Entertainment For Lively Minds
Director's commentaries - anyone else listen to them?
I recently watched and enjoyed greatly the DVD of Let The Right One In. Last night, in a rare slack hour on my own, I started watching it again with the commentary (in this case, the director and writer). It was very good: it cast some light on the idiosyncracies of Swedish society in the 70s; had some interesting tidbits on casting, especially of the two young leads; and was enlivened by some droll humour, which I dare say is also typically Scandinavian.
I've watched/listened to quite a few over the years, varying in quality enormously, no less than films can vary. I've no idea how many people listen to them, but I bet a few of the massive do. Care to share? I'll name some of the best and worst:
Lord Of The Rings - As with everything else about the special edition DVD versions, they really did it right. No fewer than 4 commentaries for each film - I've heard the Writer/Director/Producer ones and the actor ones, and enjoyed them enormously.
The Tao Of Steve - an unsung gem, a romantic comedy that is both romantic and comic. The commentary is almost as entertaining as the film.
Bound - The Wachowski Brothers along with the main actors, having a laugh and being very irreverent.
One Hour Photo - outstanding example, with the writer/director and Robin Williams talking in some depth and with great intelligence about the film, without detracting from the magic of cinema - which is, of course, the key.
Worst? Collateral, with Michael Mann droning on interminably, a deadly mix of flatulence and self-aggrandisement.
And Thelma and Louise fits into both camps: the one with Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon is terrific, the one with Ridley Scott the very definition of tedium.
Tell me I'm not alone!
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Nothing to add I'm afraid
But very interested to read the responses. I'm one of the fools that studios reissuing DVDs as special editions are aiming at. I've replaced countless DVDs and director's commentaries are a big draw in making me do so, yet do I ever get round to listening to them...
I'll blame a young family and busy job, as I don't really get much time to watch the actual films, but a few recommendations might help me choose the best ones.
I recently re-watched Blade Runner and the extras, including the 4 hour documentary, but I couldn't see that listening to the commentary would add anything that wasn't said in the documentary.
Sideways
This has a great commentary from the two leading men - I've watched it as many times as the film itself.
My favourites are
This Is Spinal Tap (Criterion edition out of character\ Special edition in character)
Elvis Costello's commentry on his promo collection
Robert Lindsay n Michael Palin on ep1 of GBH
the "Spaced" commentries (in fact most of the Pegg\Wright ones)
Most of the early Kevin Smith films (particularly "Mallrats")
Dr Who and the Caves Of Androzani (I'll get me anorak)
I recently enjoyed
Anthony Wilson's on '24 Hour Party People'. As good as the film itself.
I tend to listen to them if it's a film I've really enjoyed and/or been intrigued by.
Heartliy agree
The subject of a semi-biopic comments on the film and its accuracy.
Another nod for Spinal Tap: "He's dead." "It's on ebay" etc. Almost as quotable as the film.
Coppola's on the Godfather Trilogy (yes, even 3) and The Coversation. Details on filming, gossip, his own experiences and tips for young directors. Excellent stuff.
Coppola
is the only director's commentary I've made it through the entire film. Although, one can never watch GF I and II too many times.
'Leave the gun. Take the cannoli'
never
listen to them , Hardly ever watch the bonus disc if the film makers have something to say they would have told me in the film.
Sadly not true.
Unless the director has final cut then the version of the film you are watching has usually been decided on by studio committee and a mall full of people in the American mid west.
The bonus discs are often packed with gems that the director would have liked to be in the original film. The cut scenes in spinal tap for example are as funny as the film and were no doubt cut to make the film short enough for more showings per day.
Committees
I don't doubt the studio suits have the final say over the version of a film sent to the screens, but if their aim is to maximise showings and profit then why are almost all contemporary films an hour too long?
This is not a dig at your post; I'm just curious.
I used the term filmmaker
deliberately as producers are filmmakers too all this auteur bollocks has gone on for too long. If filmakers can't say what they want about subject through a film why bother in the first place if it needs extra explanation haven't they failed?
And as for films being messed around with part of the skill of good film maker is to make film that can be shown the idea that there are tons of great films trashed by studios is nonsense. It's funny how there's no directors cut that's shorter than the released version and what do most people comment about modern films "it was 20 minutes too long" for directors cuts make that 40 mins!
"Oh but there's the version of bladerunner with the voice over" I don't remember many people complaining at the time what this film needs is to lose the voice over and to bung 30 minutes more rainy shots and quasi-philosophical utterances.
So is it the
running length of movies that you dislike? I have seen 80 minute films that are too long and 3 hour films that are too short so I don't think you can really generalize on the length.
Also I think you give too much credit to the studios if you don't think they mess around with films. Their aim is to make money the directors aim is to make a good movie. The producer's aim is to make both but they would prefer the money I would guess.
Director's cut that is shorter than the released version
There's at least one - Picnic at Hanging Rock
Doug B
There's a difference between a leisurely pace and badly edited ill thought auteur excess (which is what most directors cuts are). And the idea that directors are high minded beings free from thoughts of making money is lazy tosh. The best directors have always been keenly aware of the audience and yes famously Hitchcock made films to fit the endurance of the human bladder!
