Roma Review: 6 Ups & 2 Downs

2. The Incredible Sound Design

Though you won't be able to fully benefit from Roma's impeccable sound design unless you're lucky enough to watch it in a Dolby Atmos cinema, you'll still be able to appreciate the movie's outstanding sound mix at home if you're equipped with a high-end sound bar or fancy set of headphones.

While few would naturally expect a memorable soundscape from a low-key family drama such as this, Cuarón has very nearly made the sound as much a character in the movie as the cinematography, bringing otherwise ambient, environmental sounds to the front of the mix wherever possible.

The lapping sounds of waves on the beach, the thunderous chorus of rioting protesters and even something as simple as incidental chatter in the street is lent a far greater weight than usual due to the way the mix is arranged.

And while it'll ultimately do little for some - especially those watching on the built-in speakers of their TV or, gasp, their laptop - it's evident that a ludicrous amount of work has been put into making even the most subtle aural moments as atmospheric as possible.