Director Brad Silberling has crafted, through personal experience, a drama we thought was "an honestly intimate and genuinely funny account of bereavement". And it's his true emotions that help you get through the drippy part of an otherwise enjoyable DVD release.
Barfamundo
Childish word? Yes. The correct way to describe the Moonlight Mile: A Journey To Screen documentary? Again, yes. Due to the stellar thespian cast, the approach here is to pour self-congratulatory syrup down your throat until it's choked into you that this is seriously wonderful filmmaking. Cast and crew talk about dreaming of working together and what geniuses they are, while relentlessly positive review quotes are read out. Thankfully Silberling provides the odd sincere comment to keep you from fainting in awe at how dedicated these people are to outdoing each other with compliments.
Hoffman's Pensioners
Skip the yucky documentary and head instead for the two audio commentaries. The first is an informative solo effort by Silberling, where he talks us through the last four years of his life. More entertaining, though, is Silberling with Dustin Hoffman and Jake Gyllenhaal, who all end up having a highly amusing natter. Hoffman is a funny guy, gets interesting information out of the other two, and warns Gyllenhaal that all the fans he saw hanging around the set will be the same ones he'll see decades later, just as he retains the same fans from his Graduate days.
The deleted scenes are well worth a look after you've watched the film, and are a good way to conclude a fine DVD - bar that little sticky patch.
EXTRA FEATURES
This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-N5 DVD player.