The DVD

Video:
A Love Song for Bobby Long is presented in an anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen format that has more issues than one would expect from such a recent film. The transfer does a fine job handling the varied color palette of the deep south. The blues, reds, greens, and yellows of New Orleans appear bright and vibrant, yet subdued. The best aspect of this transfer is the way it handles the bright sunlight in outdoor scenes with a beautiful golden glow. Fleshtones are accurate and shadows and lighting are well delineated. The film, however, does seem to have a bit of a flat look to it, lacking some of the intricate detail you might expect. Edge enhancement is not much of an issue, but the print isn't in the best of shape. Dirt and spots show up from time to time and, although some of it is probably intentional, there is a fair amount of grain present throughout. Overall, this is an adequate visual presentation that could have been much better with a little print cleanup.

Sound:
The audio on this disc is presented in a Dolby Digital 5.1 format that isn't all that dynamic, but certainly gets the job done. The track handles the dialogue-heavy fare just fine, as dialogue is always crisp, clear, and distinct. It is always the main focus of this track and never becomes overwhelmed by the music or sound effects. Spatial separation across the front channels is good, and the track is well balanced. There are not a lot of opportunities for the surround channels to come alive, but they do a fine job of giving the jazzy, blues soundtrack a bit more ambience and power. There are times - such as during a rain scene - when the surrounds do come in handy. Don't expect to be blown away with sound effects, as A Love Song for Bobby Long is not that type of film. This track may not be incredibly dynamic, but is does a nice job where it really counts.

Extras:
The first extra feature on this disc is an audio commentary with Writer/Director Shainee Gabel and Director of Photography Elliot Davis. While the two seem to get along well, they're both so soft-spoken that they nearly put me to sleep with this track. Sure, we get the usual information about the production as Gabel tells us how the cast (and the film as a whole) came together, and Davis tells us why he chose to light a scene a certain way. But in a time when we hear so many commentaries on so many discs, this basic information isn't quite enough to make for a really engaging listen. Gabel seems to have the basic formula for an interesting commentary, but she rarely delivers. Although the track isn't a complete wash - it does prove to be fairly informative - next time I suggest a little more energy.

Also included on this disc is an approximately 30-minute long behind-the-scenes featurette that turns out to be a bit too produced for my taste. We get the standard interviews, with most of the principal cast and crew, mixed in with a few behind-the-scenes moments, and a few clips from the film. Everyone seems to have something intelligent to say about the film, which is good, but they seem to lack the passion that comes with a more on-the-fly featurette. This one, despite its length, seems too much like your typical EPK-style behind-the-scenes documentary. It may have succeeded, however, if not for the inclusion of some clips from the film that are just way too long. They are unnecessarily lengthy, and the featurette probably would have been much more interesting without them. Unfortunately, this documentary rarely moves beyond your standard EPK fare.

We also have eight deleted scenes that, thankfully, were left out of the film. It's not that they're bad or unworthy, but A Love Song for Bobby Long is already too long. Nevertheless, their inclusion on this disc is a nice little touch for those who want to see even more character development. One scene in particular is a special treat to all us Johansson fans as it shows her in a rather Meg-Ryan-in-the-diner-scene-from-When-Harry-Met-Sally moment. Very nice, if I don't say so myself.

Finally, there are nine trailers for A Love Song for Bobby Long, Wild Things: Diamond in the Rough, D.E.B.S., Imaginary Heroes, William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, The Brooke Ellison Story, Bewitched TV, 80s Hits, and Manny & Lo.

Final Thoughts:
I'll be the first to admit that the first time I saw A Love Song for Bobby Long, I wasn't exactly sure that I wanted to see it again. A repeat viewing, however, turned out to be a wise decision as the film became more engaging and heartfelt the second time around. Its mistakes - which seemed so glaring the first time around - tended to drift off into the ether as the environment and characters became the focal point. It may not be a film that will touch everyone who sees it, but A Love Song for Bobby Long delivers where it counts. The beautiful color palette, and the performances of Travolta, Johansson, and Macht make the film one worth seeing. While Warner Bros. has packed this disc with a nice assortment of extra features, they fail to elevate this disc to highly recommended simply for the fact that they don't add much to the enjoyment of the film. Nevertheless, on the strength of the film alone, this disc easily comes as recommended.