The Work of Director-Michel Gondry (2003)

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General		Extras
Category	Music	Main Menu Audio & Animation-Videos accessed in chronological order, shuffle or by artist Featurette-I've Been Twelve Forever (2003) - Parts 2 and 1(77:05) Short Film- La Lettre (1998) (13:57) TV Spots-Levi's "Drugstore" ( 1:30) TV Spots-Polaroid "Resignation" (1:02) Short Film-One Day... (2001) (6:56) TV Spots-Smirnoff "Smarienberg" (1:10) TV Spots-"Lacuna Inc" (0:34) Short Film-"Drumb and Drumber" (1:17) Short Film-"Three Dead People" (2.51) Short Film-"My Brother's 24th Birthday (3:57) Short Film-"Tiny" (1:05) Short Film-"Out Oui" Live (15:15) Short Film-"Pecan Pie" (2003) with Jim Carrey (1:25) Theatrical Trailer-The Work of Director Spike Jonze (2:00) Theatrical Trailer-The Work of Director Chris Cunningham (1:07) Credits-DVD Credits and Thanks (4:16) Booklet-52 page book with drawings, rare photographs and interviews
Rating
Year Of Production	2003
Running Time	100:30
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Sided	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Michel Gondry Lance Bangs Olivier Gondry
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Michel Gondry Akhenaton Patricia Arquette Thomas Bangalter Beck Jean-Michel Bernard Björk Jim Carrey The Chemical Brothers Foo Fighters The Rolling Stones Daft Punk The White Stripes
Case	Amaray-Transparent-S/C-Dual
RPI	$29.95	Music	Michel Gondry

The Work of Director Michel Gondry is released by Madman Entertainment and the AV Channel under the Director’s Suite label and is the third volume of The Directors Label Series which was originally released in Region 4 by Palm Pictures, Kaleidoscope Film and DVD and Shock Records in August 2004.

Palm Pictures have produced the music video compilation with affection and care and while the Michel Gondry directed compilation does not include all of his music video and promotional directorial work, the DVD includes Gondry's most renowned and well known collaborations with Björk, The Chemical Brothers and The White Stripes. One disappointment is the absence of Radiohead’s “Knives Out” music video which was used in the trailer for this DVD. However what separates this DVD from the two previously released volumes (The Work of Director - Spike Jonze and The Work of Director - Chris Cunningham) is Gondry's hands-on approach to production, organisation and design of the DVD.

Video

As with the previous DVD releases of The Director's Label Series the music videos are presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame. Some of the extra feature content is 16x9 enhanced. Gondry uses both visual mediums of animation and live action in his music videos and the colours remain rich and vivid, while the action remains smooth. There is are no signs of MPEG artifacting and overall this is a pleasing transfer.

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Audio

The single audio soundtrack is Dolby Digital 2.0 and it is sharp and perfectly accompanies the music videos. There are no faults with this soundtrack.

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SIDE A 2003-1996:

Main Menu Introduction and Audio & Animation

Michel Gondry proudly presents the DVD in front of a small audience, he then claims his intention was to have quantity over quality. There are a number of filmed introductions, so the introduction changes when the DVD is played. The menu design itself is very clever and humorous. The videos can be organized either chronologically, by artist or shuffled.

I've Been Twelve Forever (2003) – Part 2 –The Later Years: My Mother (35.58)

This documentary is the main extra feature and is focused on Gondry speaking with his mother and friends as well as the many artists he has successfully collaborated with. The feature also can be seamlessly branched with the corresponding music video when a small rectangle (Le Carré Blanc) appears. The conceptual ideas behind the music videos are discussed in depth. This is an excellent feature which is central to viewing and understanding the other content on the DVD.

Stories and Things

La Lettre (1998) (13:57)

Levi's "Drugstore" ( 1:30)

Polaroid "Resignation" (1:02)

One Day... (2001) (6:56)

Smirnoff "Smarienberg" (1:10)

"Lacuna Inc" (0:34)

SIDE B 1995-1987:

I've Been Twelve Forever (2003) – Part 1 – The Early Years: My Father (41:47)

The documentary continues with Gondry speaking of his childhood and his fascination with Michael Jackson, rhythm and his own talent as a musician. The feature as before can be seamlessly branched with the corresponding music video when a small rectangle (Le Carré Blanc) appears. The conceptual ideas behind the music videos are discussed in depth. This is an excellent feature which is central to viewing and understanding the other content on the DVD.

Stories and Things

"Drumb and Drumber" (1:17)

"Three Dead People" (2.51)

"My Brother's 24th Birthday" (3:57)

"Tiny" (1:05)

"Out Oui" Live (15:15)

"Pecan Pie" (2003) with Jim Carrey (1:25)

The Work of Director Spike Jonze (2:00)

The Work of Director Chris Cunningham (1:07)

DVD Credits and Thanks (4:16)

Booklet - " I've been twelve forever"

Unlike the booklets featured in the previous releases the accompanying booklet is organised like an essay with rare production photographs as well as photo's of Gondry's own family. Again this is a wonderful companion to the content on the DVD and is filled with Gondry's unique perspective of the world.

The NTSC R1 and PAL R4 are identical in terms of features.

A wonderfully assembled DVD, with an excellent selection of music videos and Michel Gondry's stamp of approval. Perhaps one of the best releases in The Director's Label Series.

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