TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews Review of Plotting 'Family Plot'

Plotting 'Family Plot' (2001 Video)

Good arrangement, other than the elephant in the room

[7/10 · 11 October 2010]

This is the only featurette on the DVD of Family Plot. It is a sort of retro-active making-of and look at the film, and is made up of recent interviews, behind the scenes footage and clips of the movie(at times ironically edited). For some reason, they don't at all address that Harris doesn't appear in this at all. They talk about her from during production, and no ill is spoken of her. I have no idea why she is absent. This is an informational and interesting 48 and a half minutes. Everyone who is in this has something to say, and Dern does a decent imitation of Hitchcock(Black does one, too... hers is... uhm...), we get priceless anecdotes wherein we get more examples of the Master's sardonic and sharp wit, and they talk a little about his other work. They go into why the car sequence is so darn effective(the secret is to *stay in the vehicle*, once inside, no wide shots, only POV from front and reaction shots of the passengers). We even hear about the project that was set to be Alfred's(R.I.P.) next. While there is a bit of the obligatory lovefest, it isn't excessive and they do argue their case. It's cool to hear from John Williams, who clearly has respect for the great director. Well-edited and keeps a nice pace. There is disturbing content in this, and this documentary spoils its subject. I recommend this to any fan. 7/10