Waiting for Guest

I don't exactly keep up with Christopher Guest's doings, but if he's still healthy and working I would love to see a new film in his unique genre. (I'm OK with "mockumentary", but apparently Guest isn't, so I hesitate to use the term.)

Barring another "installment" with still another backstage view of some public performance, I would settle for "Fan's Cut" versions of "Guffman" and the others.

I understand the concept of editing, i.e. "less is more, more is less", and that Guest's approach to making these films requires him to be exceptionally zealous in paring down the "excess" material he shoots in order to fit the allotted time frame.

But there's a paradoxical complication in Guest's case: theatrical releases are intended for a general viewing audience, and the assumption is that the film has to be entertaining on a first (and probably only) viewing.

However, the fan base that gets hooked on Guest's films understand that they require multiple viewings to appreciate their depth, complexity, and detail. We also appreciate extended scenes and supposedly "extraneous" material that casual viewers find distracting, confusing, or boring.

So, in general, we can't get enough of the outtakes that ended up on the cutting room floor. And just to illustrate the chasm between the hypothetical one-time casual moviegoer and Guest (et al) film fans, the latter would be riveted if the entire "Red, White, and Blaine" performance made it into the film.

I'm sorry they cut "Nothing Ever Happens in Blaine".

All this to say that, while I doubt it will happen, I would happily pay for an enhanced, expanded re-release of "Guffman" and the other films incorporating the deleted/unused scenes included separately in the DVD versions, plus whatever worthwhile unreleased material is available.

Like I say, I doubt if this will happen. Peter Jackson could do this with his Tolkien films because they knew the expanded re-releases would sell well enough to justify the work and expense involved.

But a guy can dream, especially when jonesing for a fresh Guest (et al) fix.