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Mark Isham's commentary on BLADE is one of the best composer commentaries I've heard. He discusses the genesis of the project, the musical direction and style, individual cues, alternate unheard cues, his own musical backround. A very good commentary. (I'm just discovering this now, years after it's release.) And for war movies you can't go wrong with a Dale Dye commentary. That's actually a selling feature for me. I mean, THE DIRTY DOZEN was always pretty entertaining, but the Dale Dye commentary track exceeds even the movie in entertainment value. Worthless commentaries.... I hate to say it but the Jerry Goldsmith commentary on PLANET OF THE APES was underwhelming. He really needed a moderator to ask questions or just to keep the thing moving forward.
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The best commentary tracks are by those that know what they're talking about, and of these the best are most often done by Rudy Behlmer. He's so good he really should be doing all the commentary tracks for nearly everything. Agreed. He really does his research (much like Eddie Muller). I remember seeing him back in the 80's at a library where I worked, and seeing him quite a bit. And luckily, Behlmer is still alive at age 86!
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Any other characteristics? William Friedkin's commentary on THE NARROW MARGIN makes me want to add: 4) Talking only about "film 101" concepts (basic stuff for beginners). (I get the feeling Friedkin just didn't do any "homework" [I switched it off after a while] to do the commentary. It sounded like he was "winging it".)
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Jonathan Frakes on Star Trek: First Contact. He says about three useful things in 2 hrs. And I like Frakes, as an actor and a director, but that commentary doesn't illuminate much. I like commemtaries that drill down on technical details and/or really dish the dirt. Those are ususally on older re-releases and half the participants are dead or thought to be dead.
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Posted: |
Oct 26, 2013 - 4:29 PM
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By: |
RoryR
(Member)
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Jonathan Frakes on Star Trek: First Contact. He says about three useful things in 2 hrs. And I like Frakes, as an actor and a director, but that commentary doesn't illuminate much. I like commemtaries that drill down on technical details and/or really dish the dirt. Those are ususally on older re-releases and half the participants are dead or thought to be dead. In fairness to a lot of these people, they really can't tell "the truth" or dish the dirt. Working in the industry, even for those who've had successes and attained some status, often involves not pissing anyone off who can hurt you, get you blackballed in some way. So, everyone was wonderful that they've ever worked with -- because they may need a job from them later -- and even if everyone knows the picture in question is a dog, don't be too hard on it because, again, who can never know who you might piss off and not ever get another job from. Movies aren't made by saints or supermen, just regular guys and gals -- and you know what regular people can often be like, so be wary. I can't remember who it was that said "Hollywood is like high school, only with money," but we all know what high school was like, don't we?
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Haven't gone through all 15 pages of this post to see if this has already been covered, but I just hated it when the late John Frankenheimer, in his commentary for his "Reindeer Games," acted like he didn't even know the biggest twist of the entire movie, that (SPOILER ALERT!!!) the bad guys have known all along that Ben Affleck ISN'T the escaped prisoner who planned the big and very elaborate bank robbery. If we watch a DVD or Blu-ray with audio commentary, just assume that we've already seen the movie, and if someone watches for the first time with the audio commentary (and barely able to hear the regular audio of the movie), they should know better! (I've made this point elsewhere, but this discussion is specifically about "worthless DVD commentary," so I want to include it.) Incidentally, in the case of Frankenheimer, when he acted like he had no idea about the twist coming ahead, he came across as half-witted and it was verrrrrrrrrry uncomfortable to listen to him. I've also heard commentaries where those speaking hesitate to say what's coming, which they really shouldn't.
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I'm afraid I will have to include Michael Crichton's commentary for THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY in this list, because he mentions the editor, the costume designer, the cinematographer.... But NOT Jerry Goldsmith!
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I started to listen to the commentary on HUSH HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE but.... the first thing out of his mouth was a history of Victor Buono's career!!!! Power off! I hate that kind of shit. every time an actor appears on screen we get a canned bio - the Bond flics are egregiuos on this matter brm
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..... The one thing I hate more than unhelpful actors/directors with bad memories or who just praise everyone are film "scholars" who bore the listener to death with their indulgence in symbolism/imagery etc. while offering nothing on production history. !) oh yeah! brm
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Commentaries of new movies by people actively working in the industry will be vaguely technical, congratulatory, and glad-handing to everyone involved (even if they hate each other, 'cause they will all eventually see each other again). I like commentaries to older movies given by the people whop were involved but now retired, and have no one to ass-kiss. Those are the best.
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