Best in Show

Director: Christopher Guest Christopher Guest

Overview

"One might imagine that the short, witty ""mockumentaries"" that result from Christopher Guest's improvisational filmmaking style leave a lot of good footage on the cutting room floor. As the Best in Show DVD demonstrates, that assumption is correct. The DVD includes no less than 17 deleted scenes, some of which originally appeared on the film's promotional website, and many of which could have easily been included in the film without bloating its running time. It's clear that Guest's editing instincts were at their most ruthless when it came to his own scenes as low-key babbler Harlan Pepper, but each of the main characters shows up at least once in this section. A nice touch is that the scenes can all be viewed in succession without returning to the menu after each one. The DVD also includes information on eight cast members and one theatrical trailer. Guest's commentary with co-star and co-writer Eugene Levy is disappointingly sparse, considering their off-screen friendships with many of their castmates and the fact that they have five of the movie's credits between them. There are a few minor sound-related glitches, as actors' voices sometimes shift channels abruptly and for no clear reason. The best reason to own this DVD is the movie itself and the material that never made it to the big screen."

Product Details

Release Date:	05/15/2001
UPC:	0085391895121
Original Release:	2000
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	3,061

Special Features

Feature-length audio commentary by director/co-writer Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy; Deleted scenes; Interactive menus; Theatrical trailer; Cast/filmmaker profiles; Scene access; Languages & subtitles: English & Français [dubbed in Quebec]

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Christopher Guest	Harlan
Parker Posey	Meg
Michael Hitchcock	Hamilton
Eugene Levy	Gerry
Catherine O'Hara	Cookie
John Michael Higgins	Scott
Michael McKean	Stefan
Bob Balaban	Dr. Millbank
Fred Willard	Buck
Patrick Cranshaw	Leslie
Jennifer Coolidge	Sheri
Jane Lynch	Christy
Jim Piddock	Trevor
Ed Begley Jr.	Hotel Manager
Don Lake	Graham Chissolm
Jay Brazeau	Dr. Chuck Nelken
Linda Kash	Fay Berman
Larry Miller	Max Berman,Fishin' Hole Guy
Cody Greg	Zach Berman
Carrie Aizley	Fern City Show Spectator
Lewis Arquette	Fern City Show Spectator
Dany Canino	Fern City Show Judge
Will Sasso	Fishin' Hole Guy
Colin Cunningham	New York Butcher
Teryl Rothery	Philly AM Host
Tony Alcantar	Philly AM Chef
Camille Sullivan	Phlly AM Assistant
Dave Cameron	Philly AM Host
Malcolm Stewart	Malcolm
Jay-Lyn Green	Leslie's Nurse
Jehshua Barnes	Scott's Wild Date
Earlene Luke	Mayflower Hound Judge
Harold Pybus	Mayflower Toy Judge
Cleo A. Laxton	Mayflower Terrier Judge
Corrine Koslo	Mayflower Sporting Judge
Andrew Wheeler	Mayflower Ring Steward
Don Emslie	Mayflower Non-Sporting Judge
Don S. Davis	Mayflower Best in Show Judge
Steve Porter	Bulge
Melanie Angel	`American Bitch' Photo Editor
Doane Gregory	Terry the Photographer
Hiro Kanagawa	Pet Shop Owner
Scott Williamson	Winky's Party Guest
Deborah Theaker	Winky's Party Guest
Rachael Harris	Winky's Party Guest
Fulvio Cecere	Airport Passerby
Lynda Boyd	Cabot Party Guest
Madeleine Kipling	Cabot Party Guest
Merrilyn Gann	Cabot Party Guest
Andrew Johnston	Cabot Party Guest
Vanston C. J.	Composer
Jeffery Vanston	Composer

Technical Credits

Christopher Guest

Eugene Levy

Christopher Guest	Director,Screenwriter
Eugene Levy	Screenwriter
Stuart Aikins	Casting
David Alexander	Stunts
Gord Davis	Special Effects
Gordon Mark	Executive Producer,Producer
Karen Murphy	Producer
Mark Weingarten	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

One-time star and co-writer of the greatest mockumentary of all, This Is Spinal Tap (1983), actor and director Christopher Guest creates this wickedly funny and intelligent character comedy with a cast of sublimely talented improvisational performers. Following up his well-received Waiting for Guffman (1996), Guest returns to the well of the little-used faux-documentary genre with splendid results, creating a comedy that is, if anything, even tighter, more focused, and funnier than his previous effort. It's interesting to note that, while many directors attempt to make improvisational-style films, those who succeed are almost always former writers such as Guest and James Toback. An improvised film is typically one wherein plot is sacrificed at the altar of character, and so rises and falls on the success of its performances. Best in Show is no exception to this rule, and the film's quality is a testament to actors typically cast in character parts finally getting a chance to shine at center stage, such as Michael McKean, co-writer Eugene Levy, and the seemingly ubiquitous independent film star Parker Posey. Best in Show was a sizable box-office hit in limited release and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy.