bodydoubleDVD

DATA

114M 2006

VIDEO

Presented in anamorphically-enhanced 1.85:1 widescreen, this DVD looks terrific! Although this is the 2nd time that BODY DOUBLE has been released on DVD, it is a nice improvement over the last.

For a movie that’s over 20 years old, BODY DOUBLE’s transfer shows no signs of age, particles or scratches. Neither did I notice any pixellation or digital edge deterioration. The only indication of its true date of inception is in the glossy mise-en-scene, and dated-yet exquisite lensing-style by cinematographer Stephen H. Burum and director Brian De Palma. Otherwise, colors are bright and shadows deep (as they should be for this picture). Simply put, a solid transfer!

AUDIO

Presented in robust Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, I was aurally-satisfied by this audio presentation.

With classically-corny dialogue and a terrific soundtrack of great music to boot, this DVD gets a kudo in audio. Hell, I could just about feel every huff, puff, scream and drill in the movie. And that’s a compliment!

Besides the English 5.1 track, there is also a French 2.0 Surround one. I haven’t listened to it--but I’m sure that is amusing as hell to hear the characters speak in a foreign tongue. Subtitles in English & French are also options.

EXTRAS

Featurettes: Written, produced & directed by the very talented Laurent Bouzerau, the documentary is divided into 4 segments that run a total aggregate of approximately 51 minutes. [All are presented in fullscreen 4x3 (interviews) and letterbox 4x3 (movie clips)]

1) The Seduction (16:43) 2) The Setup (16:53) 3) The Mystery (12:14) 4) The Controversy (05:31)

Normally, I would write about each segment individually, but these 4 featurettes are obviously culled from one longer one. Sadly, this is a growing practice among the studios to break up a long documentary into smaller chunks for those viewers riddled with ADD symptoms.

Anyway, the documentary is very well-produced. Featuring interviews with Brian De Palma, Melanie Griffith, Deborah Shelton and Gregg Henry, we learn a lot about the inception, production and release of a movie that has polarized filmgoers, critics and others alike. Sprinkled throughout are BODY DOUBLE production stills and movie clips.

The only regrets here are the lack of interviews with leading man Craig Wasson and talented artisans like cinematographer Stephen H. Burum and composer Pino Donaggio. But as it stands, De Palma centers the entire documentary and is quite wonderful to listen to.

Once again, Laurent... nicely done!

Previews: Trailers for 2 movies, neither of which are for BODY DOUBLE! What gives? Even the first DVD release had a freakin’ trailer for the movie on it! I still don’t get these studios that give you some nice bonus materials yet leave out the trailer--which, by the way, is a wonderful marketing tool in selling a movie to buyers and audiences alike. Disappointing in the most!

MIA: Also not on the DVD is an audio commentary by De Palma and/or his cast. I’m saddened, but all is not lost as the 51 minute documentary makes up for it.

PACKAGING

The cover art is a semi-cheesy home video Photoshop collage. Why not just put the original poster art on the DVD like in the first release? As it stands, the DVD is encased in a standard Amaray case and has no insert with chapter index.

OVERALL

For a double-dip, there are good things to say about the DVD and bad things to digest. Terrific video & audio elements are pluses. That great L.B. documentary gets major kudos as well. However, I was very disappointed by the lack of further meaty extras or even a damned trailer!

As it stands, this repurchase is recommended only because of the technical elements and the documentary (hence the 3.5 rating in EXTRAS). If you still own the previous copy and wish to have the trailer--then by all means, keep both.