Following a short review, by dvdmg.com, for each featurette that can be found in the Blue Ray (the DVD version only contains "Believe","On the Campaign" and the commentary), so here we go:
- When we examine the package’s extras, we start with an audio commentary from writer/director/actor George Clooney and writer/producer Grant Heslov. The old friends and partners sit together for this running, screen-specific look at sets and locations, cast and performances, script/story/character topics, music and camerawork, editing and visual design, and other filmmaking subjects. As I mentioned, Heslov and Clooney have known each other forever, so their easy rapport comes across during the chat; they mesh well as they converse. In terms of content, the track tends to be a little spotty, but not badly so. We get a reasonable look behind the seems and learn enough about the production to make the commentary worthwhile.
- Developing the Campaign: The Origins of The Ides of March runs seven minutes, eight seconds and delivers notes from Clooney, Heslov, producer Brian Oliver, playwright/co-screenwriter Beau Willimon, and actors Max Minghella. “Campaign” looks at the project’s roots and development of the flick, as we trace it from stage play to movie screen. We get some changes made along the way and related subjects in this short but informative piece.
- Next comes the six-minute, 19-second Believe: George Clooney. It features Clooney, Minghella, actors Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Wright, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood. The featurette looks at Clooney’s dual role as director and actor. It’s essentially a love letter to Clooney; outside of a few good shots from the set, there’s not much of interest here.
- With On the Campaign: The Cast of The Ides of March, we get a five-minute, 49-second piece with Clooney, Hoffman, Gosling, Minghella, Heslov, Giamatti, and Wood. We get a few notes about cast, characters and performances. Mostly this is another puff piece that talks about how wonderful everyone is. Yawn!
- Finally, What Does a Political Consultant Do? goes for seven minutes, 29 seconds and includes material with Clooney, Heslov, Gosling, Willimon and political consultant Stuart Stevens. Here we learn a bit about what role actual political consultants serve in campaigns. Some decent notes emerge, but like most of the other featurettes, this one mostly promotes the film and doesn’t tell us much.
So all in all not a very flattering review and not a very rich extra package, it seems that also the Nerf guns and Evan singing Bieber backstage are missing :P
