DVD Looks Behind the Scenes of ‘Brazil’

In order to enjoy, let alone absorb, the Criterion Collection’s DVD edition of “Brazil” ($60), be prepared to carve out several days to peruse and reflect on the “Ultimate Special Edition” of Terry Gilliam’s controversial 1985 dark comedy.

The three-disc set, which was released on laserdisc in 1996, contains two cuts of the cerebral, disturbing fantasy starring Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro and Michael Palin, plus a disc featuring two documentaries and other goodies.

“Brazil,” which was penned by Gilliam, Charles McKeown and Tom Stoppard, made headlines in 1985. Universal, which was financing and distributing the film in the U.S., was not pleased with Gilliam’s 142-minute cut, which had anything but a happy ending. So then-boss of Universal, Sid Sheinberg, wanted Gilliam to cut the film by at least 15 minutes and give it an upbeat ending. (That version has aired on TV.) The battle that ensued between the former Monty Python member and the studio is legendary, and eventually a 132-minute version was released in U.S. theaters, while a 142-minute version was seen in Europe.

Disc 1 features yet another 142-minute version, Gilliam’s wide-screen cut, culled from the European and American versions. This disc also contains Gilliam’s shot-by-shot audio commentary.

The 94-minute “Sheinberg Edit” of the picture is featured on Disc 3. It includes the changes that Gilliam refused to make and jettisons most of the fantasy sequences. Commentary is provided by journalist David Morgan.

It’s best to watch Disc 2 first because it chronicles the history of the film and all the problems Gilliam had with getting it released in America. Featured on the disc is Rob Hedden’s 30-minute on-set documentary, “What is Brazil?,” which includes behind-the-scenes footage, as well as interviews.

On a separate track, Stoppard and McKeown discuss the development of the script through several drafts and treatments, with Stoppard and Gilliam being quite candid about the difficulties they had working together.

This disc’s highlight is a documentary by movie critic Jack Matthews (former movie editor of the Los Angeles Times). His enlightening, evenhanded documentary “The Battle of Brazil: A Video History” features candid interviews with all the players.

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Writer-director Kevin Smith has become one of the brightest talents in the past six years, with his latest, “Dogma,” stirring up controversy and good reviews at the Cannes Film Festival.

Miramax Home Video has just released a special edition of his first film, the acclaimed 1994 comedy “Clerks” ($40), which Smith made for less than $30,000 at the tiny convenience store where he worked. The comedy focuses on one day in the life of one of the store’s clerks (Brian O’Halloran).

This edition features the theatrical trailer, a very violent alternate ending and deleted scenes.

The film’s audio commentary track features several members of the cast and crew including Smith, O’Halloran and Jason Mewes, who plays the fast-talking drug dealer, Jay, who hangs out with his friend Silent Bob (Smith) outside the store. The commentary, though, doesn’t add that much to the proceedings.

Though Smith’s second film, 1995’s “Mallrats,” was roundly panned for being sophomoric and unfunny, Universal’s special edition ($35) is actually far more entertaining than the “Clerks” disc.

Besides offering the wide-screen version of the film, which stars Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Shannen Doherty, Mewes and Smith, the disc features a tongue-in-cheek documentary on the making of the film and why it went so wrong.

The audio commentary, which includes Smith, Affleck, Lee and Mewes, is tremendous fun. Every time the word “Mallrats” appears on the screen, just click the angle button on the remote and you can see the actual video of the commentary session. There’s camaraderie between all of them and it’s a lot more amusing than the film itself.