Crimes
- Combining bad philosophy with bad science fiction
- Giving a lead role which requires convincing portrayals of a convict, a frat boy, a paraplegic, a genius, and a mental patient to Ashton Kutcher, an actor who has thus far shown he can play everything from a dumb guy in the '70s (That '70s Show) to a modern-day dumb guy (Dude, Where's My Car?) to a real-life dumb guy who plays pranks on his dumb buddies (Punk'd)
- Somehow thinking audiences can avoid giggly hysterics while watching a purportedly grim scene in which Kutcher offers to perform oral sex on two neo-Nazi convicts
Defender
Co-writers/co-directors Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber
Tone Of Commentary
Geeky, enthusiastic, detail- and symbolism-oriented. At various times, the writer-directors seem to be directly addressing film-school students and Butterfly Effect fan-page designers. Anyone hoping to make a shot-by-shot remake of the film à la Gus Van Sant's Psycho will find plenty of useful material.
What Went Wrong
The studio demanded cuts, clarifications, and an ending the filmmakers didn't like, which is why the commentary addresses a director's cut rather than the compromised theatrical version.
Comments On The Cast
Kutcher is hailed as an "amazing" dramatic actor. The cast is given mad props for doing their own stunts and really getting into fights. Co-star Eric Stoltz donned an '80s wig made out of his own hair, while love interest Amy Smart did research to play a smack-addicted streetwalker.
Inevitable Dash Of Pretension
Actually, the commentary features more of a heaping helping of pretension. Kutcher's character name, "Evan Treborn," is a variation on a name Bress and Gruber used in earlier scripts: "Chris Treborn," which is only a strategically placed space away from "Christ Reborn." Later, Bress cops to crying upon hearing the film's love theme. He was similarly moved nearly to tears by Kutcher's emoting late in the film. What a pussy.
Commentary In A Nutshell
Bress, on the prison scene: "This was, coming up, one of the toughest lines, I would say, or most uncomfortable lines for Ashton to do. I mean, walking into a room and being believable and offering your mouth for someone's dick is not an easy thing to do."
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