Alfie DVD Review (Jude Law) Empire Movies

ALFIE DVD REVIEW

Alfie
(Paramount Home Entertainment)

The Movie

The Extras

Reviewed by

7.5/10

Liam

In Alfie, Jude Law plays a European playboy in America who learns a hard lesson or two about life and love.

When we first meet Alfie, he's a carefree bloke living the good life in Manhattan. Along with his carefree lifestyle, he's got seemingly a different woman for each night of the week. We first meet Dorie (Jane Krakowski). She's got a body that most men would kill for - and she also has a husband. And when she gets too clingy, Alfie gives her the ole' heave ho. (Let that be a lesson to women everywhere. Men don't like clingy women.) Next, we meet Julie (Marisa Tomei). She too has a body that most men would kill for. Although she (along with her son) is the only one that Alfie actually cares for, he just can't commit. And when she finds evidence that he's been unfaithful, she dumps him on his sorry ass. (Let that be a lesson to men everywhere. Women don't like unfaithful men.) Realizing that he's lost her, Alfie runs into a little problem with impotence. The cure - more women. You get the idea.

There was a lot about Alfie that annoyed me. However, there was just as much to like (if not more). What annoyed me? When Alfie talked directly to the camera. As a novely, this was a little fun - but I expected it to slow down after a while. And when it just kept happening, I found myself wishing he'd just shut up and let us watch the movie. Eventually, it did slow down, but by that time the damage was done. What did I like? First of all, the women. We generally don't see enough Marisa Tomei, so when she's in any movie, it's a treat. Too bad she's usually just a supporting character. Jane Krakowski. I'm not a fan, but this movie made me think twice. Sure, I still don't really care for her acting, but her body is worth the price of admission. Nia Long was nice too - and another actress we don't see enough of. Then, there's Susan Sarandon who just doesn't seem to age. It must be that makeup she's been advertising lately. Finally, Sienna Miller. When this movie was over, I went directly to my computer to try and find some pics of her online. (No, not nudes.) Unfortunately, there weren't many - and what ones there were weren't nearly as nice as she looked in this movie. Still, she looked great in this movie and I'll be watching for her in the future. (As a note to anybody wondering, she's currently engaged to Jude Law.) Not to exclude the guys here, Jude Law was fun in this movie. Omar Epps, as Alfie's best friend Marlon was also good. He's also somebody who deserves a chance at a leading role someday. A couple of other things that I really liked were the film's credits and the music - particularly the song by Mick Jagger. While searching for Sienna Miller pics, I was simultaneously downloading this song - legally of course.

Alfie is now available on DVD, surprisingly with a lot of bonus features. The first of two audio commentaries features director Charles Shyer and film editor Padraic McKinley. The two go over the basics - including story, characters, locations, etc., mixed with a handful of behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Nothing too memorable. The second features, again, director Charles Shyer and writer/producer Elaine Pope. Normally, commentaries are recorded before the release, but what I liked here was that the commentary was recorded a couple of weeks after the film's release. So, the two acknowledged how the movie failed (at least in North America) and gave their thoughts about it. They also detail what a success the was in Europe. I guess American audiences aren't ready for Jude Law - or maybe just Brits in general. Had Tom Cruise starred in the movie, I'm sure it would have been more successful.

For featurettes, first we get a "Round Table of Alfie" with the director, cinematographer Ashely Rowe, production designer Sophie Becher and editor Padraic McKinley. This is a feature I'm seeing a lot more. Basically, the filmmakers sit around and discuss the movie - similar to an audio commentary - just shorter at only 16 minutes. This feature could have benefitted if some of the film's stars had participated. In the next featurette, titled "The World of Alfie", we go behind the scenes. Basically, this is your "Making-Of" featurette - just with a fancier title. What I like here was the comparisons to the original 1966 film including footage that could compare to this "re-imagining". In "The Women of Alfie" we look at the bevy of beauties responsible for Alfie's misery. This one's worth watching if only for more about the wonderful women of Alfie.

Next, we get "Deconstruction of a Scene" with Padraic McKinley. This is one of the only features to bore me. For a good laugh, watch the Gedde Watanabe Dance Footage. Here, the man who plays 'Wing' in the movie is caught on camera dancing to a little Mick Jagger between shots. This feature is also available with commentary by Shyer and Elaine Pope. In "Let the Music In" we go behind-the-scenes looking at recording sessions for the film's music. This one's nice for fans of the music - or fans of Mick Jagger in general.

The DVD also includes 8 deleted scenes with optional commentary. There's a couple of fun scenes here, although nothing that would've been missed - except the scenes with Sienna Miller. Not that they were good scenes - just that any footage with Sienna Miller is good footage.

The disc's next three features are behind-the-scenes galleries. The first looks at the script, showing excerpts from certain scenes for the movie. Next, a production gallery with some photos from the making of the movie. Finally, the storyboard gallery shows some sketches of how a few scenes from the movie were planned.

Finally, the DVD contains the Alfie's threatrical trailer as well as previews for some other Paramount releases.

On the one hand, I can see why the movie failed - at least in America. I really don't believe audiences are willing to accept a movie about Europeans - not on a mass level anyways. Plus, its not really a happy movie. There are some funny moments, but it's not a funny movie. I think that's what a lot of people were expecting. Still, there's no reason this movie shouldn't be a success on DVD. It's got Jude Law for the ladies and some beautiful women for the men. And enough bonus features for any fan of DVD. Yeah, the movie's a bit depressing at times, and the whole talking to the camera thing can be annoying, but if you give it a chance, you just might enjoy it.

Features
Commentary by Writer/Director Charles Shyer and Film Editor Padraic McKinley, Commentary by Writer/Director Charles Shyer and Writer/Producer Elaine Pope, "Round Table of Alfie", "The World of Alfie", "The Women of Alfie", Deconstruction of a Scene, Gedde Watanabe Dance Footage, "Let the Music In", Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary, Script Gallery, Production Gallery, Storyboard Gallery, Theatrical Trailer, Previews

Video
Widescreen

Audio
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround

Subtitles
English, Spanish, Closed-Captioned

Release Date
March 15, 2005

Rating
14A

Length
105 mins.

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