The Jim Jarmusch Collection: Volume 2

This three-disc collection from Optimum Home Entertainment is as minimal as the films that it features. Each comes with its original theatrical trailer, and two are also accompanied by newly shot interviews with one of their stars.

For Night On Earth, that star is Gena Rowlands, who over 11 minutes discusses her high regard for writer/director Jim Jarmusch, and his similarities to her own late husband (and renowned independent director) John Cassavetes – both apparently had a love of actors, and were able to create a relaxed atmosphere on-set. Less interestingly, she devotes the second half of her interview to summarising in detail the episode in which her character appears, revealing nothing that could not be gleaned merely from watching the film.

Still, Rowlands is royalty on the American independent circuit, so any interview with her might be regarded as a coup. John Hurt is a similar cinematic big-hitter, so his presence as an interviewee on the disc for Dead Man is equally welcome – but the five minutes of reminiscences that he offers here are frankly longer than the full time that he spends on-screen as metalworks manager John Schofield, and one can sense him groping to find anything incisive to say about either the role, the production, or Jarmusch.