The image on Criterion's The Last Days of Disco is immaculate. There are times during my viewing that I would say it is the best I've seen for SD-DVD. I never owned the out-of-print PolyGram DVD from 1999 but I did see this theatrically with my girlfriend (now wife) and another couple. I remember that all 4 of us enjoyed the film and the dazzling bright appearance.  This is part of Stillman’s 'trilogy' - the other two being Metropolitan and Barcelona. Colors on this dual-layered, anamorphic (1.78) and progressive transfer are brilliant. Detail is strong and only some digital noise, expectant for this format, would be its only weakness. I doubt anyone will be displeased with the visual quality of this DVD. It is impressive.

We can get spoiled with lossless HD-audio and this 5.1 track can't compete... but it does a decent job of separations and of exporting the lively and, now, nostalgic disco music. It's hard not to toe-tap to Amii Stewart's "Knock on Wood", Blondie's "Heart of Glass" and "The Tide Is High", Chic's "Good Times", "Le Freak" and "Everybody Dance", "I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)", The O'Jays "Love Train" and even Kate Beckinsale impressively singing "Amazing Grace". It's a solid mix.  As usual, Criterion offer optional English subtitles.

Criterion pile on the supplements starting with an audio commentary featuring Stillman and actors Chloë Sevigny and Chris Eigeman. Stillman takes the lead and is a good speaker and a director to respect as he discusses his minefield navigation through the studio system. Production is covered with some interesting anecdotes. This is a good commentary and it can really bolster your appreciation of the film if you choose to partake. There are four, poor quality, deleted scenes, in a play-all fashion, with an optional commentary by Stillman, Eigeman, and Sevigny. They last about 8-minutes and are entitled; Wild Kingdom, Des's Last Testament, Nightcap and Scabrous Manuscript. We get a 17-minute audio-only supplement of Stillman reading a chapter ('Epilogue: Life Among the Moon Worshippers') from his book The Last Days of Disco, with Cocktails at Petrossian Afterwards. This novel was the basis for the film's story and is told by the character Jimmy Steinway. There is a 'selling' original featurette at 1.33 running 5-minutes, a stills gallery with captions by Stillman and an 2-minute 11 second, letterboxed widescreen, original theatrical trailer. Criterion have included a 10-page leaflet with an essay by novelist David Schickler.

Many, including myself initially, may consider this an unworthy choice for Criterion to release, but seeing it again after more than a decade, and listening to the commentary, has encouraged me to re-evaluate it being granted a spine number. This is a witty, period piece that captures so much of the shallow social values of that era. The transparent character of  'Charlotte' (Beckinsale) is fascinating in her emptiness but there are moments in the film that we can all relate... or, if we were around, even remember. I really enjoyed it - the strikingly colorful image, the rhythmic dance music and a host of viable supplements make it worthwhile package. You may be surprised at how you find yourself embracing it. I definitely recommended 2 spins - without and with the commentary.    

Gary W. Tooze