My review of the Blu-ray set of the film follows after the jump.
The collection starts withHead.
Though its one of the greatest titles in cinema history, the film itself is more fascinating than great.
In one bit Jones is a prize fighter up against Sonny Liston and with Annette Funicello as his girl.
In another bit theyre dandruff in Victor Matures hair and get sucked into a vacuum.
Is it like professional wrestlers admitting the sport is fake?
The Supplements section kicks off with From the Monkees toHead (28 min.)
Hes honest, so its great.
BBS: A Time for Change (28 min.)
gets historian/critics David Thomson and Douglas Brinkley to talk about what this company did and meant for cinema.
This is followed by screen tests of all four Monkees, and two practice scenes (19 min.
), the Monkees promoting the film on The Hy Lit Show (6 min.
Next up in the set isEasy Rider.
The film is relatively simple in the scheme of things, but no less effective.
Does it say anything profound?
Not really, but its definitely a zeitgeist picture.
This was also the first film to revolutionize film soundtracks with its use of popular music over a score.
Everything about it has been absorbed, and arguably neutered.
Whatever it is is open for interpretation.
Did they sell out, did they not change anything?
But the weight of Nixons election had to weigh heavily on the filmmakers and their sense of the world.
But at the time, the us vs. them nature of society was a powerful thing.
This disc also has the most extensive supplements.
Born to Be Wild (30 min.)
This is followed by Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage (65 min.
The film played Cannes, and Hopper and Fonda at Cannes (2 min.)
offers interview footage from the fest.
Then theres an interview with Steve Blauner (19 min.)
about BSS, and how he became involved because of his childhood connection to Bert Schneider.
This is followed by two theatrical trailers.
Five Easy Pieceswas Bob Rafelsons follow up toHead, done in 1970.
He says on the supplements ofHeadthat after that experience he never wanted to make another edit driven film.
From their first scene together, their relationship is laid bare.
Shes emotionally needy, and hes cold, constantly holding out his feelings, and constantly demeaning her.
But she takes it.
Dupeas back-story is revealed slowly.
Hes a classically trained pianist from a family of musicians.
He also quite obviously hates himself.
Hes a phony, for sure.
This is one of cinemas great character studies, with a lead performance by one of its great actors.
Everything is firing correctly, and the yearning at the heart of the film is timeless.
The Criterion Collection presents the film in widescreen (1.85:1) and in its original monaural soundtrack.
Hes joined by interior designer and ex-wife Toby Rafelson.
This is followed by the featurette Soul Searching in Five Easy Pieces (9 min.)
that gives Rafelson another chance to summarize his feelings for the movie, and what its all about.
Its followed by BBStory (47 min.)
Theres also an AFI conducted Rafelson audio interview (49 min.
), two teaser trailers and the films theatrical trailer.
The next disc includes two films, 1970sDrive, He Said, and 1971sA Safe Place.
The first was Jack Nicholsons first stab at directing.
and the films theatrical trailer.
Also on the disc is A Safe Place from Henry Jaglom.
Alas, I saw a movie that came across as deeply bullshit.
Then theres Orson Welles playing a magician, who delivers monologues and does magic.
The film comes widescreen (1.85:1) and in monaural sound.
The transfers for both these films are note perfect.
Extras include a commentary by Jaglom, the featurette Henry Jaglom findsA Safe Place (7 min.
), an interview with Jaglom and Bogdanovich by Molly Haskell (29 min.
), outtakes and four screen tests (25 min.
), and the films theatrical trailer.
Then again Bogdanovich began his career in film as a journalist.
But thats not why he comes across as preternaturally confident.
He had his movie, and he knew it.
Here he was adopting the Larry McMurtry novel with the author himself for the big screen.
Timothy Bottoms stars as Sonny Crawford, best friends with Duane Jackson (Jeff Bridges).
The two play on the local football team together (which is always losing).
For the boys sexuality is just as weird and unexpected.
Bogdanovich knew what he was doing, and the film is a meaty text.
The film comes in widescreen (1.85:1) and in monaural sound.
The 91 commentary came after the film was reissued theatrical, and had a couple minutes restored.
The Last Picture Show: A Look Back (65 min.)
This is followed by a 2009 Q&A with Bogdanovich (13 min.)
and Picture This (42 min.
This is followed by screen tests for local color (2 min.
), and location footage (6 min.).
This is followed by an interview with Francois Truffaut (5 min.)
where he praises the film and the new Hollywood.
Theres also the films original trailer, and a re-release trailer.
The film is about a quartet of performers.
Jack Nicholson plays David Staebler, a radio DJ who often exaggerates his life for his audience.
There he lives with Sally (Ellen Burstyn) and Jessica (Julia Anne Robinson).
Jasons been in trouble with Lewis (Benjamin Scatman Crothers).
The star of the film is Bruce Dern, and its a showcase of a role.
Nicholson mostly internalizes everything though likeFive Easy Pieces it does lead to him have an emotional breakdown/breakthrough.
It just feels more modest and muddled than their previous effort.
The Criterion edition presents the film in widescreen (1.85:1) and in monaural sound.
Extras include a selected-scene commentary by Rafelson (61 min.)
which covers over half of the film.
This is followed by Reflections of a Philosopher King (10 min.)
with Rafelson and Burstyn talking about the movie.
Afterthoughts (11 min.)
feels like from the previous DVD release, with Rafelson, Dern and Kovacs talking about the film.
The set concludes with a brief bio and filmography of Rafelson, and the films theatrical trailer.
[some screen captures courtesy ofDVDBeaver]
