Dig! – 2-DVD Special Edition
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: B Documentary: B
For seven years, Ondi Timoner and her crew followed two
rising bands all over the place and taped them in various formats until the
results were whether either band succeeded or failed. Courtney Taylor is the lead singer for The Dandy Warhols, while
Anton A. Newcombe sang for the grimly named Brian Jonestown Massacre. The rivalry that resulted produced nothing
but conflict and Dig! (2004) shows just how crazy things got.
Taylor is the narrator of the 107-minutes of well edited,
always entertaining look into the music industry today and what it means to
succeed, still keep your integrity and ability to make good music in tact. Both bands become hot properties every record
company around wants to sign, but the dream contract potential quickly turns
nightmare as Newcombe goes crazy over the smallest thing. People who are supposed to be friends become
enemies and success comes to some in the most interesting ways.
One of the best moments is when David La Chapelle directs
a terrific, expensive video for the Dandys that this critic thought was
terrific like much of that director’s Videography. It should have made the band a household name, but it becomes
obvious that their company did not get them or know exactly what to do with
them. The drug use and fighting can get
repetitious, but it is moments like the video shoot that make this all the more
interesting.
It also reminds us that one of the reasons the music
business is in such trouble is that they do not know how to handle talent once
they find it like they used to. It is
almost embarrassing as these are not musicians and singers staying in the
independent music world. They are
supposed to be the future of music, in this case being the Rock genre. Instead, everyone loses out on some level,
though the descent is into hell for some of them. Ultimately, Dig! Is not the usual sanitized look at the
music business, nor is it part of the pathetic “reality TV” cycle we suffer
now. This is fine documentary making
that has to be seen to be believed.
The 1.33 X 1 full frame image is a well-edited culmination
from several video sources and maybe some film here and there that is as unique
as it is remarkable. This is not to say
its fidelity is exceptional, but is fine for a documentary made over its time
period. We see many documentaries on
some pretty serious subjects, but this one can go a few rounds with them in
content and form. The Dolby Digital 2.0
Stereo with Pro Logic surrounds is bested a bit by the 5.1 mix, despite this
being mostly talking heads. I would
have loved a DTS option, but this will do otherwise.
Extras are numerous and include three commentary tracks
and linkouts on DVD 1. These linkouts
allow you to see clips while watching the feature, then resume the main
program. As for the commentaries, The
Dandy Warhols track is informative, Brian Jonestown Massacre track interesting
because it is done as if it were recording a group conversation at dinner and
like few you have heard before, while the filmmakers track gets all the
technical and historical parts covered the others do not. That is one of the best triple-play
commentary selections we have heard to date.
DVD 2 has three music clips for each band, though the Dandys have
outright Music Videos. You also get
behind the scenes, where are they now, deleted scenes, a Taylor/Newcombe “jam
session” clip, trailers for several Palm DVD titles, interviews, Sundance victory,
taping the commentary and Taylor’s appearance on the MTV2 Subterranean
series. A paper foldout with the
contents inside the DVD case is also included.
Palm once again pulls together a great double set built
around a great program. Even if you do
not like Rock music, Dig! never ceases to impress and just keeps
delivering the goods. Catch it as soon
as possible.
- Nicholas Sheffo
