Pay the man, get out of prison. It’s a sweet deal for the Tennessee officials who let killers and rapists go free for a price. And who would have the guts to defy the state’s power elite? No one, except a courageous single mom named Marie Ragghianti. Masterful director Roger Donaldson (No Way Out, Thirteen Days) helmed this gripping film which tells the true story of a woman who became the head of the Tennessee parole board, then stood up to lies, threats, and murder to blow the whistle on her bosses – and send many of them, including the Governor, to the pen. Sissy Spacek brings luminous intelligence to the role of Marie, and the remarkable supporting cast includes Morgan Freeman, Jeff Daniels, and screen-debuting Fred Thompson (later a Tennessee Senator) playing himself as Marie’s real-life attorney.

For thoughts on Marie: A True Story, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Marie: A True Story gets a fetching upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a new 1080p master from an unknown source. The transfer retains the marvelous natural film grain free of any compression artifacts or other such digital nuisances. There are elements in the production design that are clearly visible for the first time ever at home. Skin tones appear to be natural and detailed across the ensemble. The colors of the film are favorably saturated and offer distinct hues that make a grander impression in the clothing, production design, and light sources. Black levels are notably deep in shadowy areas of the screen, and highlights never devolve into blooming. Warner Archive has provided a first-rate transfer for this overlooked drama.

Audio Quality

Warner Archive brings this new Blu-Ray to consumers with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that offers a perfect representation of the soundscape. The score from Francis Lai aids the film throughout with top-notch fidelity. Dialogue emanates clearly with no exchanges sounding strained or brash. While this may not be the most kinetic experience, some environmental effects allow the world to feel more lived-in. This is a finely balanced track that does everything it needs to without issue. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Marie: A True Story is a somewhat familiar story of an individual who puts everything on the line to confront corruption. Luckily, we love this type of story, and this film delivers most of what we want from the subgenre despite feeling more like a television movie than a theatrical release. The reason to seek this one out is Sissy Spacek, who embodies the titular character with a great amount of care. The script she is working with does not always capture the seriousness of the situation, but it remains good entertainment throughout. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation and not much in the way of special features. Recommended

Marie: A True Story can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.