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Order this DVD from Amazon.com
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In The Cut
Uncut Director's Edition
(Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)
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| DVD Release Date:
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February 10, 2004
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| Length:
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119 mins.
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| Rated:
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Unrated
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| Format:
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Widescreen (1.85:1)
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| Audio:
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English, French 5.1 (Dolby Digital)
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| Subtitles:
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English, French, Closed Captioned
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| Extras:
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Director and Producer's Commentary, Slang Dictionary Featurette, "Making Of" Featurette, Theatrical Trailers
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There's been a lot of debate about Meg Ryan's career lately. Is she finished? She really hasn't had a hit in several years - going back to You've Got Mail in 1998. That's a long time in movie years. And looking at her future projects, well, she doesn't have any? Maybe she's waiting for a phone call from Tom Hanks. Her latest DVD title, In The Cut, is now available. In the movie, Meg Ryan isn't that bad. The movie, on the other hand, seems to want to achieve more, but it never really succeeds.
In "In The Cut" Ryan plays Frannie Avery, an English professor who gets more than she bargained for during a trip to the washroom. Hell, even I got more than I asked for. What do we get? Frannie walks in on a very private (and very graphic) moment between a man's privates and a woman's mouth. But, she doesn't walk away in shock - instead she hangs around for the show, unbeknownst to the people she's watching. What a voyeur. While peeping, she notices a tattoo on the man's hand. When she goes home, there's a cop sitting on her front steps wanting to ask her some questions about a murder that happened in her neighborhood recently. Then, she notices his tattoo - on the same hand. Was it him she was watching? So, the two hit is off, he leaves, she masturbates (yes, really) and the two begin a little affair, and yes, we see Meg Ryan naked. For some of you out there, this may be the highlight of the movie, and yes, it's worth a trip to the video store to check it out. (Make sure you get the unrated version.) Anyways, there's still the suspicion about the murders and who was really getting the blown. And then, there's a couple of subplots involving Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kevin Bacon. In the end, we find out who the murderer is - and who Frannie was watching.
Really, the story wasn't that great. Truthfully, I fell asleep watching this movie - twice - but I may have just been tired. It was well-acted and it has it's moments, but it was a mess. I blame Jane Campion. Something about her makes me think that she thinks she's better than us. She looks down on her audience, and she tried to make a high-minded movie, and instead she came across as a snob. Forgive me, but that's my opinion.
For special features, there's a commentary by Campion and producer Laurie Parker. Together, they talk about the making of the movie and the challenges of filming in New York City. The commentary came off as a bit of a show down. Campion frequently interrupts and tries to let us know that this is her movie - and that it is her commentary. She really doesn't come off as a very nice person. The commentary was a constant power struggle, and wasn't really too enjoyable.
Other featurettes include a "Making of" featurette. Here, we listen to the filmmakers, actors and the writer of the original book that the movie is based on talk about the making of the movie. One interesting thing I learned - Mark Ruffalo (who was great in this movie) had a brain tumor that was recently successfully removed, but that it left him deaf in one ear. I never knew that. Also, Meg Ryan talks about how Jane Campion opened her eyes what it is to be in the movies. I have a little advice for you Meg - don't listen to her. That's probably why your career is in the tank right now. Overall though, not a bad making-of featurette.
Finally, we get a Slang Dictionary featurette. This wasn't too interesting. I watched it twice, and couldn't tell you one word of slang that was featured, or what it meant.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is that this movie isn't for everybody. There are people out there who would call this movie art, but I tend to disagree. It wasn't that much of a commercial success, and I can see why. On the other hand, if your only interest is seeing Meg Ryan naked, run to the store right now and pick this one up. It's worth the trip.
| The Movie: |
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3/10 |
| The Extras: |
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3/10 |
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