One of these films could easily make my ten best list for this year. No, not Stay Alive.
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Overrated but still halfway-decent music doc about Daniel Johnston, a mentally ill but (some say) genius musician who garnered the love and admiration of many while battling his own psychological demons. The problem is, the film never satisfactorily makes the case that this guy really is a musical genius, but the approach it takes is more or less predicated on the viewer buying into that fact.
Extras include audio diary recordings by Johnston, as well as some of his films.
The Proposition
With a moral ambiguity that makes Unforgiven look like vintage Capra, this outback western follows the journey of Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) a criminal sent to kill his even more criminal brother (the increasingly amazing Danny Huston) by a brutal lawman (Ray Winstone, in a performance that damn well better get Oscar recognition). It's not for the squeamish (think A History of Violence's more unsettling moments), but it's probably one of the most rewarding, powerful films you'll see all year. More here.
Did I mention Nick Cave wrote the screenplay (and does all the music, natch)? Director John Hillcoat shares a commentary with him. That and five featurettes round out the extras.
Hard Candy
Also not a film for the squeamish, and not just because it revolves around the trap set for an is-he-or-isn't-he pedophile (Patrick Wilson) by an underage girl (Ellen Page - that's Shadowcat if you're nasty). There's also, well, I'll let you discover the fun of what a girl would decide to do to someone she suspected of those acts on your own, but not. good. time. Excellent performances and a very tense thriller to boot.
Extras include filmmaker commentary, a separate commentary track for the leads, deleted and extended scenes and a couple featurettes.
Zoo TV: Live From Sydney
Not as much fun as the actual Zoo TV leg of this tour (by the time they got to Sidney, they were well into Zooropa territory), this is still classic (and by classic I mean mid-career) U2. Been out on VHS for a while, but this is the first time on DVD. Sadly, it looks like they haven't decided to take advantage of that fact by adding, oh, what do you call them? Oh, yes, extras.
Stay Alive - Unrated Director's Cut
Craptacularly-received horror flick about a group of teens who do battle with a video game villain who looks like Marilyn Manson. There's an extra 15 minutes of crap in the director's cut. Extras include a visual effects reel and an interactive bonus menus and no, I have no idea how or if that differs from, you know, menus.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
U2's Zoo TV is available with extras in the deluxe edition. The single DVD is strictly a low-budget affair.
2 - DJRadiohead
I bought the basic edition- never owned the VHS and I was not blown away by the available extras.