DVD Review - Review - Deathcab for Cutie - Directions
Concept by: Otaku-House | Directed by: Paul Brown and many others | Atlantic/Barsuk DVD FS/WS Not Rated 140min 2006
Review By Juliet
Gather together some of the best independent directors and animators to make a DVD, not of music videos per say, but of visual representations of songs to act as a companion to an album. In my perfect world, every great album would receive such treatment. Hopefully Directions marks the start of a great new trend of partnership between bands and filmmakers.
You may be saying, “But Juliet, how is this different from any other collection of music videos?” Well, I suppose that on the surface it’s not. Directions is certainly on par with Sonic Youth’s Corporate Ghosts or the Flaming Lips’ VOID music video collections. However on Directions, you won’t see shots of the band interwoven into the videos. Each one is a standalone short film, set to a single song. Of course, some are better than others, and I think it’s far to say that the animated films outweigh even the best featuring live actors. One of the most stunning of all was Mankmus’ “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” which featured drawings of rabbits in a sketchbook. The sheer loveliness and simplicity of the images coupled with Ben Gibbard’s bittersweet lyrics nearly brought me to tears. Other outstanding films include “Your Heart Is an Empty Room,” featuring the artwork of indie comic darling Jeffrey Brown animated by Eliza Kinkz. Rob Schrab’s “Crooked Teeth” is also charming with cardboard looking robots.
Being a fan of Death Cab’s music is not a requirement for enjoying this DVD. Animation fans and students, as well as short film devotees, ought to pick this up. The best part about this DVD is that each song/film includes a slew of bonus features that include band interviews, director’s statements and profiles, and lyrics. The animated films also feature original sketches and animation test sequences. You’re really getting your money’s worth with this one.