sonnyboo
09-12-2003, 02:18 PM
What are your favorite commentary tracks on DVD/Laserdisc ?
For director commentary, I found ROAD TO PERDITION to be the singular most informative and all encompassing fo what a Director's responsiblities are and the delicate balance of actors/camera and improv versus planning. Sam Mendes has only made two pictures, but his insights and stories help to see into his vision.
And recently, I heard the director commentary, with the 2 lead actors for SAY ANYTHING with Cameron Cowe with John Cusak and Ione Skye. This was a perfect example of actors explaining their process and how the director relates to that. There was little or no explanation of cameras or technical things, but to hear about the relationship between the actors and the director was fascinating.
On a more comical side, there are always Kevin Smith DVD's, but the commentaries wind up being a form of boy's club good time with lots of Affleck bashing. And there is the THIS IS SPINAL TAP special edition DVD with the actors doing a commentary in character as the fictional band in the movie. There was a Criterion DVD, long out of print with 2 commentary tracks for THIS IS SPINAL TAP with the actors being themselves discussing ideas and behind the scenes fun, along with a ROB REINER director commentary where he opens up with "I hate commentary tracks, and I am against them because they ruin the illusion of the movies".
Speaking of Criterion, SEVEN SAMURAI uses a a commentary track from a film critic, and it was actually really, really good. Even though he wasn't even born whent he movie came out, he was knowledgable and interesting.
What are your favorite commentary tracks and WHY ?
- PJR
www.sonnyboo.com
http://www.wideopenwest.com/~pross3330/images/drink.jpg
For director commentary, I found ROAD TO PERDITION to be the singular most informative and all encompassing fo what a Director's responsiblities are and the delicate balance of actors/camera and improv versus planning. Sam Mendes has only made two pictures, but his insights and stories help to see into his vision.
And recently, I heard the director commentary, with the 2 lead actors for SAY ANYTHING with Cameron Cowe with John Cusak and Ione Skye. This was a perfect example of actors explaining their process and how the director relates to that. There was little or no explanation of cameras or technical things, but to hear about the relationship between the actors and the director was fascinating.
On a more comical side, there are always Kevin Smith DVD's, but the commentaries wind up being a form of boy's club good time with lots of Affleck bashing. And there is the THIS IS SPINAL TAP special edition DVD with the actors doing a commentary in character as the fictional band in the movie. There was a Criterion DVD, long out of print with 2 commentary tracks for THIS IS SPINAL TAP with the actors being themselves discussing ideas and behind the scenes fun, along with a ROB REINER director commentary where he opens up with "I hate commentary tracks, and I am against them because they ruin the illusion of the movies".
Speaking of Criterion, SEVEN SAMURAI uses a a commentary track from a film critic, and it was actually really, really good. Even though he wasn't even born whent he movie came out, he was knowledgable and interesting.
What are your favorite commentary tracks and WHY ?
- PJR
www.sonnyboo.com
http://www.wideopenwest.com/~pross3330/images/drink.jpg