Eye For Film >> Movies >> Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004) DVD Review
Churchill: The Hollywood Years
Reviewed by: Martin Drury
Read Martin Drury's film review of Churchill: The Hollywood YearsThe picture and sound quality are excellent and the main menu design, inspired by the setting in the World War II era, allows the viewer to instantly relate to the tone of the film. Individual scene selection is also made available from the main menu.
The commentary is utilised purely for the task of explaining the "British related" jokes in the movie to its American cast. One can almost hear the scribbling of flow charts and diagrams as Neve Campbell and Christian Slater do their level best to work out what the movie they spent so much time in was actually about. The Making Of documentary adds little if anything and simply descends into cast and crew congratulating each other on their performances. The Churchill mockumentary adds insult to injury as it keeps the myth, which formed the film, alive long after it should been put down, or at the very least, neutered.
The inclusion of an alternative beginning implies that the masters of the original celluloid release noted that the plot didn't make sense and hastily tried to give the DVD some kind of continuity. The inclusion of a photo gallery, trailer and TV ads gives the impression that those charged with the construction of this release simply noted what was included on every other DVD around and followed suit.
If you enjoyed the film, the DVD extras offer you nothing to solidify your opinion of director, writer or cast. If you hated it, the extras are proof that the filmmakers inhabit tiny shantytowns within the walls of their own egos.
Reviewed on: 05 May 2005