The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
August 2005 Reviewed by: Roger Kanno Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is a whimsical comedy from Wes Anderson. In it Bill Murray plays oceanographer Steve Zissou, who sets out on an expedition to track down and kill the deadly Jaguar Shark that he has discovered. Although the premise of the film is his quest to avenge the death of his colleague who was killed by the shark, the film is more a character study of Zissou and the supporting characters. Bill Murray is perfect as the eccentric, aging oceanographer who seems resigned to his failing career and loveless marriage. Anjelica Huston and Owen Wilson also have their moments, but the rest of the cast, which includes Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe and Jeff Goldblum, is mostly wasted. The film is slow moving, but there are some genuinely funny and original moments. Some will find the understated comedy to be brilliant while others will find it simply tedious. I wished that the comedic moments were more frequent, but still found the film to be moderately amusing, especially upon second viewing.

Both Dolby Digital and DTS audio options are included. The two versions of the soundtrack are sometimes nearly monophonic and do not differ noticeably from each other. Dialogue is often anchored to the center channel, with little activity in any of the other channels. The surrounds are used almost exclusively for low-level ambience. The music score is well recorded, but is also confined primarily to the front channels. Overall, the soundtrack is disappointing in its lack of dimensionality and creativity. It does little to enhance the viewing experience.

Conversely, the picture quality is outstanding, sometimes breathtaking in its clarity. Admittedly, the picture can be a bit warm and slightly soft at times, but the detail and realism of the colors of Zissou’s ship, the Belafonte, when it is at sea are spectacular. Both indoor and outdoor scenes seem to have natural lighting, with perfect contrast that does not sacrifice detail or color fidelity. Even the over-saturated look of Zissou’s documentary films within the movie give that footage an authentic 16mm-like appearance.

The Criterion Collection package includes a second disc that is full of extras. Although they are not groundbreaking, they are extensive. I found the interview with composer Mark Mothersbaugh, formerly of Devo, to be the most interesting. They also include multiple behind-the-scenes and documentary features, photos, artwork, and complete performances of ten David Bowie songs in Portuguese by actor Seu Jorge. The first disc also includes a director’s commentary, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and theatrical trailer.

The gorgeous picture quality and the plentiful extras alone almost make The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou worth recommending. Criterion has done a wonderful job in producing this DVD. And if you are a fan of Wes Anderson’s previous film, The Royal Tenenbaums, you will probably enjoy this thoughtful, but somewhat melancholy comedy.

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