'Loud' makes for lush DVD life

New Line has taken one of its less successful films from 1998 and turned into an excellent DVD. "Living Out Loud" didn't score with audiences last fall, but it should find new life in the hands of avid DVD watchers, thanks to a disc chock full of goodies that includes everything from a director's commentary track to a bundle of deleted scenes.

Starring Holly Hunter, Danny DeVito and Queen Latifah, "Living Out Loud" is a Chekhovian story of love lost and friendship gained in the cement jungle of New York's upper east side. It goes the unlikely route of the non-standard happy romantic ending, instead leaving its characters untethered and, in some ways, better for it. They don't need people to get through life with, because the important lesson that they must learn is to rely on themselves.

Writer/director Richard LaGravenese lays down his analysis of his work with energy and interest. Especially interesting is his discussion of his decision to rearrange the order of several scenes that were meant to be flashbacks and how stunned he was by an idea he'd had about shooting that he was able to bring to the screen without compromise through the mastery of his cinematographer, John Bailey.

The deleted scenes include a flashback to Judith's (Hunter) youth, where she is played by up-and-comer Rachael Leigh Cook. LaGravenese also dropped a full-length performance of "Lush Life" by Latifah that proves that she's more than just another hip-hopper. Also on the disc are readings of the two Anton Chekhov stories from which "Living Out Loud" takes its inspiration, "The Kiss" and "Misery."

"Living Out Loud" is a fairly quiet, non-effects heavy film, so the Dolby Digital soundtrack doesn't get much chance to perform. But that quiet is precisely the film's charm - things sneak up on the viewer, stealthily working together to create a small, personal film with small, personal performances. Watch for a crucial cameo by Elias "Casey Jones" Koteas.

New Line has set the standard for DVD content with its Platinum Series discs for "Pleasantville" and "Boogie Nights," but with titles like "Living Out Loud" and "American History X" it has chosen to include lots of special edition content without the special edition nametag. NFilm fans should know that "Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me" is already in DVD production and should be the jewel in New Line's 1999 DVD crown.

04-13-99