Sid And Nancy (DVD)

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Ironically, the film's strongest point--it's relentless kinetic energy--may also be its downfall for some viewers. The characters begin and end in the same place, with little personality change, all the while yelling, cussing, screaming, shooting up, making love, and living like pigs. By the film's conclusion, the two are so debilitated by drugs they aren't even able to fulfill the sexual conditions of their relationship. After nearly two hours of manic activity, the viewer may be justified in being more than a bit overwhelmed by it all, exhausted, and not wanting to watch the film again any time soon. It doesn't, however, detract from the initial, highly charged experience.

Video:
The movie's image quality is OK but far from superior. The overall picture is fair in definition, slightly bright and dark, with only a little noticeable grain. Moire effects, wavering lines and such, are thankfully absent from most frames. MGM make the screen size available in both its original ratio, here rendered as approximately 1.74:1 enhanced, and in a pan-and-scan ratio on reverse sides of a two-sided disc. The modified pan-and-scan blowup fills the television screen by cutting out about 20% or so of the screen image left and right. As usual, this sometimes means that primary characters wind up speaking to other characters' noses that are just poking out of the side of the screen. I understand there are still a number of viewers who prefer this situation rather than seeing black bars at the top and bottom of their screen. Given such buyers, offering the two formats is still a good, if seldom-extended compromise.

Audio:
The two-channel audio is reproduced via Dolby Stereo Surround, which synthesizes a good, strong monaural signal for the rear speakers, filling the room with much musical ambiance. In the front the signal is very wide, with excellent bass and dynamics.

Extras:
Unhappily, there is next-to-nothing on the disc except the film. English is the only spoken language. French and Spanish are provided for subtitles. And there are thirty-two scene selections and a widescreen theatrical trailer. Nothing else. Not even MGM's usual informational booklet insert is here, just a one-page title flyer and chapter index.

Parting Thoughts:
When the Sex Pistols broke up, Sid could not make it on his own, and the couple spiraled downward into drugs and despair. Several months after Nancy's death, Sid died of a heroin overdose on February 2, 1979. The film version of their brief, stormy life together does not glorify Sid or Nancy, nor does it condemn them in particular. Rather, the movie takes us on a rocky, sometimes funny, sometimes annoying, often heartbreaking ride through their lives. Rated R for partial nudity, sex, profanity, and violence, "Sid and Nancy" is not your average biographical film.

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