Does BEAUTIFUL GIRLS have enough audience to warrant a reissue?

I searched the forum for older post and couldn't find much discussion on this topic, so I thought I'd start one.

In the past I've been pretty surprised to see the forum unify behind some films which I felt were great, but I assumed the rest of the world had never really heard of. Case in point: SAY ANYTHING. I considered this to be a "personal" favorite for me, a film which I was destined to spend my life trying to convince friends to check out. But when the mention of this title went up on the forum, an audience I never knew existed came out in droves to pledge their undying love for this film.

And the other day I was thinking about the film BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. This film ranks number one on my "I thought I would hate it but ended up loving it" list. The film, the characters- everything just struck me as endlessly enjoyable. Heck, to this day I can't see Max Perlich pop up in a movie or on TV without thinking "Look, it's Kev!"

The problem is the current DVD is seriously lacking. To be fair, the disc hit shelves in early 1999, kinda in the infancy of DVD. The picture is non-anamorphic widescreen Laserdisc recycle and there is nothing on the disc but the film.

I was wondering if this film too has a hidden audience who have passed on the current disc and are waiting for a reissue (I noticed the IMDB rating is a quite high 7.1). The film is really well put together, and heck even Rosie O'Donnell is enjoyable- no small feat in my book. The main cast is highlighted by Mira Sorvino, Uma Thurman and Lauren Holly-- three true modern beauties and, unlike the Maxim model of the moment- real quality acresses. Natalie Portman appears in a small but completely film stealing role as Marty, a teen with more wisdom than the majority of "adults" in the picture.

The film just captured so many elements I see everyday among my small town group of friends and acquaintances: The refusal to grow up and let go of your high school reality, the search for meaning in everything but yourself, the obsession of unobtainable goals, the quiet desperation of dysfunctional relationships, and most of all the peculiar way we all fall into our old modes when we find ourselves in the company of old friends...

With the unexpected death of Director Ted Demme we lost forever the chance to get his thoughts on this film (His 3rd feature)- but I really think that Miramax/BV should consider revisiting this title and putting out an edition the fans of this film can really enjoy and cherish- like the Say Anything release from Fox. At the very least the film could certainly use a new reissue with a decent anamorphic transfer... I'm just curious if there is any audience for this film to warrant such a reissue.

-Vince

There are a number of Miramax titles from the same era that this one was released in that at the very least deserve new anamorphic transfers and rerelease: Sirens, The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down a Mountain, etc.

Beautiful Girls is a great film, and would tie in with Episode II for Portman's role (which indeed did steal the show). Demme's death just goes to show that getting directors and cast to participate in commentaries, even if the films may not be released for some time, should be a priority, as these opportunities can not be relied on indefinitely, and once lost, are gone forever.

That said, it seems BV doesn't quite get it when it comes to a lot of their releases, such as the nonanamorphic releases of their foreign properties (Purple Noon, Belle de Jour - both solicited as anamorphic). It would not surprise me if they neglected all their earlier titles, but I sincerely hope someday they revisit them properly, even if not as SEs.

I loved this film - I'd buy a reissue. I was enchanted by the entire cast and how they interacted. This movie sparkled for me mostly because of the conversations held in their upper Midwest, blue-collar vernacular and philosophies borne from middle-age reflections on lost glory.

Doesn't hurt that the film is set in my 'backyard'. Also, never much liked Timothy Hutton in anything prior to this, but he delivers quite an understated yet memorable performance. Particularly refreshing is the tete a tete's held between Hutton and Portman. She shines here.

Aside from the Professional, I think this is Natalie Portmans best film performance yet.

Re-issue is warranted!

I'd buy it in a second.

Vince,

I had the same experience with this film. I thought I'd hate but loved it instead. I'd definitely buy a reissue.

Thanks Vince,

Funny, I was just talking to a friend about this film the other day. I'd buy it too. Great performances from everyone. Michael "The Plow" Rapaport is outstanding as are Richard Bright and David Arquette as Widower and son that don't have many females in their lives.

