movie world

James L. Brooks's 1987 drama does a fine job at accurately portraying the sort of hustle and bustle of a TV newsroom, and the lives of the reporters involved outside the workplace.
Story centers on three characters working in the world of broadcast journalism. First up is Jane Craig (Holly Hunter, The Piano), a hard-working producer with lofty ambitions and a crusader for honest, ethically produced, substantial news stories. Next up is Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks, Taxi Driver), an intelligent, cynical reporter and Jane's best friend. Finally we have Tom Grunick (William Hurt, A History of Violence), a handsome and charming man without too much intelligence or ability. Naturally, he's being groomed for a job as a network anchor. As these three characters wander through a series of professional and romantic entanglements, they discover important truths about the truly valuable things in life, what it takes to succeed and what it takes to keep feeling good about where your life and career are headed. Welcome to the world of Broadcast News.

Director: James L. Brooks
Cast: William Hurt, Albert Brooks, Holly Hunter, Robert Prosky, Lois Chiles, Joan Cusack, Peter Hackes, Christian Clemenson, Jack Nicholson
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

BD50 + 2xDVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 02:12:32 | 44 Gb + 14 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• Commentary - an audio commentary with writer, director, and producer James L. Brooks and film editor Richard Marks. The overwhelming amount of the comments provided in the commentary are from the director, who recalls how Broadcast News came to exist, his first encounter with Holly Hunter, the political convention that inspired him to shoot the film, Susan Zirinsky's assistance, how various scenes in the film were short, etc. Indeed, a wonderful, very informative commentary. Recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2010. In English, not subtitled.

• James L. Brooks - A Singular Voice - a documentary film, broken into three chapters, exploring the career and legacy of writer, director, and producer James L. Brooks. With special guests composer Hans Zimmer, actors Marilu Henner, and Julie Kavner, writer and producer Al Jean, ICM Chairman and CEO Jeff Berg, critic Ken Tucker. In English, not subtitled. (37 min, 1080p).
-- Groundbreaking Television
-- Moving into film
-- The zeitgeist

• Alternate Ending and Deleted Scenes - a gallery of scenes assembled for this release by editor Richard Marks and James L. Brooks. The alternate ending has an audio introduction by the director. In English, not subtitled.
-- Alternate Ending - (11 min, 1080p).
-- Deleted Scenes - (20 min, 1080p).

• Susan Zirinsky - a video interview with Susan Zirinsky, who was the model for the Jane Craig character in Broadcasting News. Conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2010. In English, not subtitled. (18 min, 1080p).

• Featurette - a standard featurette, produced by 20th Century Fox, with raw footage from the shooting of the film, as well as interviews with James L. Brooks, Albert Brooks, and Holly Hunter. In English, not subtitled.
-- Featurette - in English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080i).
-- Interviews and on-set footage - in English, not subtitled. (19 min, 1080i).

• Trailer - the original theatrical trailer for Broadcast News. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).