One of Jessica Lange's best performances is now for viewing in this splendid dvd presentation of "Frances".   Detailing the numerous trials and tribulations of her life, including a mother that makes "Sybil's" childhood seem pleasant, "Frances" unfolds at an uneven, but captivating pace.  The acting by everyone involved, including future real-life paramour Sam Shepard, is outstanding.   The musical score by John Barry, is one of his finest, and perfectly captured withing the dolby surround sound.  There's little else in terms of directional effects.  The 16:9 1.85:1 transfer is excellent, offering much greater detail than the previous laser offering.

In a sea of medicore scripts these days, one must ask "does anyone remember Horton Foote?"  Foote's script to "Tender Mercies" is one of the best scripts of the entire '80s.  But, then the entire cast and almost every aspect of the film are priceless.  Robert Duvall won an Academy Award for his performance here as a country singer finding solace with the bottle, until a widow and her son offer something more attractive.  The dolby surround sound gives an adequate presentation of the music, with little directional effects.  The 1.85:1 16:9 transfer looks fine for the most part, although minor artifacts are present in a few scenes.

David Hare adapted his own stageplay for "Plenty", but it's still somewhat confusing due to the unusual time-line presented.  Meryl Streep and a wonderful supporting cast help tell the story of a woman faced with hard decisions in this mystery/suspense/drama.  The dolby surround sound is almost non-existant.  The 1.85:1 16:9 presentation is wonderful with excellent fleshtones and color values.

Christopher Lambert stars in this futuristic action thriller about a young couple trying to break out of a prison/fortress after defying the law by attempting to have a baby after losing their first one.  Although the budget is modest, there are some impressive special effects.  The direction is fast-paced as well.  The 1.33:1 aspect ratio doesn't appear to crop anything significant out of frame, and color values as well as contrast is sharp. The dolby surround sound is fairly active with directional effects throughout the film.