DVDs
1.Usual Suspects
Great extras including deleted Scenes, Keyser Soze: Lie or Legend Featurette, out-takes (see them mis-pronounce the criminal mastermind's name), interviews with writers and cast members, something called a gag reel
and the all important commentary where, amoung other facts, you find out that director Brian Singer's favourite film is Jaws ... the film's pretty good too.
2.MichiganFest 2002
Hot Snakes, Owls, Dismenberment Plan, Oxes, Arab on Radar, Radio 4, Vaz, Small Brown Bike, !!! and maybe another 20 bands play over a weekend in March in some hall in the Midwest. Its entertaining and you can impress your mates with obscure indie knowledge, plus some interview footage of people larking about.
3.
The Day Today
The entire series that sent up the news complete with pointless polls, graphics with a mind of their own, self-important analysis and its own made up war! Introducing the talents of Chris Morris, Steve Coogan, Rebecca Front, David Schneider, Patrick Marber and Armando Ianucci. We get extras too; a corporate bonding session pre-
Office style and a swimming baths spoof documentary.
4.
Jam
Possibly the best thing Chris Morris has ever done. It blends surreal camera work, deadpan acting and the blackest of black humour. Best sketches are the porn stars with 'the gush', the woman who always wins arguments because she's too thick to know when she's lost, the doctor who treats his patients with ambivalence rather than medicine and the inept armed robber. Music is used to moody effect and there's even a playlist on the extras but perhaps the best add-on is Adam & Joe's hilarious homage called 'Goitre'.
5
. Manhunter (dir: Michael Mann)
Based on the Thomas Harris novel
Red Dragon, it pre-dates Silence of the Lambs. The 'tooth fairy' likes to enter the homes of nice young families and leave a bloody mess and its up to detective William Peterson (now of CSI fame!) to come out of retirement to catch the nutbag. Sounds cliched, I know, but Mann working with his favourite cinematographer, masterfully creates a Hitchcock-like tension. Every scene is compelling to look at, not least the scenes with Peterson and his wife bathed in romantic blue. Colours are, in fact, used to great effect throughout. Hannibal Lektor pops up here, played just as ably by Brian Cox, and Tom Noonan apparently scared the whole cast and crew as the baddie. Scarier than its more well know sister film and recently remade as Red Dragon with a dose of Hollywood. Extras include director's cut and commentary, plus interviews with actors and the cinematographer.
6.
The Simpson's Season 4
The famous Monorail episode with that song,
but main street is still cracked and broken ... Sorry Marge the mob has spoken ... Monorail ... Monorail ... MONORAIL!
Marge in Chains featues one of my favourite, if little used characters Lionel Hutz. He's the lawyer trying to defend Marge while battling with a lust for bourbon ...
whats that ... you want me to drink you? ... but I'm in court
Incidentally Phil Hartman who played the law-talking guy was shot by his wife who then killed herself. Apparently she was on anti-depressants and drinking.
This DVD, however, will cheer you up.
