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Ten (The)
R1 - America - City Lights Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Rob Fields (10th December 2007). |
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The Film
 Last year at the Cleveland International Film Festival, I had the opportunity to see "The Ten" (2007). There were only two screenings during that eleven-day period. I had already pre-purchased my tickets in advance:with good reason. My friend, Brad, was with me and ended up seeing "The Ten" at the first screening, which I missed because I was seeing another film at the time, I ended up seeing the second screening. I said 'with good reason' because both screenings were packed to capacity, even to the point to where it was standing room only. One of the reasons I wanted to see this film was because I had seen an earlier film from director David Wain. That film was "Wet Hot American Summer" (2001), which I had seen at an earlier Cleveland International Film Festival. I remembered that screening also being packed to capacity, and that it was a non-stop laugh-a-thon. "The Ten" was no exception during both screenings. "The Ten" starts out with two HUGE tablets on a stage with the Ten Commandments on them. Then Jeff Reigert (Paul Rudd) comes out from behind one of the tablets and is there to introduce each of the ten shorts in this anthology, one based on each of the Ten Commandments. Since it's Jeff's job to introduce people to the Ten Commandments, this makes his life complicated. He is in conflict with his wife Gretchen (Famke Janssen) and girlfriend Liz (Jessica Alba). All the while, Jeff can barley get through a single commandment without breaking one himself. While this isn't a parody like "Scary Movie" (2000), the way each story parodies the Ten Commandments is way out there. There are also more "goofs" than one may be able to handle. Other stars include Adam Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Rob Corddry, Kerry Kenney-Silver, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino, A.D. Miles, Gretchen Mol, Oliver Platt, Winona Ryder, Liev Schreiber, Ron Silver, Justin Theroux and Mather Zickel. I liked that the characters are not all tied to only one story, like most anthologies I've seen. Throughout each of the ten stories, you see characters that are featured in one story that appear as background in one or more of the others. In this, it ties all of the ten stories together. The cast seemed to be having a great time with their roles. While I didn't laugh much when I saw it at the film festival the first time, I was actually able to laugh the second time. I even found the musical number at the end of the film hilarious. Overall, I'm glad I had the opportunity to give this American independent a second look. Are you taking notes, Hollywood? This is definitely a good recommendation for you comedy lovers. However, for those of you who may take religion very seriously, then "The Ten" is definitely NOT for you.
Video
The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen format (1.85:1 ratio). The picture is free from noticeable defects such as dirt, film grain or pixels. In fact, the film looks better on the DVD than it did on the big screen. The colors are vivid throughout each of the ten stories. The only similarity between the film and the DVD is the dark stage during the musical number. The lighting wasn't the greatest in either format. In either case, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the number.
Audio
The film features an English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack. There are optional Spanish subtitles available (for the film only). Note that the Spanish subtitles disappear during the bits of Spanish dialogue in the second story. There are non-removable English subtitles during those same bits. A lot of the louder noises are heard perfectly through the rear speakers, but most everything is heard in the front. Other than that, no problems here. While the back cover has a dts logo, there is no dts audio track to be found. There is also a commentary track featuring the director and two of the actors.
Extras
City Lights has included an audio commentary, additional scenes, an interview, a segment, featurette, trailers and some DVD-ROM content. Below is a closer look at these supplements. There is an audio commentary track featuring director/writer/producer David Wain, actor/writer/producer Ken Marino and actor/producer Paul Rudd. David's parents also make a guest appearance on it. At times, you hear jazz music playing. All involved in the commentary seemed to have a good time. They stick mostly to things that happened in the film and how they made certain scenes work. Remember, this is an independent film. The additional scenes feature 16 scenes comprising alternate takes, bloopers and deleted scenes. You're looking at over 55 minutes of material here. There is an optional introduction by director/writer/producer David Wain, actor/writer/producer Ken Marino and actor/producer Paul Rudd which runs for 59 seconds. The scenes included are: - "Stephen Montgomery" runs for 6 minutes 37 seconds, the extended version of this story. - "Mexico" runs for 3 minutes 8 seconds, more of Gloria's exploits. - "Pec Juice" runs for 1 minute 8 seconds, more of the Jeff and Gretchen interlude. - "As a Goof" runs for 2 minutes 56 seconds, extended sequence featuring Dr. Richie and his surgical "goof." - "Liz" runs for 1 minute 8 seconds, a little more of Jeff and his mistress. - "Arnold" runs for 12 minutes 57 seconds, more of Marc Jacobson as "Arnold Schwarzenegger." - "Abe and Scotty" runs for 27 seconds, more of the interlude before "Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Goods". - "CAT Scan" runs for 3 minutes 31 seconds, some more extended scenes, more of Ray slapping his son around. - "Prison" runs for 2 minutes 30 seconds, more interaction between Dr. Richie and Duane. - "Puppet" runs for 8 minutes 52 seconds, extended version of "Thou Shalt Not Steal". - "Fish Oil" runs for 20 seconds, see where this was cut out the interlude between "Thou Shalt Not Steal" and "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor." - "Lying Rhino" runs for 1 minutes 40 seconds, more of this story unfolds. - "Landlord" runs for 1 minutes 25 seconds, the landlord has an extended dialogue in this interlude as he shows Jeff the apartment. - "Adultery" runs for 42 seconds, footage you didn't see in "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery." - "Naked Party" runs for 6 minute 21 seconds, more male bonding . . . More male NAKED bonding. - "Written in Stone" runs for 3 minutes, an alternate version of the dance number at the end. There is a 7 minute 31 seconds interview with director/writer/producer David Wain, actor/writer/producer Ken Marino and actor/producer Paul Rudd from the 2007 South-by-Southwest Film Festival. Here Matt Singer from IFC interviews the three of them. There is some talk about "Wet Hot American Summer", but it's mostly everybody just letting loose as they talk about "The Ten". "Wainy Days" is a 3 minute 30 second segment featuring Wain starring in Episode 1 : Shelly, which can be seen on the website MyDamnChannel.com. Here David (playing himself) runs into Shelly (Elizabeth Banks). Shelly seems to like him, but does she really? You are left with a cliffhanger here. There is a featurette 'The Making of The Ten' that runs 5 minutes 10 seconds. Here you see various behind-the-scenes clips of the cast and crew rehearsing their lines and answering some questions. You can also view two of the film's original theatrical trailers: - "Rated" which runs for 2 minutes 24 seconds. - "Unrated" which runs for 2 minutes 15 seconds. Also on this disc are a collection of bonus trailers that play before the main menu for the following: - "Descent" which runs for 1 minute 17 seconds. - "Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)" which runs for 2 minutes 42 seconds. - "Everything's Cool" which runs for 3 minutes 39 seconds. - "Brooklyn Rules" which runs for 2 minutes 6 seconds. Rounding out the extras is a DVD-ROM web link which takes you to a site to where you can get ringtones and wallpaper for "The Ten". You must have a PC with a DVD-ROM drive and Internet service. This feature may or may not work with a MAC. There's 1 Easter egg, from the main menu, go into the 'bonus material'. Now select 'more bonus!' to get to the second page. Move to 'exclusive (and outrageous) ringtones & wallpaper' and press left to reveal a Viking helmet on Stephen's head. Press 'enter' to see a 1 minute 3 second dance sequence in green screen.
Overall
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