25th Hour

The DVD for Spike Lee's poignant, subdued 25th Hour is as good as the movie itself. The 2.35:1 anamorphic image is excellent all-around. Grainy here, vividly clear there, it's a faithful representation of the theatrical print. Detail is very strong, and the color scheme envisioned by Lee and director of photography Rodrigo Prieto is a real strong point. Reds and blues, in particular, stand out vibrantly. The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is equally good. While the dialogue is centered up front, the surrounds are very aggressive at the right time, creatively enveloping the viewer, especially during a club scene late in the film. At times it's actually a bit startling, but thoroughly effective. A number of worthwhile supplements have been included. Most important are two commentaries, one from the director and the other from the author/screenwriter David Benioff. Both offer, from their own perspective, a wealth of information about making the film and the challenges involved. Equally important, though maybe showing a little conceit, is a 20-minute featurette on the career of Lee. He's praised by all, including Halle Berry and Martin Scorsese, as one of the finest filmmakers of our time. Finally, along with a montage of Ground Zero shots edited together, are a handful of deleted scenes, most of which wouldn't have added anything to the film.