MovieChat Forums > 54 (1998) Discussion > RELEASE THE DAMN DIRECTORS CUT

RELEASE THE DAMN DIRECTORS CUT

posted 12 years ago by Falconeer
12 replies | jump to latest

It is really ridiculous that in this day and age, our art (and cinema IS art) is being edited and altered by studio heads who care NOTHING about the work of the artist, beyond how much money it can make for them. 54 has a definite cult following, and there are a lot of people who have an interest in seeing the original version of this film. The next dvd edition of 54 should be the directors cut. Even the director himself wants it, and the fact that he went to the trouble of re assembling his version of the film for screenings, is proof. if this version doesn't see the light of day legally, I'm sure it is just a matter of time before bootleg/fan copies hit the torrent sites, so get on the ball..

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] jimpiscitelli 12 years ago

Lionsgate has released it on Blu-ray. The Blu-ray clocks at 104 min. (as it says on the Blu-ray back cover).

[–] aGuiltySoul 12 years ago

Don't think the original cut of this film has ever been released. It was shown at a few film festivals a couple of years ago, but since much of that footage was never put through post production, as I understand it, the result was very rough, jumping between finished and unedited, unpolished sections. And what was shown has never been released to the general public.

"I'd never ask you to trust me. It's the cry of a guilty soul."

[–] Falconeer 12 years ago

That 104 minute version is an extended cut, that restores some missing scenes. but it is most certainly NOT the directors cut, which is an entirely different version. It's around an hour longer, and some scenes that are in the theatrical cut are gone from the directors cut, because the studio forced the director to go back and film additional scenes, like the stuff about the bartender stealing money. in short, it is a totally different film.

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] aGuiltySoul 12 years ago

That's right. All of what you say has been much discussed over the web.

"I'd never ask you to trust me. It's the cry of a guilty soul."

[–] tay-15 11 years ago

Fans love rhapsodizing about director's cuts, but will a different cut give Ryan Phillippe charisma? (Because his flat performance is one of the problems here). Will a director's cut transform a bunch of shallowly written characterizations, an even bigger problem?

[–] craighepworth 11 years ago

Sorry but Ryan's performance in the directors cut is brilliant, so much more depth, all his dramatic scenes were cut, same with the other characters

[–] tay-15 10 years ago

Then I guess your answer is "yes."

The bear does not quit. The bear will not die.

[–] Falconeer 9 years ago

Actually, yes..it did. Ryan's character has charisma now, because he actually is three dimensional now. It turns out that all his best scenes had been cut out of the movie. And those "shallowly written characterizations" are no longer "shallowly written." They have all been fleshed out and are real people with depth. The directors cut is an all new film.

#hands up don't loot

[–] theone102 10 years ago

So what can we do to make this happen?

I want to see the director's cut before I die! Or at least a better quality version of that gay kiss scene!

[–] Falconeer 10 years ago

What can we do to make it happen? Probably throw a lot of money at someone...

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Falconeer 9 years ago

Yes, I got this version, finally. I can't believe it actually happened. This cut really is so much better than what played in theaters.

#hands up don't loot