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-Ray presentation is nothing short of exemplary. The transfer boasts pristine image quality with excellent clarity, preserving the documentary's rich archival footage and interviews with high fidelity. The audio mastering complements the visual precision, ensuring that dialogues and narrations are clear and impactful. Bonus features on the disc provide additional depth, offering viewers a richer understanding of Ginsburg's life and the era she helped to transform.

"Supreme Court nominations have become increasingly partisan battles, but the career of Justice Ginsburg is a reminder that there was a time, not so long ago, when both sides of the aisle could agree on a superbly qualified nominee, regardless of where he or she might be considered on the spectrum of liberal vs. conservative. On the D.C. Circuit, then-Judge Ginsburg had the reputation of a consensus-builder, but as the Supreme Court itself has become more polarized, she has become better known (like her friend Antonin Scalia) as a fiery dissenter—and a well-reasoned dissenting opinion can achieve real results. Ginsburg's dissent in Lilly Ledbetter v Goodyear (2007) prompted Congress to change the law regarding the statute of limitations for women suing to challenge unequal pay, thereby effectively overruling the Court's majority opinion. Who knows what further impact she may have in years to come? "RBG" is an expertly crafted and candid portrait of this unique and influential figure in American law, and Magnolia's disc is highly recommended."