Tons of stuff out on DVD worth watching, collecting, seeing for the first time, seeing for a second time and seeing for one time only (Duplicity). We begin with one of the best pictures of the year in Ramin Bahrani’s Goodbye Solo (which comes equipped with a commentary track from the filmmaker and cinematographer Michael Simmonds).
After bringing out films such as Branded to Kill, Criterion continues their further interest with a 5 film box set from Japan’s Nikkatsu Noir period (I’ll let their page do the heavy talking). Whit Stillman receives more CC treatment, this time for his The Last Days of Disco and the one that is definitely worth checking out is Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (check out the clip on the Criterion site).
The Last Days of Disco
New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Whit Stillman
Audio commentary featuring Stillman and actors Chloë Sevigny and Chris Eigeman
Four deleted scenes with commentary by Stillman, Eigeman, and Sevigny
Audio recording of Stillman reading a chapter from his book The Last Days of Disco, with Cocktails at Petrossian Afterwards
Behind-the-scenes featurette
Stills gallery with captions by Stillman
Original theatrical trailer
PLUS: An essay by novelist David Schickler
Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Restored digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Chantal Akerman
Autour de “Jeanne Dielman,” a 69-minute documentary—shot by actor Sami Frey and edited by Agnes Ravez and Akerman—made during the filming of Jeanne Dielman
New interviews with Akerman and cinematographer Babette Mangolte
Excerpt from “Chantal Akerman par Chantal Akerman,” a 1997 episode of the French television program Cinéma de notre temps
Interview with Akerman’s mother, Natalia
Archival television interview excerpt featuring Akerman and star Delphine Seyrig
Saute ma ville (1968), Akerman’s first film, with an introduction by the director
New and improved English subtitle translation
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Ivone Margulies
Finally, docu fans are well served with the release of Trouble the Water and for Sundance-related comedies that deal with crappy jobs you could make a marathon out of Adventureland, Rudo y Cursi and Sunshine Cleaning. Mumblecore fans are served with the of Nights and Weekends and not many extras with only a commentary with co-producers Dia Sokol and Anish Savjani?
Trouble the Water includes:
Outtakes: Deleted and extended scenes * Conversations with the directors, subjects, film critic Richard Roeper and executive producer Danny Clover * Trouble the water at the 2008 Democratic National Convention * Theatrical trailer
Just My Life: The Making of Adventureland featurette
Adventureland includes: Deleted Scenes – With optional commentary from writer/director Greg Mottola.
Audio Commentary – Feature commentary from Greg Mottola and Jesse Eisenberg.
Just My Life: The Making of Adventureland – A behind-the-scenes featurette with the cast and crew, including Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Bill Hader, Martin Starr, and Ryan Reynolds.
Sunshine Cleaning includes:
Audio Commentary Featuring Writer Megan Holley and Producer Glenn Williamson
“A fresh look at a dirty business”
Rudo y Cursi comes loaded with:
A feature-length audio commentary with director Carlos Cuaron and actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna
“Deleted Scenes”
“Making of ‘Rudo y Cursi'”
“Q&A with director Carlos Cuaron and actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna”
Music Videos for “I Want You To Want Me” (performed by Gael Garcia Bernal) and “Rudo y Cursi” (Juana Molina)
“Turn Off Your Cell Phones”
A Theatrical Trailer