Gilliam is quite candid (as always) in this uncharacteristically muted track from the usually animated filmmaker. He admits that when initially given Ehren Kruger’s script he didn’t like it but needed work and decided to do it anyway. Gilliam used practical locations and built sets whenever possible for texture and realness. He goes on to praise his cast, in particular Peter Stormare who adlibbed most of his lines. The director does touch upon his battles with the studio, like how they wanted facial hair on the actors removed in order to show off their attractive, youthful faces. Even though Gilliam doesn’t name names, he points out what parts or the film he met with resistance from the studio. This is a good listen for fans of the filmmaker as he gamely plows through this compromised movie.

Gilliam talks almost non-stop and gives a lot of info and detailed behind the scenes stories but he lacks an enthusiasm that makes this commentary a little droning and just above boring. The stuff he chooses to talk about half the time are inconsequentials that would interest almost no one.

I like Gilliam and he's often done great commentaries this just isnt one of them. Also, he seems to have had some bad luck with 2 of the people in the movie dying on him during the film. He just throws these sad events into the mix as an aside. Bizarre stuff,

Not terrible commentary, just not great.