Gatz: and well done to Peter Weir for seeing the error of his ways and loosing a whole 8 minutes from his film! I hope others follow in his footstep less is more!
Like music
cinema is purely subjective. I prefer to see what the director originally wanted to be seen whilst others will prefer shorter and tighter edited movies. To say less is more is no more valid a point than saying more is more.
As to your points about directors and money of course they want to earn as much as possible, but unless they have a piece of the back end then they are on a wage agreed with the producer at the start of the project.
I've never understood the point of employing someone who you think is the best person to direct a film then altering his work later on.
Producers always seem to think they don't get enough credit but if they were good enough to direct then they wouldn't haved hired someone else in the first place.
but you insist on seeing the director
as this almighty figure who merely thinks films into production. The idea that the directors initial vision is the perfect film is simplistic. A true directprs cut would include alternative actors (the ones he really wanted) , the locations he couldn't get , with the music they couldn't licence etc. Where do you stop.
Also the idea that producers are merely grand managers is simplistic to some of the most popular and best films (gone with the wind)have had producers steering their production artistically and financially. We all know that constraints make for good art. Art is in part overcoming the short comings of the medium to express yourself. So not having endless film to play with may ironically force you to cut to the chase.
Director's cut
All I like to see is the best cut the Director can make out of what he has in the can.
Maybe the producer can make a better cut than him or possibly the studio head could as well.
Whilst agreeing that the producer can have a good influence on a film,in the end the audience pays to see Martin Scorcese's TAXI Driver not julia and michael Phillips' Taxi Driver.
Anyway, guess we'll have to beg to differ on this one Chris.
ps.read julia phillips' book "you'll never eat lunch in this town again" if you haven't already. A rollicking good read.
Think
it probably depends on the type of audience you are aiming at. Most teen comedies are around the 90 minute mark I would guess where a more mature audience are happy for a film to unwind at a more leisurely pace.
Probably depends on whether the studio head thinks he knows more about film making than the director also.
French Connection
Brilliant film, brilliant commentary by William Friedkin, revealing in jaw-dropping detail the seat-of-the-pants style of film-making he used, especially in THAT car chase. Also, he shows how a lot of the cops the story was based on appear in the film.
United 93 is another good one, Paul Greengrass is very interesting on how he made it so realistic and on mixing actors with 'real' people.
The Thing
John Carpenter & Kurt Russell clearly enjoying each other's company and some drinks at the same time by the sound of it
Whatever happened to...
suspension of disbelief?
Ah, but here's the thing...
I enjoy a good commentary, yet it doesn't impair my enjoyment of the film. Suspension of disbelief can survive that: if a film's good enough, it can take it. The extra gubbins is what they call in All The President's Men "deep background."
how can someone
Tallking louder than the actors help when watching film?
Oh come on!
Are you being deliberately obtuse, Chris? You don't watch a film for the first time with the commentary. Or maybe even the second time. For the most part, it's films I love and have seen more than once (maybe once at the cinema and then on DVD), and in which I have enough interest to find out more about it.
I still reckon
very few people especially actors have much to add to a film. The few cases mention like the french connection are exceptions. If it is the one I've seen the french connection documentary was made for BBC tv by Mark Kermode and so isn't a studio puff piece like many of them are.
I don't think
anyone would watch the commentary first would they? Once you've watched the movie suspension of disbelief is irrelevant. I find it nice to learn a bit more about the movie making process if I have enjoyed the film.
That's the thing...
I don't want to know too much about the creative processes involved in film, art or music. I find an excess of background information detracts from the work in question.
The Wicker Man
My copy has input from Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee and director Robin Hardy, moderated by Mark Kermode. Fascinating stuff.
Seconded
But it's mostly good for how revealing it is about the tangled politics surrounding the shooting, editing and release of the film, rather than what's happening on screen. Christopher Lee is especially scathing about those he thinks deliberately sabotaged it.
Pet Shop Boys: PopArt DVD
If only I had time to listen to these commentaries on movies, but Neil & Chris explaining their videos, giggling at their silly haircuts and clothes, and bitching about the videos they didn't like - an utter joy.
let's face facts
DVD extras are a way of rehashing old films in the cheapest way possible. DVDs (even with their stupid oversized boxes) cost nowt to produce but the company need to justify flog a 1972 film at £20 quid on blueray so we get people talking all over it, the trailers (FFS) and some collectible postcards! Like bonus tracks on audio cds 98% of it is floor sweepings . One of the classic extras a mate had was with a LOTR box set it was a making of film for the "collectible" gollum book end that came with the dvd!!
I'm not really a fan of them but
Field of Dreams has a good one with the Director and the Director of Photography.
I listened to the Donnie Darko one straight after having watched it as I needed someone to explain to me what had just happened.
