Search - 1999 on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Profanity Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 07/31/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 33 mins Studio: York Home Video Members Wishing: 6 Genres: Comedy Drama, Romantic Comedy

Documentary filmmaker Nick Davis, the grandson of famed Hollywood screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz (Citizen Kane), wrote and directed this comedy-drama about young New Yorkers at a party on New Year's Eve in the year 1999. The dawning millennium brings the partygoers to an existential precipice, where they look into a yawning canyon of angst, identity crises, insecurities, mood swings, doubts, dreams, and dilemmas. In the neat Greenwich Village apartment of Andrew Goldman (Matt McGrath), the party guests include neurotic Rufus Wild (Dan Futterman), aggressive lesbian Suki (Sandrine Holt), Andrew's self-stringent father Harold (Buck Henry), the mysterious, philosophical Goat Man (Steven Wright), immature and bookish Danny (David Gelb), and insecure vocalist Sylvia (Margaret Devine). To kick into the new millennium with a fresh outlook, Rufus attempts to end his relationship with girlfriend Annabell (Jennifer Garner), but he nevertheless feels they shouldn't cancel their plans to go to Andrew's apartment. At the party, Rufus sees Nicole (Amanda Peet), a woman he's wanted. He considers a confession to her of his desires, but a black-and-white flashback with accompanying internal monologue forces him into a reflective self-examination. The music track goes from the baroque (Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni) to alternative rock (Dandy Warhols). Shown at the 1998 L.A. Independent Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Dan Futterman - Rufus Wild
Jennifer Garner - Annabell
Matt McGrath - Andrew Goldman
Amanda Peet - Nicole
Steven Wright - Goat Man

Filmed in both celluloid and video, 1999 lacks digital polish, although the grain doesn't distract from such a character-driven saga. The sound is limp and unimpressive, although there is good separation between dialogue and background noise during the many party scenes. The disc contains several deleted scenes, which were cut for obvious reasons: they're painful to watch. The director's commentary reveals him to be a charming and self-effacing fellow who worked hard to bring his idea to the screen four years before the year change from 1999 to 2000 was such a big deal (thus, and happily, no references to Y2K). The box for the disc says there is an audition tape but we couldn't find it. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide