Five Great Ridley Scott Audio Commentaries
In 1965,SirRidley Scottmade his directorial debut with the short film,Boy and Bicycle. His illustrious filmmaking career began with a short that cost him $120 and starred his brother, the lateTony Scott. It led to a career that is nothing short of spectacular, one never lacking passion or permanence. He’s a filmmaker who’s been ahead of the curve, created trends, and made movies that’ll last forever.
Thankfully, he’s been game to talk about almost every one of his films in audio commentaries. He’s always candid, ready to share his wealth of knowledge, and keep you hanging onto his every word, whether it’s for a two-hour drama or one of his three-hour epics. The master filmmaker is, without question, a master of audio commentaries.
With the recent release ofAlien: Covenant, it felt like the right time to listen to some of Scott’s commentaries. His tracks forAlienandBlade Runnerare must-listens, and the same goes for his tracks about demons, kingpins, two legends on the road, and con artists. Here are the five you really need to seek out.
American Gangster (Featuring Ridley Scott and Steve Zaillian)
Why Listen:Two and a half hours that go by like a breeze. When it comes to crafting a period piece, Scott is every bit as meticulous as he is when it comes to visualizing the future, which isn’t the least bit surprising. You leave theAmerican Gangstercommentary knowing a decent amount about Frank Lucas, how he worked, and the world of the heroin trade. If this subject and time period interests you, you’ll be enthralled by this track, even if you’re not a fan of the movie. Part history lesson and part filmmaking lesson, it’s another entertaining and lengthy Scott commentary that never runs out of gas or words of wisdom. Zaillian’s presence, of course, is equally compelling. The screenwriter opens up about his process, but he also provides insights into the way Scott works maybe only an outsider could see or comment on.What’s Said:Scott studied design for seven years, worked for the BBC, and shot thousands of commercials. Because of that, his first feature,The Duellists, was a smooth experience. Long after his debut movie came out, though, he still believes all that work doesn’t matter some days:
A Day on the Job: Scott’s least favorite part of the job, which is made crystal clear throughout his commentaries, is his general distaste for test screenings. On the dayAmerican Gangsterwas tested, he was happy to stay out of the theater:
Trivia: After bringing down Frank Lucas, Ritchie Roberts only got three days vacation. No reward.
Black Hawk Down (Featuring Ridley Scott and Producer Jerry Bruckheimer)
Why Listen:“Anyone in their right mind making a film about war, I hope, is going to be a serious film about anti-war.”
In the filmmaker’s eyes, he was a making pro-military movie and an anti-war movie. It was a challenging and rewarding experience, one he references and reflects on in other tracks. He was using up to 11 cameras and faced the most obvious difficulties of directing large-scale war scenes. He did it all with a schedule shorter compared to other movies of this scope, but that’s secondary to Scott’s compassion for the soldiers and what transpired during the Battle of Mogadishu. The director’s attention-to-detail is maybe most prevalent in this track.
What’s Said:With science-fiction films, Scott’s discussed the trouble of keeping actors in helmets. WithBlack Hawk Down, he was okay taking a departure from reality to verify the audience knows who’s who during the chaos:
A Day on the Job:A significant part ofBlack Hawk Downwas shot at night, which isn’t Scott or many other filmmakers' ideal time to shoot. ForBlack Hawk Down, the director and all involved came up with a solution so everybody wouldn’t tire or lose momentum.
Trivia:When Ridley Scott first met Harrison Ford, the actor showed him how to make coffee. “It’s all in the measure,” Ford told him. “Don’t guess. It’s the measure of coffee against the measure of water.” The meeting inspired Grime’s (Ewan McGregor) coffee making skills.
Legend (Featuring Ridley Scott)
Why Listen:Scott, whose fantasy film was influenced by Jean Cocteau’sBeauty and the Beast, and Disney’sSnow White and the Seven Dwarves, andFantasia, plants the listener right intoLegend’s beautiful sets, as he covers their influences, how they were constructed, and the effect he wanted them to achieve. He’s still pleased with the movie, and while listening to him, it’s impossible not to be just as impressed as he is and engrossed by its beauty. Each gorgeous image here tells us a story – which was originally bigger and a little more action-heavy.Legendis one of Scott’s more tech-heavy conversations. He discusses the limitations, obstacles, and more when it comes to creating this stunning world without stars or the biggest budget.What’s Said:During theThelma & Louisecommentary, Scott mentions how many reviews he’s read asking (and criticizing), “Why so much steam?” He doesn’t care about those criticisms as much as he used to. For him, it helps create energy:
Day on Set:Scott believes CGI can not only sometimes undermine drama, but can also be a ridiculous waste of money:
Trivia: Tim Currywould take Darkness' cloak home for the weekends.
Matchstick Men (Featuring Ridley Scott and screenwriters Nicholas Griffin and Ted Griffin)
Why Listen:This is easily the funniest commentary on the list. Scott has a sharp and subtle wit, but the screenwriters are hilarious. From their first encounter with Ridley to their on-set experiences, they have some great stories about meeting and collaborating with a filmmaker whose work they find awe-inspiring. Some of the memories they share are a reminder that Scott’s visual storytelling wouldn’t be as impactful if it wasn’t for his sense of character.What’s Said:Scott calls bull on anyone who says they seeMatchstick Men’s twist coming. He heard those criticisms from test screenings, and he wishes he was there to question them. His “elegant comedy” might’ve benefited from the experience in one regard, though:
A Day on the Job:One of the toughest scenes for the Griffin brothers to write was the final encounter between Roy Walter (Nicholas Cage) and Angela. What’s the tone? How angry should Roy be? In the end, to Scott, he’s more unhappy she really wasn’t his daughter, which was an idea driving the scene. The Griffin brothers wanted them to “express something they cannot say explicitly,” which they might not have gotten right the first time around, so the final scene was reshot:
Scott usually shoots with, at the very least, three cameras at a time. OnBlack Hawk Down, he was using 11. The director added:
I added to it because people felt there wasn’t enough closure. “I really miss you. We had a good time, didn’t we? Didn’t you enjoy it?” “Yes, I did.” Then, “What’s your name?” “I know your name.” “Bye, dad.” That’s great closure. This is new from now on, after “thanks for not saying anything.”
Trivia:Robert Zemeckis, who was originally going to direct the movie before choosing to adaptThe Polar Express, was the one who suggested sticking with the book’s big twist.
Thelma & Louise (Featuring Ridley Scott)
Why Listen:Scott knows his characters inside and out. Similar to the commentary forMatchstick Men, he can tell you about a character’s life outside of the movie, why they dress the way they dress or talk the way they talk, and what the characters all mean to one another. A small part of his interest inThelma and Louisewas to prove he wasn’t some worldbuilder – a belief he quickly put to rest withThelma & Louise. As much as Scott loves his often steamy and rainy worlds, he also has a deep fondness for his characters, especially Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon). It sounds like he’s never had more fun making a movie, which worried him when it was time to edit the classic.What’s Said:Thelma & Louiseis a thrilling and moving ride. There was discussion whether it should be more serious in tone, though:
A Day on the Job:The iconic finale ofThelma & Louisewas shot with a very limited amount of time, but Scott, who likes to work fast and go with his gut, made it work:
Trivia:Badlandswas an influence on Scott’s road movie. He followed far more sympathetic characters, but he wanted to create a similar “sense of legend.”