Ms. Portman glows. And yes Rosie is marginally likable.

Chalk it up as a purchase for me.

As an owner of the current release, I'd buy a re-release (hopefully with some good SE material on it).

I had not intention of liking this film but when I stumble across it on a movie channel and watched it, I really enjoyed it. I would buy the SE.
Marc

Own it and would buy a reissue in a heartbeat.

Wouldn't it be a good way to honor Ted Demme's memory by getting the cast together to do a commentary or some retrospective interviews ? Nah it's too logical to happen probably. But I would also buy a re-issue!

Beautiful Girls is Jonathon Demme's favorite film that Ted made, so perhaps he would be willing to contribute to some sort of DVD re-release.

DJ

I love the film, but doubt that BV will do much with it. I kept my WS laserdisc.

Great soundtrack, though-- and my favorite band, Cincinnati's late, lamented Afghan Whigs show up to play not one, but two songs.

Beautiful Girls is one of my favorite films! It's an intelligent comedy with a superb cast. I would buy an anamorphic SE in a second, and I have a half-dozen friends who would do the same. Are you listening Disney?

I'm in. I remember just liking the movie when I first saw it in theaters. Once I got to see it again (intact, as well as in bits and pieces), I really grew to love it.

I don't own the current Beautiful Girls DVD, but a SE would certainly go on my purchase list.

Good luck with the crusade, Vince! This one may not be quite as 'beloved' as Say Anything..., but who knows what the future holds? Supergirl got a Special Edition!

This is one of my favorite films. Could watch it over
and over. I own it now and would snatch up an SE in
a heartbeat.

I'd also love a SE of a really enjoyable film. A real unexpected treat of a movie! At least here in the UK our bare-bones disc has an anamorphic transfer (though only stereo sound).

I put this in the category of "I thought I would love it but hated it".
It felt like a bunch of actors reading a wordy screenplay. Then the forced Neil Diamond sign along.
I love all the actors, I like Ted Demme, but this movie did nothing for me.

I can't recall how many times I was saying while watching, no one would talk like that.

Woody Allen can get away with it, Demme sadly can't.

Doug

A magnificent movie.

SE Re-issue would be a great treat.

Yep, one of my all-time faves. An SE upgrade would be immediately purchased.

I would happily purchase a new anamorphic version of Beautiful Girls.

Vince, thanks for bringing this up! This is one of my favorite films (saw it twice in theaters) and I'd definitely buy a re-issue if it was anamorphic--anything else would be gravy.

Here's to hope dancing in stiletto heels...

It's on my list of to-be-purchased-again-if-anamorphic DVDs.

Cees

This is definitely one of my favorite ensemble cast films. I have never purchased it on DVD because of the lack of anamorphic enhancement and special features. It's time to reissue this as the special edition it should have been in the first place. I'd buy it without hesitation.

I love this movie too.

I first heard about this on Siskel and Ebert's show. This thread caused me to go searching for Ebert's print review, and reading that made me want to see the movie again. I have the DVD and the LD, but I'd buy a Special Edition.


"Two words not in her vocabulary: lunch money" - Marty

A great, great film! I wasn't aware a R2 anamorphic version exists...I may have to pick that up with my next order from Europe.

Jeff

I'd buy a new version. This is a great film, even with Rosie.

Oh my gosh. Just read the Ebert review that Vickie_M posted, had forgotten that Mira Sorvino was in this film. Great review, got me thinkin' that I might have to pick up the non-animorphic disc to tide me over.

Hope this works!

Place me in the camp who would immediatly purchase a SE. I love this film!

Favorite exchange:

TOM: "What's got him creased?"

KEVIN: "This"

(Looks at ring)

TOM: "F---ing thing is brown."

KEVIN: "That champagne... you're so uncultured... it's a trend in diamonds... that's a nice stone Paul."

WILL: "Yeah I've heard about this... they're trying to create a new market..."

TOM: "...Right...they were calling it "piss" but they weren't moving enough units..."

Here is another current owner of the "Beautiful Girls" DVD that would upgrade to an SE without hesitation.