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Lost in La Mancha
Stars:
Terry Gilliam, Jean Rochefort, and Johnny Depp
Narrated
By: Jeff Bridges
Directors:
Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe
Feature
length: 89 minutes
Extras:
Cast And Filmmaker Interviews, Deleted Scenes, Video Soundbites, Still
Galleries, Salman Rushdie & Terry Gilliam: A Conversation From The 29th
Telluride Film Festival, IFC Focus: Terry Gilliam, Theatrical Trailer
Languages:
English Stereo Sound
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 16
Sound:
Stereo Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 2003/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: IFC Films
Home
Video Distributor: Docurama
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Not
since “Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse” has there been a
documentary produced that captures the grim reality of when film becomes hell,
but at least Francis Ford Coppola succeeded in getting “Apocalypse Now” made
and theatrically distributed twice with “Apocalypse Now Redux” released
theatrically by Miramax only two years ago. Here we see another acclaimed
filmmaker and watch how his star-crossed dream project “The Man Who Killed Don
Quixote” falls apart within a week of actual film production. The documentary
filmmakers Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe, who had worked with Gilliam before, soon
found themselves documenting the collapse of a film project. However in a
strange way I think that Gilliam’s loss may actually become his gain one day
because while watching the film we very quickly realize that it is not his
fault. I do not think it was anyone’s fault. I’m not saying that the project
was cursed, but I definitely think that it was not meant to be at that time
because there were just too many coincidences that occurred for me to think
otherwise. From shots being marred by the sound of roaring F-16s overhead to a
horrifying hailstorm to the film’s star Jean Rochefort developing a prostate
infection that makes him unable to perform his duties as “Don Quixote,”
these are just a few of the many problems that shut down the production after
six days. What footage that exists from the film is intercut between the
videotaped behind-the-scenes portions and all I can say is had this film been
completed it might have been Gilliam’s most visually stunning feature yet.
Alas according to Sci-Fi Wire, the daily news service of the Sci-Fi Channel’s www.sci-fi.com
website, Gilliam is directing “The Brother’s Grimm” while trying to buy
back his screenplay from the insurance company and maybe one day it will become
reality. It is definitely hard not to sympathize with Gilliam’s plight after
seeing this documentary, which is why I think that in the long run this account
of what happened might actually help him get it made. Gosh, I almost wish I
could give him the money to do it and I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of
Gilliam fans feel the same way after seeing this film.
Docurama
has done a magnificent job on providing just about everything a person might
want to know about the film that doesn’t yet exist short of the actual
screenplay, but we do hear plenty of staged reading excerpts in the film so I
guess we can get an idea of what might have been and may still be. “Lost In La
Mancha” is presented the (1.33:1) videotaped aspect ratio with letterboxed
excerpts from what little footage of the film exists edited into the documentary
and the picture quality is quite clear with the filmed segments looking
surprisingly crisp. Contrary to what the packaging states, “Lost In La Mancha”
is presented with a full English Stereo Soundtrack, but there is no English
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack option included. Aside for a series of
bonus trailers and box shots for other titles available on DVD from Docurama,
all of the bonus materials are located on the second disc.
These
include retrospective cast and filmmaker interviews with Terry Gilliam (9:15),
Johnny Depp (22:27), Louise Pepe (7:48), Keith Fulton (6:47), and Lucy Darwin
(5:30). This is supported by short videotaped soundbites covering other topics
related to the film that include “The Adaptation Of Don Quixote” (6:26),
“Gilliam’s Attachment To Quixote” (2:53), “Choosing Jean Rochefort”
(4:08), “European Financing” (8:14), “The 1999 Attempt At The Man Who
Killed Don Quixote” (4:22), and “The Collapse of The 2000 Attempt” (2:51).
Some of the information shared here is repeated in other extra features on the
DVD along with other information regarding Gilliam’s films.
Both
the Salman Rushdie and Terry Gilliam conversation from the 29th
Telluride Film Festival (54:04) and the rough cut of the IFC Focus on Terry
Gilliam hosted by NY Times Critic Elvis Mitchell (57:36) are excellent and quite
timely. Both were recorded in September and November of 2002 respectively and
the IFC Focus: Terry Gilliam program aired in an edited form in January of 2003.
I was quite impressed by Rushdie’s knowledge of cinema and in particular
science fiction films and what can I say about Terry Gilliam that no one else
has not said already. He has a great infectious laugh that makes hearing his
anecdotes and comments all the more enjoyable.
Then
there are nine deleted scenes with brief text explanations as to why they were
edited out of the documentary. These scenes come under the headings of
“Alternate Opening One” (3:33), “Alternate Opening Two” (1:47),
“Gilliam Meets The Composer” (2:12), “Rehearsal Of The Fiesta Scene”
(1:53), “Gilliam Inspects The Props”(: 52), “Gilliam Chased By His
Contract” (1:56), “Casting Session” (2:32), “Alternate Version Of Depp
Rochefort Read Through” (1:34), and “Gilliam Goes To The Bullfights” (:
42). Still galleries of storyboards, production designs, and costume designs and
the theatrical trailer (1:31) wrap up the extra features included on the second
disc.
The
interactive menus on both discs are well rendered and easy to navigate. “Lost
In La Mancha” is a must-see DVD for students of film, filmmakers, and Gilliam
fans alike and is available now at retailers on and offline from Docurama.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Text Link Below!
Lost in La Mancha