I avoid ones done by actors, all I seem to hear is "That's so and so, he's a sweetheart." and "You had a great moment there" It's like eavesdroppong on backslapping strangers.
Yes I love commentaries
and I now wish I had listened to the Let The Right One In commentary instead of sending it back to Lovefilm only yesterday!
I find the trouble is finding the time to sit and watch a commentary (busy life, family, etc etc) but I would recommend The Limey: unusual in that it has the director Steven Soderbergh pretty much having an argument with the screenwriter over the handling of his script! They have a fairly heated (if good-natured) argument about their disagreements.
Another Stephen Soderbergh
There's a very good commentary for Out Of Sight. It's a great film in its own right, notable for containing what must be Jennifer Lopez's finest work - no irony by the way, she's terrific in this, holding her own against George Clooney.
See also Ocean's Eleven
Soderbergh's commentary on that is highly entertaining and actually quite revealing.
I'll look out for these
I think I actually have both Out Of Sight and Oceans Eleven on dvd in the house somewhere. Just never found the time to watch the commentaries!
But I agree about Jennifer Lopez: I remember thinking she was incredible in Out Of Sight, not just good-looking but real movie star charisma and acting chops. I was actually excited about a year or so later when I heard she was launching a music career: surely such a compelling, intelligent actress has got to have something interesting to say musically? Em, no....
Oh, and
her films since Out Of Sight have all been rotten as well.
"I've never seen no stars before..."
Graham Linehan put this up on his blog recently - excerpts from Nick Love & Danny Dyer's commentary on their film "Outlaw".
One of the most unintentionally funny commentaries I've ever heard.
EDIT: WARNING! VERY SWEARY VIDEO!
Now I would listen to this commentary....
...as long as the film wasn't on in the background.
Danny Dyer and Nick Love
truly are the new DeNiro and Scorsese - you slags!!!!
BTW I often listen to commentaries cos they are quite fun rather than some po faced 'destroying my reality' hooey. It doesn't always have to be 'Inside The Actor's Studio' (thank god)
Danny B0aker and CSM's (Charles Sharr Murray not Cigarette Smoking Man - X Files ed) commentary on the Ramones 'End Of The Century' DVD is an absolute delight
shane meadows and paddy
shane meadows and paddy considine are a hoot on the commentary to a room for romeo brass - a proper funny double act but were incapable of reproducing their self-mocking 'banter' (whopper word) in the commentary to dead man's shoes - still worth watching but the presence of one of warpfilms suits (yes he's STILL a suit even if he wears a moodymann t-shirt) seems not only a nod to 'the funder' but also stifles their usual knockabout pisstaking.
recently bought 'taxi driver' not because i like the film (it's possibly scorcese's worst) but for the director's commentary - i wonder why harvey k got relegated from lead man to bit part actor between the much superior mean streets and TD? maybe 'marty' can explain - one for boxing day methinks (whopper word x 10)
American werewolf in London
The two actors hadn't seen each other for many years and spend the first 15mins or so catching up on family news. Nothing like as irritating as it sounds, quite sweet really.
Also agree about the Wicker Man. Particularly the bit where Christopher Lee goes off on one about the master tapes being buried under the M3.
it's been said
meadows comm's are great
'sideways' is a conversation between the leads v. funny
ridley scott comm's are always proceeded by him unwrapping a cigar
'shaun of the dead' has a zombie comm
one of the episodes of 'brasseye' has a comm by some homeless guys
The commentaries on Fawlty Towers
are priceless. They tend to be done by the directors, who are all getting on a bit and not all of whom have a handle on what's expected of them.
One of the commentaries features about 20 minutes of silence, punctuated by the director chuckling every now and then.
Fawlty Towers Commentaries
The commentaries on the original 'Fawlty Towers' DVDs are a bit dull, but the recent 'Remastered' release of the series, in addition to these, boasts commentaries on every episode from John Cleese - and they're a real treat. It's fascinating to sit and hear his thoughts about what works and what doesn't in each episode, his admiration for many of the guest stars, and so on. Solo commentaries can be a bit tedious, but these are brilliant - imagine having Cleese round to watch 'Fawlty Towers' with you, and bringing all kinds of things to your attention that you wouldn't otherwise have noticed. It's rare that a DVD commentary enhances your appreciation of something, but this is one of them.
Black Books
1st series has great commentaries from the three leads.
Almost Famous (untitled)
I watched the directors cut with commentary over the course of a few evenings several years ago and loved it.
A highlight was the fact that Cameron Crowe's mum was part of the commentary "team", watching his view of specific real events. Like when he finds out he's eleven....
I've listened to a few comedy ones
which are entertaining enough. But only to be tried when you have a piece of your life that you're actively trying to waste (I do try various methods to make up for the fact that I've never smoked - all those unnecessary extra hours of life waiting to be filled...)
Chris Morris basically had it right. I think it's a Brass Eye episode that has a bunch of tramps dragged in off the street and given a few free bottles of White Lightning by way of a commentary.(well of course it might have been actors pretending, but sounds pretty authentic if I remember right)