Search - Full Frontal on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Adult Humor, Profanity, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 02/11/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 41 mins Studio: Miramax Total Copies: 27 Genres: Comedy Drama, Psychological Drama, Ensemble Film, Showbiz Comedy

Described as a modern-day Hollywood version of Day for Night, director Steven Soderbergh's first digital video production was also shot employing a modified version of the frills-free Dogma 95 rules set forth by Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, allowing a relatively small budget of about two million dollars. Julia Roberts and Blair Underwood star, respectively, as Francesca and Calvin, actors performing in a motion picture directed by David Fincher and co-starring Brad Pitt (who play themselves). Woven in and out of the film production story thread are several other subplots including one about a lovelorn woman, Linda (Mary McCormack); the self-absorbed Gus (David Duchovny); and a husband, Carl (David Hyde Pierce), whose wife (Catherine Keener) is falling for Calvin. Described initially as a follow-up to Soderbergh's independent breakout hit, sex, lies and videotape, Full Frontal isn't a sequel in the strictest sense of the word and is only thematically related to the earlier film in its exploration of voyeurism and sexuality. The film also stars Brad Rowe, Enrico Colantoni, and Nicky Katt. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

David Duchovny - Bill
David Duchovny - Gus
Nicky Katt - Hitler
Catherine Keener - Lee
Mary McCormack - Linda
David Hyde Pierce - Carl
Julia Roberts - Catherine/Francesca
Blair Underwood - Nicholas/Calvin

In some cases, a DVD is far better than the movie itself, which is certainly the situation with Steven Soderbergh's nearly unwatchable experiment Full Frontal. Shot both on film and digital video, the 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer is both gorgeous (film) and startlingly bad (digital video). Of course, in respect to the majority of the film which was shot on tape, the quality of the image is in direct relation to the store-bought camera used for filming, meaning that it's an accurate reproduction of the image shown in theaters. Regardless, it still looks awful, especially since the warm, full colors of the segments shot on film are in stark contrast to the lack of detail and grain in the video segments. The sound is no more impressive than the video. The 5.1 English and French tracks are centered up front, and while dialogue, which is almost all this film is comprised of, is clear and discernible, there's a certain lack of any interesting surround elements, creating a lackluster performance. If it weren't for the supplements, this disc would really have nothing going for it. Arguably, the main point of interest is a commentary track from Soderbergh and writer Coleman Hough. Also included are 16 deleted scenes with optional commentary and a brief segment of "spy" video, watching the stars who don't know they're being watched. Of real interest is a brief segment on the "rules" for making this film (very similar to the Dogma 95 movement promoted by Lars von Trier) and a seven-minute discussion of the film with Soderbergh. This helps make some sense of what he was trying to accomplish, but simply proves that a film shouldn't have to be explained. Finally, along with the trailer for this film, are interviews with the cast, in character, which go on far too long. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide