Search - Tape on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Adult Language, Drug Content Movie Release: 2001 DVD Release: 04/16/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 26 mins Studio: Lions Gate Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Reunion Films

In the same year that filmmaker Richard Linklater explored the possibilities of image manipulation in digital filmmaking with Waking Life, he also embraced the new medium's potential for creating intimate character portraits under confined circumstances with this feature, based on the play by Stephen Belber. Johnny (Robert Sean Leonard) is a 30-year-old filmmaker who is enjoying a recent run of success and has returned to his old hometown of Lansing, MI, to show his latest project at a film festival. While in town, Johnny pays a visit to Vince (Ethan Hawke), an old friend from high school who is staying in a nearby hotel. Vince has never had a knack for responsibility and these days scrapes together a living as a low-level drug dealer. Johnny and Vince discuss their lives, with Johnny more than a bit judgmental about Vince's current situation, when the conversation turns to Amy (Uma Thurman), a girl who was Vince's girlfriend through much of high school and who Johnny dated for a brief spell afterward. Johnny confesses that he hasn't thought about Amy in ages, but Vince informs him that she's living nearby, then begins firing a series of increasingly pointed questions at him about his relationship with Amy, concluding with the shocking accusation that Johnny once raped Amy at a party. Like Waking Life, Tape was entirely shot using digital video equipment, and director Linklater remained true to the story's origins as a stage play, using only three actors and one set for the entire film. Both Tape and Waking Life premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Ethan Hawke - Vince
Robert Sean Leonard - Johnny
Uma Thurman - Amy

Ethan Hawke stars in director Richard Linklater's Tape. Lion's Gate has done a passable job on this 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer (originally shot on digital video). The image looks good sporting bright colors and dark black levels, though some softness creeps into the image along with a tad bit of grain and edge enhancement (due mostly to the limitations of digital video). Overall this is a decent transfer to a very low-budget film. The soundtrack is presented in a serviceable Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo soundtrack in English. Since Tape is a dialogue heavy movie, it's not surprising to find this track to be void of any true directional effects. While the mix isn't very impressive, overall it's free of any excessive hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc are English subtitles. The DVD for Tape features a couple of supplements, including a very informative and droll commentary track by director Linklater and star Hawke, as well as a theatrical trailer for the film. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide