Search - Big Brass Ring [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content, Profanity Movie Release: 1999 DVD Release: 01/11/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 44 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Total Copies: 1 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Political Drama

An unproduced screenplay written by the late Orson Welles (penned in collaboration with actress Oja Kodar, Welles' significant other in his later years) forms the basis of this drama of political gamesmanship and blackmail. Blake Pellarin (William Hurt) is running for governor of Missouri in a close race going into its final week when a figure from his past reappears. Kim Mennaker (Nigel Hawthorne) was Pellarin's one-time mentor and father figure (after Blake's dad died in the Korean war) who left the United States when public disclosure of his homosexuality ended his political career. This visit from an old friend soon proves less then welcome; when Pellarin was a teenager, he participated in a photo session organized by Mennaker in which he was snapped in sexually compromising positions with both a woman and a man. These photos could put a stake through the heart of Pellarin's life in politics, and Mennaker soon makes clear this is hardly the only dirt he has on Blake. Mennaker also has a ready audience for his stories -- Cela Brandini (Irene Jacob), a European reporter looking for scandal, even though she's having an affair with Pellarin. When Pellarin's wife (Miranda Richardson) and bodyguard (Ewan Stewart) get wind of Blake's indiscretions, his candidacy becomes a disaster waiting to happen. Director George Hickenlooper adapted Welles and Kodar's screenplay with critic F.X. Feeney; among his previous credits, Hickenlooper directed the short film Some Folks Call It A Sling Blade, a short film later expanded by Billy Bob Thornton into his award-winning feature Sling Blade. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

William Hurt - Blake Pellarin
Nigel Hawthorne - Kim Mennaker
Miranda Richardson - Dinah Pellarin
Irène Jacob - Cela Brandini
Ewan Stewart - Kinzel
Rosemary Garris

This historically interesting film gets an excellent DVD release. The disc offers a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.77:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. English, Spanish, and French subtitles are accessible. The film originated as a never-filmed screenplay by Orson Welles. The interesting commentary track by the director and co-writer George Hickenlooper goes into detail about the genesis of the project. Additional features include deleted scenes, the promotional trailer, talent files, and production notes. Anyone with an interest in Welles will want to give this disc a look. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide