Broadcast News (1987) Criterion 1080p BluRay x265 HEVC AAC-SARTRE

Since the 1970s, the name James L. Brooks has been synonymous with intelligent television comedy—his shows are insightful about work and love and always plugged in to the zeitgeist. He is also a master storyteller of the big screen, and none of his films was more quintessentially Brooks than Broadcast News. This caustic look inside the Washington news media stars Holly Hunter, in her breakout role, as a feisty television producer torn between an ambitious yet dim anchorman (William Hurt) and her closest confidant, a cynical veteran reporter (Albert Brooks). Brooks’s witty, gently prophetic film is a captivating transmission from an era in which ideas on relationships and the media were rapidly changing.

Extras

• 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. (37 min, 720p).

• Alternate Ending - An alternate ending for the film with an audio introduction by the director. (10 min, 720p).

• Deleted Scenes - A gallery of scenes assembled for this release by editor Richard Marks and James L. Brooks. The secondary audio features director's commentary. (20 min, 720p)

• 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. (18 min, 720p).

• 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. (8 min, 720p).

• Interviews and on-set footage - Extended interviews and behind the scenes footage. (19 min, 720p).

• Trailer - The original theatrical trailer for Broadcast News. (3 min, 720p).

• 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.