“Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic”
VISUAL, $26.99
Who’s in it: Sarah Silverman, Bob Odenkirk, Brian Posehn
Recap: Silverman’s stand-up act makes the “South Park” guys seem like the most PC prudes in the world, and she’s hilarious to boot.
Best extra: The commentary track with Silverman and director Liam Lynch is, in a sense, a surreal alternate movie, with a mellow Silverman a salve for anyone offended by her stage persona.
Secrets revealed: “My teeth look really good on camera,” Silverman declares. “They really do,” Lynch responds. “I wish I had teeth like that.” Then Silverman and Lynch wonder whether she could pass for Italian or Native American.
Feature to skip: There’s something oddly ridiculous about a making-of feature for a stand-up movie, even one with scattered musical numbers and scripted bits mixed in.
Trivia: Director Lynch had a fluke alt-rock radio hit with his “United States of Whatever.”
If you liked this, try: “The Aristocrats,” a movie about comedians pushing the boundaries of good taste.
RATING: 3 PLAYS
“Dazed and Confused”
CRITERION, $39.95
Who’s in it: Jason London, Parker Posey, Matthew McConaughey
Recap: “Dazed and Confused” does for the ’70s in Texas what “American Graffiti” did for California in the ’60s.
Best extra: Writer/director Richard Linklater is one of indie film’s great talkers, so his commentary track is something to savor, whether you’re a budding filmmaker or simply a fan.
Secrets revealed: “Making ‘Dazed’ ” is an excellent on-set documentary that features plenty of asides with the stars, both nobodies as well as future big names Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck.
Feature to skip: The deleted scenes reveal a crueler, meaner direction that in the end the movie thankfully shied away from.
Trivia: A huge chunk of the relatively small budget went to acquiring various ’70s rock songs for the soundtrack.
If you liked this, try: This summer’s “A Scanner Darkly,” to see just how far–or how far out–Linklater has gone.
RATING: 4 PLAYS
