Always (1989)
Review by Bailey
Film:
DVD:

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by Jerry Belson
Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Audrey Hepburn, Brad Johnson

Features:

• Production Notes
• Cast & Filmmaker’s Bios
  
• Film Highlights
  
• Theatrical Trailer
  
• Web Links

Anamorphic: Yes.

My Advice: Own It (but I'm biased).

Pete (Richard Dreyfuss) is a legend. A pilot without equal who loves pushing the envelope. The only thing that he loves even remotely as much as flying is Dorinda (Holly Hunter). But all good things must come to an end. After Pete sacrifices himself to save his best friend Al (John Goodman), Pete is given the chance to come back as a kind of guardian angel to a young pilot (Brad Johnson). To aid Pete in his new role is Audrey Hepburn.

Based on the 1940’s movie A Guy Named Joe starring Spencer Tracey, Always, according to the production notes, had been a pet project of Spielberg’s for years. As you can see from the movie rating I emphatically believe he got it right. While a lot, if not all, die-hard film officianatos will vehemently disagree with me on the rating I give this film, it's on my top 5 all time list. Call it a guilty pleasure, call it whatever, but hey--I’m entitled to one, leave me alone. This film is infectious. I’ve seen it dozens of times, and I’m not afraid to admit it still makes me bust out laughing and it still makes me cry. The casting is perfect. Holly Hunter is gorgeous, Goodman is the perfect pal, Dreyfuss is classic, Hepburn is Hepburn, and Brad Johnson is swashbuckling. It’s a guy flick, a chick flick, heck it’s a mom flick. I could watch this movie with anyone and feel good at the end, that’s how good the movie is.

I just wish I could say the same for the DVD. It has next to nothing: no running commentary, no behind the scenes outtakes of Dreyfuss and Goodman yanking each other’s chains. Nothing. I am sorely disappointed. The production notes are just that, notes. Its almost as if they took the three page first draft of the blurb for the back of the VHS box and just set it against a nice background and gave you a scroll button.

So if the DVD is so poor why do I suggest you own it? Well, I am biased. I said so up top. The movie is just that good. Even if all the DVD had was the movie by itself, I’d still suggest you own it. But be warned, the movie justifies the DVD, not vice versa.