Sid & Nancy (1986) Criterion 1080p BluRay HEVC EAC3-SARTRE + Extras

Punk rock's first great embodiment of the motto "live fast and die young," Sid Vicious joined The Sex Pistols when they were already established as the most controversial rock band in British history; and it soon became apparent that he couldn't play his instrument, had a magnetic attraction to chaos, and possessed a dangerous thirst for booze, drugs, and violence. Sid & Nancy opens shortly after Sid (Gary Oldman) joined the band, when he meets an obnoxious American punk groupie named Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb). