Admittedly, the original release does have some noteworthy extras, like commentary by Director/Co-Writer/Actor Christopher Guest and Co-Writer/Actor Eugene Levy and a handful of deleted scenes with commentary, but those few deleted scenes are just as good as the stuff they left in, and it’s a well known fact that there are hours of improve footage that never saw the screen. It’s time we finally got to see the best of what was left out, not to mention a look back from the cast at what has held its place as Guest’s best post-This Is Spinal Tap work.
Grosse Pointe Blank is so old, it still has the “Wide Screen Digitally Mastered” banner on the cover that adorned every Disney / Buena Vista DVD when words like that still excited consumers. This film may not have made much of an impact when it was first released, getting lost amidst a sea of quirky hitmen in the wake of Pulp Fiction, but the John Cusack comedy has gained quite a cult following over the years, and could definitely benefit from a commentary track, some deleted scenes, and a featurette on the killer soundtrack.
Much like Waiting For Guffman, you know there are hours and hours of footage that could’ve been added to this disc, but all we get is a few deleted scenes, a press tour, and a music infomercial, all entertaining but this could’ve been so much more. Sacha Baron Cohen did some great commentary tracks for both seasons of Da Ali G Show…hell, he even did an in character commentary for Ali G Indahouse! Doesn’t the beloved Borat deserve the same?
Here’s a perfect candidate for a Criterion upgrade. A prophetic, sexy dark comedy from a director who’s no stranger to the Collection (with Criterion editions of Gus Van Sant’s Mala Noche and My Own Private Idaho already available). Get some new interviews with Nicole Kidman (never sexier than she is here), Van Sant, Matt Dillon, Buck Henry, and Joaquin Phoenix (good luck), throw in a commentary, some deleted scenes, and the novel by Joyce Maynard and you got a package that’s…yeah, I can’t resist…to die for.
While the Steven Soderbergh commentary was definitely appreciated, Sex, Lies, And Videotape deserves a bit more. We’re talking about one of the most important independent films ever made, and while it may not have started the movement, it certainly lit the fire. A nice retrospective with interviews with all the major players and a look at the films influence would be welcomed supplemental features.
Okay, the deleted scenes already included on the existing version are pretty great, and the inclusion of the “Jaan Pehechaan Ho” video is definitely a nice touch. But who wouldn’t love a commentary track with Creator/Co-writer Daniel Clowes and Director/Co-writer Terry Zwigoff? Admittedly though, this is a very selfish entry. I just really want a double dip of Ghost World because I feel like too many people have forgotten this film, easily one of the best comedies of the decade.
“But there’s already a Dark Knight special edition” you may be saying as you read this. And you’re right, but ask yourself this: Is it really all that “special?” A bunch of featurettes that were ran on cable to promote the theatrical release might be okay for any regular blockbuster, but this movie was an obsession for many people. We’d all seen these featurettes again and again. Yes, it would’ve been even worse had they not been included, but we certainly could’ve used something new. This is the second biggest movie of all time though, so expect triple, even quadruple dips.
At the very least, it’d be nice to get an anamorphic transfer of one of Director Woody Allen’s greatest films. Even better would be to at least see some extra features aside from the theatrical trailer. I’ve read that Allen himself requested that the release of Annie Hall only include the trailer, and if that’s the case, I can’t argue with the man’s wishes. And while I’m not expecting a full commentary from Allen, it’d be nice to see reflections from people like Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Christopher Walken, and of course the woman who made neck ties on females hot, Diane Keaton.
2.
Maybe it was the fact that it was one of
The PG-13 cut! Where is it?! Warren Beatty’s underrated visual masterpiece was given the shaft when it was released in 2002 (although it was given the courtesy of a DTS track). Around the time of its original DVD release, there were rumors of a planned Vista Series release, but that line seems to have been halted altogether. Dick Tracy is a movie that would look absolutely gorgeous on Blu-ray, so hopefully when it gets called up to the high def majors, a much needed upgrade will see the light of day.
