The DVD

Video:
Around the Bend is presented in an anamorphic 1.85:1 transfer that does a good job of handling all aspects of the film. The first fifteen minutes, or so, is where most of the problems arise. The dimly lit opening reveals a substantial amount of grain and detail is a bit underwhelming in the darkness. The rest of the film, however, really shines. Aside from a bit of edge enhancement, this transfer does a great job of handling all the vibrant colors of the Albuquerque sunsets. The landscapes come across as vivid and detailed, and the black levels are solid throughout. The extremely clean print and lack of pixelation also help make this a fine visual presentation.

Sound:
The audio on this disc is presented in a Dolby Digital 5.1 format that doesn't hold up quite as well as the video. For an independent film that is mostly dialogue-driven, the audio track does an adequate job where it really matters. Dialogue is loud, crisp, and clear. And for a film like this, that's really all you need. Most of the track remains in the front soundstage while the surrounds are predominantly used to pump up David Baerwald's score and the wonderful soundtrack. The surrounds might have been used once or twice for a sound effect, but don't expect to hear much of anything from your LFE channel. The track certainly misses a few instances where a surround effect would have been nice to have, but overall the audio presentation does exactly what it needs to do. As long as you don't expect a mind-blowing aural experience, there's not a whole lot to gripe about with this track.

Extras:
Included on this disc is a commentary by Writer/Director Jordan Roberts. The track is mostly screen-specific, but Roberts does take the time to tell a few anecdotes about how his first feature film came to be made after ten long years of shopping the script around Hollywood. He tells of how nervous he was the first time he had to direct Caine and Walken, and even provides some insight into just how personal Around the Bend was for him.

Also included is a 50-minute long making-of documentary called "It's a Good Day: The Making of Around the Bend." The documentary can be viewed as one large featurette or in pieces, by clicking on a small camera icon underneath each chapter selection in the scene selections menu. Not your typical press-kit fluff, the documentary includes a lot of behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with most of the principles, and information on how the film came into being. It wanders a bit at times, but nevertheless stands as an excellent companion piece to the film itself.

There are fourteen minutes of deleted scenes that include optional commentary by Roberts. They include some nice performances and a lot of backstory, but (as Roberts explains in his commentary) would not have done much to advance the story. It's easy to see why these scenes were excised, but it's great to have them included on this disc.

Finally, rounding out the DVD is a soundtrack spot and the theatrical trailer.

Final Thoughts:
What I initially thought would end up being a predictable, sappy melodrama or a quirky comedy with some good performances, Around the Bend really surprised me with an endearing tale of a four generations of men struggling to make amends with themselves and each other. The film is a testament to what a few great actors can do to elevate the performances and story around them. Those very performances (Walken's especially) and the inclusion of some very nice extra material - that provides even greater insight into the film - make this disc one that I would easily recommend.