Crossing the Bridge / Indian Summer Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Crossing the Bridge / Indian Summer Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 8, 2018

It's difficult to consider Mike Binder as some type of filmmaking force, but he’s maintained a helming career for just over 25 years now, despite having made “Blankman.” To celebrate this unexpected professional longevity, Kino Lorber has collected his first two efforts for a Double Feature Blu- ray release. New to HD is 1992’s “Crossing the Bridge,” a nostalgic look at arrested development in the mid-1970s, and returning to Blu-ray is 1993’s “Indian Summer,” a more comedic look at the pains of maturing and the power of memories. The pictures showcase a more sensitive, reflective side to Binder, identifying his interest in characterization and location, spending equal time with both. He would go on to create a series of mediocre movies, but here, at the beginning, Binder offered a semi-flavorful appreciation for emotional nuance. Before “Blankman.”

Click here for a review of Crossing the Bridge

Click here for a review of Indian Summer

Crossing the Bridge / Indian Summer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Click here for a video review of Crossing the Bridge

Click here for a video review of Indian Summer

Crossing the Bridge / Indian Summer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Click here for an audio review of Crossing the Bridge

Click here for an audio review of Indian Summer

Crossing the Bridge / Indian Summer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Crossing the Bridge

• Interview (20:57, HD) with Mike Binder explores his early obsession with comedy, learning from the likes of Woody Allen, inspiring him to become a stand-up comedian and move from Michigan to Los Angeles. Trying his hand at screenwriting, Binder broke into Hollywood with his work on "Coupe de Ville," which eventually led to production on "Crossing the Bridge," an autobiographical tale that also represented his directorial debut. Binder details Jeffrey Katzenberg's enthusiasm for the movie, buying it from Sony, and his work on the soundtrack, securing tunes from Bob Seger and Jackson Browne, along with a score composed by Peter Himmelman (in his garage). For "Indian Summer," Binder discusses his history with Camp Tamakwa, where he palled around with Sam Raimi and was cared for by counselors such as Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner. Raimi's casting in the film was a personal touch, and the horror maestro kept himself busy dreaming up pratfalls. The director inspects the nostalgic aspects of the feature and his attempt to build a soundtrack appropriate for the era, only to be denied by Disney, who didn't want to spend any more money on the picture. Binder closes by sharing some screenwriting regrets, sharing with young talent the need to refine work before it's put in front of cameras.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:15, SD) is included.

Indian Summer

• A Promotional Clip (1:02, SD) is included.

Crossing the Bridge / Indian Summer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Crossing the Bridge" and "Indian Summer" have their charms and their insights into the hearts and minds of people struggling to make sense of the world. Binder provides a degree of wit with his work, and he has a nice command over his casts, bringing out the best in a few extremely limited actors. The disc includes a fine interview with Binder, covering both movies, but there's nothing new in the transfer department to refresh the work for HD viewing, making the disc merely adequate in the visual department. If you're a Binder fan, there's no upgrade for "Indian Summer," but the disc offers a chance to revisit "Crossing the Bridge," which may be more than enough to encourage a purchase.