Kicking And Screaming (DVD)
APPROX. 96 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 1995 - MPA RATING: R
" One of the oddest qualities of this film about four college guys is that the women come across as the most fully realized characters.
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Baumbach mixes in several flashbacks which depict the early days of Grover and Jane´s relationship. After the glibness of the scenes with the four amigos, the sincerity of these moments is genuinely moving, helped in no small part by Olivia d´Abo´s performance, by far the best in the film. In fact, one of the oddest qualities of this film about four college guys is that the women come across as the most fully realized characters, including Miami (Parker Posey) and especially Kate (Cara Buono, also excellent in a small but memorable role.)
"Kicking and Screaming" is equal parts irritating and engaging. For a debut film, it´s pretty impressive work.
Video
The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This anamorphic, progressive transfer is excellent, with sharp picture quality and bright colors. Broken record time: this is another great Criterion transfer.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. I thought the dialogue volume was unusually low, and I had to crank the volume on my TV ten notches higher than usual to be able to make out the conversation. Since sound travels a bit too well in my apartment complex (esp. late at night) I found the optional English subtitles an essential aid.
Extras
As you might expect for a film about talking, the features are mostly of the talking-head variety.
An interview with Noah Baumbach (12 min.) conducted in NYC in 2006 covers typical ground as he reflects back on the making of the film.
"Conversations" (26 min.) features Baumbach and cast members Carlos Jacott and John Lehr. These interviews were also recorded in NYC in 2006.
Several brief IFC interviews (8 min. total) with Baumbach and other cast members which were recorded in conjunction with the film´s premiere at the 1995 New York Film Festival are also included.
"Conrad and Butler in ´Conrad and Butler Take a Vacation´" (2000, 30 min.) is the most unusual feature offered on the DVD. Directed by Baumbach, and starring Jacott and Lehr, this attempt at creating a modern day "Laurel and Hardy" style comedy team will be of interest to Baumbach fans. I cannot tell a lie; I bailed on it after five minutes. Maybe the rest was brilliant.
The collection is rounded out by Deleted Scenes (9 min. total) and a Theatrical Trailer.
Supposedly, the DVD includes liner notes with an essay by Jonathan Rosenbaum, one of the film´s supporters. However, my copy arrived sans liner notes. I have checked with two other colleagues who both got the liner notes, so I will assume this was just a distribution glitch.
Closing Thoughts
I suppose Criterion´s release of "Kicking and Screaming" shows the power of auteurism. With its mixed reviews and meager box office total, "Kicking and Screaming" likely would not have been a Criterion candidate if not for the critical success of Baumbach´s "The Squid and the Whale." I can´t say that I loved the movie, but I´m glad Baumbach´s debut feature is now available so some lucky film student this fall can write his first grad school paper on the director´s "career arc." As far as slacker comedies go, "Kicking and Screaming" is better than most, probably because it isn't really a slacker comedy at all.
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