Quote:
Originally Posted by Parrothead
From my small collection of DVDs, the best commentary tracks I have heard are ones by John Frankenheimer: The Manchurian Candidate, Seven Days In May, The Train and Ronin (too bad they never got a commentary track for Grand Prix done, before he passed away).
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I've got to second the Frankenheimer commentaries(not to mention the films!). SEVEN DAYS IN MAY, easily one of the greatest political thrillers ever filmed, still stands out as a showcase for the director as well as Lancaster and Douglas. SEVEN DAYS is one of those rare instances where a film adaptation outdid it's source novel. Frankenheimer's commentary is clever, insightful and often blunt(always welcome). He touches on so many of the intricate details that make his style unique, you really need to savor the track a few times to absorb it all. "I'll make you two promises: A very good steak, medium rare. And the truth, which is very rare." ZING!
If anyone hasn't seen this one I insist you make time...a few less episodes of South Park won't kill you. If not for the superb spirit of the story or even the goose-bump inducing eloquence of Rod Serling's screenplay, then for Frederic March in a powerful and moving career-capping performance. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
Another commentary track I would recommend is actually one on two different dvds(!)
On both Criterion's A NIGHT TO REMEMBER dvd and the recent special multidisc edition of Cameron's TITANIC, Ken Marschall and Don Lynch contribute a collaborative track that just snaps with sincere appreciation and a never ending stream of historical tibdits. As experts in the history of the disaster(both technically and culturally) the two offer a perspective not seen in commentary tracks often enough. Ebert's(notably KANE) and Bogdonavich's tracks are probably the closest comparisons. Additionally, in an antidote sort of way, their lack of Hollywood professional persona goes miles in making the track much more appealing. It's like sitting around watching a Titanic film with two buddies...who just happen to be Titanic experts. Never haughty or pedantic, the track is a vital contribution in two cases where the filmmakers where aspiring to a more historically sincere depiction than the average film.
(Note: Says this observer...Whopper beat the Big Mac. And by Whopper, I mean A NIGHT TO REMEMBER. And by Big Mac, I mean TITANIC.)