NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (April 2020): Criterion have transferred Miranda July's Me and You and Everyone We Know to Blu-ray. It is from a "High-definition digital master, approved by director Miranda July". It looks very impressive in he 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Detail really rises and there is notably more information in the frame (top and left edges). It's on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate (7X that of the NTSC DVD.) Colors improve with flesh tones looking more natural and less orange. Solid and very pleasing HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 16 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) available for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a robust DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio and more discreet serrations plus the score by Michael Andrews (Donnie Darko), sounding a bit deeper with more consistent dialogue. It can sound very immersive. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray has many new supplements starting with a 50-minute documentary featuring a conversation between July and filmmaker Lena Dunham. In this documentary, produced by the Criterion Collection in 2019, director Miranda July and filmmaker Lena Dunham explore July's beginnings, including her early work as a performer, the creation of her Joanie 4 Jackie project, and the development and production of her first feature film, Me and You and Everyone We Know. Open to the World, is a new 10-minute documentary. In 2017, director Miranda July, with the support of the organization Artangel, again utilized a department store as setting for one of her projects, this time for a participatory artwork and singular retail experience: the United Kingdom's first interfaith charity shop. This short film documents July's process in creating a store run and staffed jointly by the four faith-based charities that she invited to collaborate: Islamic Relief, the Jewish nonprofit Norwood, the London Buddhist Centre, and the Christian Spitalfields Crypt Trust. We also get 14-minutes of July Interviews July. Director July took a new video camera to the 2005 Deauville American Film Festival in France, which she was invited to attend with Me and You and Everyone We Know. Criterion discovered the footage she shot there in July's archives and edited it for this release. Presented on this Blu-ray, it offers a glimpse into July's capacity to turn any occasion into an opportunity for artistic expression. There is 20-minutes of footage from the 2003 Sundance Directors Lab, where July workshopped the film, with optional commentary by July. She had submitted the script for Me and You and Everyone We Know to the Sundance Screenwriters Lab twice before the project was finally accepted, in 2003. The same year, she was invited to the Directors Lab, where she developed the scenes included in this video. Criterion include two short films by July. The Amateurist runs 1/4 hour from 1998. In it "professional," who has monitored an "amateur" (both played by July) via video surveillance for over four years, uses technology to establish a relationship through numbers, knobs, and careful language. In 2000's 1/2 hour Nest of Tens. In 1999, Miranda July made this short film composed of four alternating stories that deal with control, sexuality, and childhood—themes she would develop more fully in Me and You and Everyone We Know. Four films from July’s Joanie 4 Jackie video chain letter, and a documentary about the project. In 1995, shortly after moving to Portland, Oregon, and interested in fostering a community of women filmmakers, Miranda July created and distributed a pamphlet with a mandate: send her a short film, and she'd send back a VHS tape with that film and nine others. The project, originally called Big Miss Moviola, ultimately became Joanie 4 Jackie. July continued to collect and send out these video chain letters for eight years. In 2017, the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles acquired July's Joanie 4 Jackie materials. Presented here is a selection of films from that collection. There are five Deleted scenes running 6.5 minutes - "FOR POOP, FOR POOP" , ROBBY GOES OUTSIDE, "SHE LOOKS LIKE A PROSTITUTE" and PLAYING MOM SHAMUS AND THE GRENADE. There is also a trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet with essays by artist Sara Magenheimer and novelist Lauren Groff.

This is a really fine Blu-ray release of Me and You and Everyone We Know . While the emotions deftly expressed in the film are universal, the oddness of the film itself is not everyone's cup of tea but it is easy to love. I really appreciate it and have revisited it a few times over the years. The Criterion Blu-ray a/v is outstanding and it is stocked full of supplemental nuggets. It's a film I am very happy to have upgraded in my collection. An easy recommendation! 

Gary Tooze

ON THE DVDs:

Henrik Sylow on PAL:
A overall beautiful transfer. Good details, strong colors, no visible artifacts.

The source of Optimum appears the be the same as of the MGM, but when comparing the two images, Optimum has the better image. When zooming in, the MGM displays minor artifacts and bleeding colors, which Optimum doesn't have. However this is at 500%, so one would most likely at regular viewing never notice.

Optimum has an interview by July, where she introduces the film, explains what she attempted to say with it and elaborates on its themes. Following this, a cast and crew interview, where July and the actors reflect upon the film, along side clapping July on her back. The final piece of additional material is a behind the scenes featurette.

Gary Tooze
Decent, if not stellar, image on this progressive and anamorphic DVD from MGM. Strong, almost saturated, colors and relative detail show through in this moderately-lit production. 5.1 audio is never tested, optional yellow subtitles, deleted scenes and trailers round out this competent DVD. We recommend, but wish the film had more supplements especially a director commentary.

NOTE: Just a quick note to say that colors on the MGM DVD of Me and You and Everyone We Know are far too saturated compared to the print I saw less than a month ago. (Thanks Daniel!)