mruzick3
09-06-2003, 02:26 PM
This was one of my first DVD rentals and the only commentary that I have sat the entire length through, including the ending credits. Soderbergh’s commentary is just amazing. Being relatively new to the DVD world of home entertainment, I haven’t listened to all of his film commentaries (come on guys, I’ve got a job…and a life.) However, when I rented ‘The Limey’ I blocked out the entire night to watch this film that I hadn’t yet seen and was anxious to take advantage of this new medium of technology. It’s been a while since I watched/heard the commentary but I have to agree with Chris on this, Soderbergh really treats his viewers well. And with the screenwriter (Lem Dobbs) right there with him, it’s an extra treat to listen to. The commentary portion that I found the most memorable was when Wilson (Stamp) is on his way to rough up the warehouse riff-raff in some non-descript place in L.A. Soderbergh comments that this scene was a favorite of his due to the location. He goes on to explain that a lot of movies that are shot in L.A. don’t really get the real feel of the area. I loved this comment because it brought me back to driving through those non-descript areas to find a mechanic that a friend had mentioned to me, a short cut to get through to the New Beverly for whatever revival was playing that night, or just looking past the freeway walls on my through the 60/101 interchange. Thanks Steven for not putting a shiny gloss on that.
‘The Limey’ commentary is useful for another great reason. The process of editing both script and film is outlined through every verbal sparing between Soderbergh and Dobbs. If you have listened through the commentary you’ll know that Dobbs complains through most of the film. He questions various editing choices from entire scenes and how they were shot and the scenes that were not in the film (basically complaining to Soderbergh about how the original script had all these other elements and how could he cut them out.) Soderbergh’s reaction to most of Dobbs complaining is perfect. In most cases he just doesn’t say a word emphasizing the fact that those choices have been made and no other explanation is needed or owed to Dobbs. Dobbs does get very whiny about one scene that was left out near the end and his assurance that it should have been there gets very annoying to the viewer and, I think, to Soderbergh. In all of these disputes, the viewer really gets to know how and why editing choices have been made. In watching those choices play out in the film, an extra appreciation is rewarded.
My appreciation with independent film began with ‘Sex, Lies, and Videotape.’ I appreciate Soderbergh’s choice of using silence to convey a scene and a retort. I appreciate his direction and comments. Mostly, I appreciate directors like Soderbergh that have used DVD technology to appreciate his viewers and not take advantage of them.
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Mike Ruzicka
‘The Limey’ commentary is useful for another great reason. The process of editing both script and film is outlined through every verbal sparing between Soderbergh and Dobbs. If you have listened through the commentary you’ll know that Dobbs complains through most of the film. He questions various editing choices from entire scenes and how they were shot and the scenes that were not in the film (basically complaining to Soderbergh about how the original script had all these other elements and how could he cut them out.) Soderbergh’s reaction to most of Dobbs complaining is perfect. In most cases he just doesn’t say a word emphasizing the fact that those choices have been made and no other explanation is needed or owed to Dobbs. Dobbs does get very whiny about one scene that was left out near the end and his assurance that it should have been there gets very annoying to the viewer and, I think, to Soderbergh. In all of these disputes, the viewer really gets to know how and why editing choices have been made. In watching those choices play out in the film, an extra appreciation is rewarded.
My appreciation with independent film began with ‘Sex, Lies, and Videotape.’ I appreciate Soderbergh’s choice of using silence to convey a scene and a retort. I appreciate his direction and comments. Mostly, I appreciate directors like Soderbergh that have used DVD technology to appreciate his viewers and not take advantage of them.
____________________________________________
Mike Ruzicka