Girl, Interrupted [DVD] [1999]

Angelina Jolie may have received most of the attention for her Academy award-winning supporting actress turn in Girl, Interrupted, but this Columbia DVD edition shows that she isn't the only element of the picture that deserved praise. A complex, rewarding film that was too often compared with the more allegorical One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, this DVD edition includes a diverting HBO First Look "making of" documentary, an isolated music score, and a few lesser extras. The real revelations come in director and co-screenwriter James Mangold's commentary track and a selection of scenes deleted from the final film. Mangold's superb audio commentary guides viewers through the step-by-step process of bringing this story to the screen. Everything from illustrating a theme with visuals, to working with actors, to the importance of art direction is discussed in a lively fashion. This probably won't interest casual movie fans but is invaluable for filmmakers and those interested in the complex filmmaking process. Also included on a separate track is a series of scenes edited out of the film. Mangold takes viewers through these deleted scenes, explaining why he took them out. Though his edits were sound, the deleted scenes explain the meaning behind the film's title and shed further light on the Winona Ryder character's emotional problems and her relationship with her mother. The anamorphic widescreen transfer is pristine and the audio is featured in Dolby Digital or Dolby 2.0 Surround Sound.