Commentary Commentary
Commentary Commentary | The Last of the Mohicans
My list of ten favorite filmmakers is constantly changing. There are, however, a handful of directors that will always stay put, and Michael Mann is in this category. Although he is mainly known as the “crime filmmaker”, his style is vibrantly unique using imagery and music in ways that create beautiful atmosphere and breathtaking drama. I find it to be a cinematic gift when Michael Mann gives even the slightest glimpse into his creative process, and that is one of the many reasons Fox’s newly released Blu Ray for The Last of the Mohicans is a worthy upgrade for fans. Read the rest of this entry »
Commentary Commentary | The Thin Red Line
Commentary Commentary is a column that is as simple as it sounds. An overview of DVD/Blu-Ray commentary tracks for film junkies like myself. What better way to start the column off than with a highly anticipated release from The Criterion Collection.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve come to think of Terrence Malick‘s masterpiece The Thin Red Line as possibly the greatest war film of all time. Each time I view the movie I both see and feel different emotions, delving deeper into the minds of these men at war. So, when I heard the amazing team at Criterion would be adding it to their collection I was extremely excited. My old first generation Fox release was ready for an upgrade, and fans of the reclusive Malick were itching for more insight into the film. While anti-interview Malick himself isn’t present on the Blu Ray, the bonus features are still top notch. Particularly good is the commentary with Director of Photography John Toll (Braveheart), Producer Grant Hill (Titanic), and Production Designer Jack Fisk (There Will Be Blood). Read the rest of this entry »
It was inevitable that this day would come for Commentary Commentary. How could this column exist without discussing the comedic triumph that is the Cast Commentary for the Director’s Cut of Tropic Thunder? Besides the fact that the track features actors Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. what makes it so special? Well, needless to say Downey Jr. is in the room, but his Oscar nominated character Lincoln Osiris/Kirk Lazarus is the one who’s talking. That’s right, the dude, playin’ a dude, disguised as another dude stays true to the promise he made in the film when Osiris said, “Man, I don’t drop character ’till I done the DVD commentary.” Read the rest of this entry »