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PTA Slapdown
DVD Talk's Randy Miller implied it, Defamer's Stu VanAirsdale said it bluntly and I'm seconding the motion -- director Paul Thomas Anderson needs to come out of his effete rabbit hole and deliver a much more fan-friendly DVD of There Will Be Blood. Because the one that came out last Tuesday is niggardly and flat-out disdainful of the faithful.
In his 4.8 review of the two-disc TWBB release, Miller wrote that Anderson "has gone on record stating that he no longer records audio commentaries, [which is] especially disappointing after the terrific tracks included with Boogie Nights and the like. With no direct participation from the cast and crew, these extras can't help but feel a bit detached."
In a rant piece that went up yesterday afternoon, VanAirsdale didn't pussyfoot around.
"If you're going to charge us for two discs, you'd better make the second one worth our dime," he said in an open letter to Anderson. "Which gets us to this new two-disc 'collector's edition' of There Will Be Blood, which Paramount Vantage released April 8th. Pardon us, but what the fuck is this?
"We're sitting here with our favorite film of 2007, looking for your commentary. Nothing. We bust out the second disc. Photo clippings from your research? Three deleted scenes -- only one of which features, you know, editing? And, finally, an exhumed silent short about the history of oil drilling? Really? $30 for two discs and all we get is a public-domain two-reeler from 1923?
"Look, PTA, we know it's probably not your fault. There's probably a commentary sitting on some hard drive in Vantage boss John Lesher's office waiting for the precise moment when 'collectors' will be ready to part ways with another $30 to hear it. There's probably behind-the-scenes footage with Scott Rudin arriving on location in Marfa, Texas, overdressed and throwing a BlackBerry at the assistant whose weather forecast turned out 15 degrees cooler than the actual temperature.
"We know there are interviews with you, Day-Lewis, Paul Dano and Ciaran Hinds floating around. We know because it's you, and we expect great things. Not...this.
"So get with the fucking program already, PTA, and stop jerking us around with the most stingy, shabby, half-assed miscarriage of DVD justice since Mulholland Drive."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 12, 2008 at 10:43 AM
comment #1
JD
says ...
VanAirsdale's rant is misguided and misinformed. Personally, I understand Anderson's desire to preserve the mysteries behind the film and I kind of agree that behind-the-scenes junk could very well diminish the film's impact. That said, I'd be more than happy to re-buy Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, and There Will Be Blood if Anderson ever sees fit to sit down and record some commenatries for them.
Posted by JD
at April 12, 2008 11:54 AM
comment #2
cjKennedy
says ...
Keep your DVD gimcracks and gewgaws. The movie stands alone - head and shoulders above most bloated Special Limited Director's Wank Editions of any recent movie you can name.
Posted by cjKennedy
at April 12, 2008 11:55 AM
comment #3
PhilipGalasso
says ...
While I would happily go through hours of extra features on a There Will Be Blood DVD, it's silly to be angry at a filmmaker for this, as he probably had little to do with it. And to be angry that you feel gipped for the lack of extras on the second disc? It's not like this kind of information is hard to come by. Read a dvd review, go to amazon.com and read the product description, hell just look on the back of the dvd. That's why I bought the single disc edition, with packaging that I liked better anyway.
Posted by PhilipGalasso
at April 12, 2008 12:03 PM
comment #4
Rosebudsthesled
says ...
Yesterday I was so aggravated by the movie I was watching in class that I just wrote the entire milkshake speech in my binder. DRAAAAAAINAGE!
Posted by Rosebudsthesled
at April 12, 2008 12:03 PM
comment #5
Matthew Lucas
says ...
Totally disagree here. I bought the 2-disc TWBB set the day it came out, and I LOVE it! It keeps the mystique of the film while offering some of the most original and beautiful extras I've seen in a long time. By not revealing every detail about the making of the film, PTA lets it stand alone and creates extras that are works of art unto themselves, instead of cheap throwaways found on most discs today.
Posted by Matthew Lucas
at April 12, 2008 12:15 PM
comment #6
Geoff
says ...
I have to say, I wasn't expecting very much from this dvd AT ALL. Llike some of the above posters I completely get why PTA wouldn't want to include much. It's a mysterious film that requires many repeat viewings.
None of us expected anything from Daniel Day-Lewis, right? Maybe their Charlie Rose segment should go on the dvd.
Posted by Geoff
at April 12, 2008 12:31 PM
comment #7
The Winchester
says ...
It's not so much the "loss of movie making mystique" as much as it's about paying more money for what amounts to "A Public domain two reeler from 1923". Why not just include that on the bare bones edition? (Which is the one I picked up, because it seemed ridiculous to purchase a two disc special ediition that has nothing on it). The letter should be addressed at Paramount, though, not PTA.
And I totally second the re-purchasing of all films should Anderson decide to record commentary tracks for them.
Posted by The Winchester
at April 12, 2008 1:09 PM
comment #8
Kristopher Tapley
says ...
"VanAirsdale's rant is misguided and misinformed."
They usually are.
Posted by Kristopher Tapley
at April 12, 2008 1:25 PM
comment #9
JoeGreenia
says ...
