Review of the DVD - rating: * * * *

Review of the film - rating: * *

The picture quality is good if unexceptional - slightly soft, with minor artefacts, but essentially fine (note this is one of Warner's widescreen and pan & scan issues). The sound showcases James Newton Howard's cliche ridden score well enough, but is otherwise not noteworthy.

Ah ha, but now to the extras. Things start well, with a very nice animated menu - a textured background and a keyhole through which snippets of scenes are glimpsed. Shame that there are no full motion scene index clips, but we'll live without them.

The alternate ending is a bonus, especially with the chance to see it once on its own (in 5.1 and anamorphic widescreen, incidentally), and then again with director Davis' thoughts. Shame that both actual endings are almost equally dull, but you can't blame the disc authorers for that.

The commentaries. The first (on track 4) is pretty good - it appears that Douglas' contributions were recorded separately, but there are nevertheless some good general thoughts on adapting the whole project. Thrill too to Douglas explaining the intricacies of cigar continuity - apparently, an actor can get through 12 cigars in a single scene, onsetting nicotine poisoning. Tough at the top, eh?

But, o boy, the second track will test the patience of even the most avid fan of the film. Costume and production designers? Ah well, it's not done to complain about too much stuff, so let's be charitable - no-one forces you to listen, and it may be of specialised interest to someone. Somewhere.

Despite the wealth of extras, this disc is still not quite all it should be. No production notes or biographies (as stated on the box) or trailer are actually quite missed for a bit of quick extra info gratification. But make no mistake, this is still a fine enough DVD, and a worthy purchase for both Douglas and Hitchcock fans.

Get this.

We soon know that Husband (Douglas) has offered half a million to Lover (Mortensen) to kill his wife (Paltrow). We thus know the Husband is utter slime. Time has come for her to confess to her best friend the reason for her passionate affair - the character of her beyond-evil husband. Shouldn't be too hard, right? Well here's how Patrick Smith Kelly does it in his script.

"You have no idea who he is", Gwynneth darkly confides. Oh, but we do - tell it girl.

"Steven?" says the friend? "I know Steven".

"No. You - don't". We're with you gal. Say it sister!!!

"You don't know that..."

What? He hit her, right? Thought so. Or perhaps she knows he's a criminal. Emotional or sexual abuse. Tell us the depths of his depravity, gal!

"You don't know that every single thing has to be on HIS TERMS".

Wait, there's more.

"You don't know he has no real interest in who I am".

Phew-ee, we didn't see that one coming. That puts the ol' murder thing into perspective, doesn't it?

There's more, but I shan't take up any more of your time. It's rubbish and facile. And when you're remaking Hitchcock, this ain't too smart a move, methinks.