Reality Bites [10th Anniversary Edition]

Director: Ben Stiller Ben Stiller

Overview

"Ben Stiller's directorial debut, the Gen-X romantic comedy Reality Bites, gets the tenth anniversary treatment on this special edition from Universal. The film is presented in a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. A Spanish soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Surround. English and French subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Stiller and screenwriter Helen Childress. At the time of the DVD's release, this was still the only film credit earned by Childress, and she obviously savored her experience creating and working on the film. The pair discusses how the cast came together and how helpful the producers at Jersey Films (this being that entity's second film) were. Deleted scenes, a retrospective featurette, and the theatrical trailer are available. The music video for Lisa Loeb's ""Stay,"" and an interview with the singer/songwriter rounds out this solid disc."

Product Details

Release Date:	06/08/2004
UPC:	0025192382727
Original Release:	1994
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:39:00
Sales rank:	37,524

Special Features

Closed Caption;Digitally remastered picture with 5.1 surround sound; Deleted scenes with on-camera introduction from Ben Stiller; Feature commentary with Ben Stiller and writer Helen Chlidress; A Retrospective: The stars look back on the making of the movie, what it was like to work together, and how much fun they had; Lisa Loeb interview; "Stay" music video; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Winona Ryder	Lelaina Pierce
Ethan Hawke	Troy Dyer
Ben Stiller	Michael Grates,Psychic Phone Partner
Janeane Garofalo	Vickie Miner
Steve Zahn	Sammy Gray
Swoosie Kurtz	Charlane McGregor
Joe Don Baker	Tom Pierce
John Mahoney	Grant Gubler
Harry O'Reilly	Wes McGregor
Susan Norfleet	Helen Anne Pierce
James Rothenberg	Rick
Eric Stuart	Damien
Barry Sherman	Grant's Producer
Chelsea Lagos	Troy Grouie
Bill Bolender	Truck Driver
Jubal Palmer	1st Player
Marti Greene	2nd Player
John Walsh	3rd Player
Helen Childress	Waitress
David Pirner	Phineas
Andy Dick	Rock
Keith David	Roger
Anne Meara	Louise
Kevin Pollak	Stand-Up Comic
Afton Smith	Janine
Pat Crawford Brown	Cashier
Jeff Kahn	Stage Manager
Karen Duffy	Actress `Elaina'
Evan Dando	Actor `Roy'
Jeanne Tripplehorn	uncredited
Renée Zellweger	Tami
Karl Wallinger	Composer

Technical Credits

Helen Childress

Ben Stiller	Director
Danny DeVito	Producer
Francine Maisler	Casting
William Barclay Malcolm	Executive Producer
Michael Shamberg	Producer
Stacey Sher	Executive Producer
Helen Childress	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Although it was unfairly derided for its perceived commodification of the grunge/slacker zeitgeist, Reality Bites is actually a rather charming if conventional film that uses its mid-'90s trappings -- AIDS tests, espresso shops, unwashed hair, '70s TV trivia, and so-so alt-rock -- as a backdrop for coming-of-age melodrama and romantic comedy. The screenplay contains some pretty sharp writing from first-time scribe Helen Childress and a stellar cast highlighted by Janeane Garafolo and Ben Stiller. Fresh from his celebrated stint in TV sketch comedy, Stiller exhibits a sure hand as a director, but it's his portrayal of a corporate scumbag who wants to prove he's still hip that helped cement his status as one of the most enjoyably neurotic leading men of the '90s. Garafolo, meanwhile, steals every scene she's in -- folding sweaters at the Gap, obsessing about her drunken sexcapades, and providing acerbic commentary on the main romantic plot. Steve Zahn is underutilized as the obligatory gay friend, his inner life reduced to a few scenes of HIV paranoia, but Swoosie Kurtz has fun in a brief role as Lelaina's mom. As for the heroine herself, Winona Ryder was at the height of her popularity when the film came out, and she invests Lelaina with the fragile luminosity and hipster wit she perfected in Heathers. Co-star Ethan Hawke, in a role similarly close to his own celebrity persona, downplays his looks with bad facial hair and an intellectual sneer, turning Troy into the sort of pretentious, defensive, cred-obsessed jerk who did not, alas, disappear from the pop-culture landscape along with Generation X. In the end, that's what makes Reality Bites more than the sum of its once-hip references; its details may be rooted in 1994, but its characters and situations are as universal as they are funny.