Yes, Winchester, that's it. If he wants to "preserve mystery", then just release a stand-alone version. What's on the SE does not warrant two discs.
It's not that I demand lot of features and a commentary, it's that the "Collector's Edition" they've offered is weak. Sad. Don't buy it.
Posted by JoeGreenia
at April 12, 2008 1:34 PM
comment #10
corey3rd
says ...
The Charlie Rose interview would be good. How about a tribute to Marfa Texas? Not like this whole package won't be re-issued in a few months in BluRay.
Posted by corey3rd
at April 12, 2008 1:36 PM
comment #11
Edward
says ...
Speaking of Blu-Ray...I was in a Target store yesterday and was passing by the electonics section where they were showing Disney movie clips on Blu-Ray. I was blown away by "Finding Nemo," it looked better than the film I saw in the theatre, it was jaw dropping beautiful.
Posted by Edward
at April 12, 2008 1:47 PM
comment #12
Wrecktum
says ...
Whaaaaa.
Commentaries suck. The only time they're worthwhile is when they're done by DPs, editors, critics or historians. Listening to directos, producers and actors wanking off on how great the experience was to make the movie is painful.
Posted by Wrecktum
at April 12, 2008 1:51 PM
comment #13
diagf.com
says ...
There certainly isn't anything wrong with sparse extras. Just give me a case that doesn't look and feel like it wont last 6 months. I had planned the whole time on buying the 2 disc SE. Great artwork, seemed like the case would be right in line with Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and PDL. But, instead, I get to the store and see the shitty, thin, flimsy case and I instantly went for the bare bones version. I'm 100% fine with just the movie. However, the packaging is some of the worst I've seen.
Posted by diagf.com
at April 12, 2008 1:54 PM
comment #14
rgmax99
says ...
I like the spare thin packaging myself, although I'm not buying this DVD until the Blu-Ray arrives, special edition or not.
That said, the Boogie Nights and Magnolia DVDs are fantastic.
(Didn't PTA record a different Boogie Nights audio commentary for the Criterion Laser Disc? I seem to recall it mentioned a physical altercation he had with Burt Reynolds? Am I dreaming this?)
Posted by rgmax99
at April 12, 2008 1:59 PM
comment #15
Mjs
says ...
"director Paul Thomas Anderson needs to come out of his effete rabbit hole and deliver a much more fan-friendly DVD of There Will Be Blood."
This irritates me. PTA doesn't need to do anything that you, or some doofus reporter say he needs to do. He's the filmmaker here. If you don't want to shell out for the two disc edition, then dont'. But he does not owe a three hour commentary on a very mysterious, strange film.
That said, if he does one in the future, I'll be first in line to buy it. But it's his choice, and he chooses not to do it.
Posted by Mjs
at April 12, 2008 2:14 PM
comment #16
Rich S.
says ...
Don't most of these guys get these screeners for free?
If not, then I would suggest reading the package before purchase. If it doesn't have what you want, vote with your wallet. It will be less than $20 by Christmas, anyway.
If PTA doesn't want a commentary on the disc, so be it. It's his choice. Auteurs do what auteurs do.
Posted by Rich S.
at April 12, 2008 2:19 PM
comment #17
christian
says ...
And where the hell are the dancing cats?
Posted by christian
at April 12, 2008 2:25 PM
comment #18
Mark B
says ...
"I like the spare thin packaging myself, although I'm not buying this DVD until the Blu-Ray arrives, special edition or not."
I agree 100%. I was seriously bummed when the HDDVD was yanked from the release schedule, but there's no way I'm double-dipping by getting the DVD first, especially with cinematography as glorious this. Blu-ray or nothin' for me.
Posted by Mark B
at April 12, 2008 2:41 PM
comment #19
Stacy Atlas
says ...
David Lynch and Woody Allen don't do commentary tracks either. Joel and Ehtan Coen did one only once for THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE and have been silent ever since.
Posted by Stacy Atlas
at April 12, 2008 2:49 PM
comment #20
berkguru
says ...
Anybody worried about the extras on a DVD set is a complete doofus. Who really cares about anything ancillary to the actual film.
Showing your age with the word "niggardly" Wells.
Posted by berkguru
at April 12, 2008 2:52 PM
comment #21
businesstoolz
says ...
I would say the lack of features is no where near as offensive as Jeff using the word "niggardly." Just say it was dumb to to use the word instead of some jackass 3 paragraph psuedo intellectual rant what the real meaning of the word is and how it was appropriate to use it in this context. Jesus Christ...you're like someone's grandparents who still use the word "colored."
Posted by businesstoolz
at April 12, 2008 4:00 PM
comment #22
Jay T.
says ...
Add me to the list of people who loved TWBB but are waiting for it to be released on Blu-Ray... and I'm annoyed that it's not already available.
As far as commentaries go, I don't really care about PTA doing one if he's spending his time working on another movie.
Posted by Jay T.
at April 12, 2008 4:10 PM
comment #23
corey3rd
says ...
Bonus features can add a lot to the viewing enjoyment of a film. The inclusion of the John Holmes documentary makes Wonderland understandable. Likewise the James Bond Ultimate editions are great in that they give so much background and context to the film. "Bond Sale" trailers? Maybe Anderson has little to say about the experience, but why not find a cheap documentary about the California oil industry to go along with the silent film? Why not a documentary about Upton Sinclair? What's the point of a bonus disc that has less content than Paris Hilton's brain? I was also disappointed by the second disc in Punch Drunk Love and lack of a certain person in the Magnolia documentary. Maybe Paul blew his bonus load on the second Boogie Nights DVD.
Posted by corey3rd
at April 12, 2008 4:12 PM
comment #24
frankbooth
says ...
Businesstoolz,
I just looked at the cartoon on your blog. A philistine is also a person who thinks "niggardly" is a racial slur.
You're exempted if English is not your first language.
Posted by frankbooth
at April 12, 2008 4:48 PM
comment #25
jse33
says ...
The worst thing about the There Will Be Blood dvd set is not the lack of extras, but the fucking horrible packaging. The 1 and 2 disc come in a razor thin flimsy cardboard packaging. Is this the best Paramount could come up with for their Best Picture nominee? Really? Cheap bastards.
Posted by jse33
at April 12, 2008 5:04 PM
comment #26
businesstoolz
says ...
Frankbooth:
In fact I do know what "niggardly" means. It's another word for stingy. So, you could just as well use that word, instead of the one that starts with...oh, I don't know...nigger". Just in case someone might take it the wrong way instead bowing down before your might command of the English language.
Another good word is sarcasm. Unless of course English isn't your first language. Then you're exempt. But if English is your first language, then your just a fucking douche bag.
Posted by businesstoolz
at April 12, 2008 6:35 PM
comment #27
frankbooth
says ...
This stool means business!
Douche bag is sexist, you chauvinist pig. Shame on you. It's clever, though! Have you been reading Oscar Wilde?
Still, I'd like to know what a "niggard" is, beyond the meaning in the dictionary. An African-American as described by a racist who can't spell?
Here are some more words and phrases we should retire because they sound like other, potentially offensive ones:
Spic and span -- offensive to Latinos.
Doo wop -- sounds like a slam against Italians.
Fig -- someone might mistake it for "fag," which isn't nice.
Limpid -- Business might take it as slander on his tool.
Posted by frankbooth
at April 12, 2008 7:35 PM
comment #28
Ray
says ...
Fuck mystery. The damn DVD costs $30 ... it had better have something more on disc two than a couple of bullshit outtakes and a silent movie.
In my DVD review, I told everyone to wait for the true collector's edition sure to some. This is nothing more than a George Lucas bait-and-switch scheme.
Posted by Ray
at April 12, 2008 8:38 PM
comment #29
Edward
says ...
Isn't a fag a cigarette?
Posted by Edward
at April 12, 2008 9:05 PM
comment #30
Wrecktum
says ...
I believe there's a chink in Businesstoolz' armor.
Posted by Wrecktum
at April 12, 2008 11:35 PM
comment #31
Circumvrent
says ...
Some people....nobody's 'owed' a damn thing, and the film is available in a single-disc format. As stated previously, you can tell that second disc is a stinker just by looking at the goddam packaging.
And I like the packaging. I hope that more studios are taking environmentally concious steps with how they deliver their product. If the movie about the soul-destroying properties of mining for oil was in a big plastic snap-case, it'd send out a mixed message.
Posted by Circumvrent
at April 13, 2008 9:35 AM
comment #32
MathewM
says ...
The packaging is fine for the single disc. I paid $14.99 for it which is about what it's worth. The "Special Edition" is a waste of money-- it was greedy to release such a bare bones SE.
Honestly for standard DVD releases I prefer a bare bones package as long as it's cheap. Maybe I'm just getting old but I kind of like not knowing how a movie is made anymore. Seeing all of the behind the scenes stuff takes away the magic of the filmmaking process. Most of us know how things work anyway.
I know eventually I'll buy a blu-ray player so I just assume pay for any additional extras with that release.
Posted by MathewM
at April 13, 2008 9:51 AM
comment #33
themutilator
says ...
Put me on the list as one of the people who were happy to buy the 2 disc-love the packaging-and will buy it again when it is finally released on blu-ray. I'll either pass my old copy on to a friend, sell it or keep it for the cool packaging. I have no use for extras-the film is good enough for me.
Posted by themutilator
at April 13, 2008 11:48 AM
comment #34
DavidF
says ...
Mulholland Drive is a bad comparison.
Firstly, because it's a single disc.
Secondly, because (unlike PTA) Lynch has always been anti-extras.
MD could really benefit from an in-depth package that talks about its crazy history as an almost-TV show and maybe instead of Lynch has commentaries from critics or something but...it is what it is.
It sounds like most people are looking at the second TWBB disc, however, and just going WTF.
Posted by DavidF
at April 14, 2008 7:15 AM
comment #35
TL
says ...
And fuck you, Paramount for no Blu-ray. Assholes.
Zodiac too.
Posted by TL
at April 15, 2008 10:40 AM
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