The author sites “Eurotrip” and how the director was playing a drinking game to state how director commentaries have gone down hill. It’s “Eurotrip” he should be playing a drinking game because his movie wasn’t much more entertaining than a drinking game.

If Ridley Scott is playing a drinking game while he is commenting on “Gladiator” or “Matchstick Men” than by all means complain about the decline of the quality of director commentaries (Ridley by the way gives some of the best director commentaries ever).

I think a lot of films that do have director commentary are usually right on the money.

I do agree that sometimes you hope the commentary will be insightful and instead you are treated to uninformative chatter. Like anything the director commentary can be epic or a tremendous letdown. It is almost as if you are watching a double feature because the director commentary can take the movie you just saw and transport you to new heights. Which has happened on various experiences personally, but it can also just be dribble.

My bigger concern is with the advent of instant view on sites like Netflix what will happen to the future of these amazing inside looks into the filmmaking process. I have called Netflix personally asking them to please put director commentary on their sites.

I think each filmmaker has the discretion to do what they will with their director commentary. Its an opportunity for filmmakers to let their fans in and some will take the opportunity to really educate the viewers and others will play drinking games while some will abstain from the whole process not wanting to take the magic out of what you just saw. I say to each their own!