Some Girls: Live in Texas 78 [DVD/CD] [CD & DVD]

Magnolia was a love-it or hate-it affair upon its cinematic release. On DVD, fans can once again delve into the labyrinth of chance presented by wunderkind Paul Thomas Anderson. The sound and picture are both of a very high quality. The dark hues of the movie translate perfectly in this 2.40:1 widescreen presentation. Colors are bold, from the red frame of William H. Macy's glasses to the swamp green of the, ahem, frogs. The audio is crisp. The dialogue of the ensemble cast sparkles. Aimee Mann's pop songs and Jon Brion's score shine as great ear candy. The supplements are found on disc two. The Frank T.J. Mackey Seminar is a fun, four-minute escapade into the personal life of Tom Cruise's hilarious infomercial guru. A short set of outtakes is available ten or so seconds after selecting the color bars on either disc. The Mackey infomercial is a one-and-a-half-minute dose of fun. The teasers and trailers are illuminating. Those wanting to relive days of television past will enjoy the nine TV spots. Aimee Mann's "Save Me" music video is a fragile, smart way of presenting the movie's themes. "The Magnolia Diary" is a very long (more than an hour) documentary, giving a glimpse at behind-the-scenes footage of the making and marketing of the movie. The DVD is a first-rate packaging of a challenging, interesting movie.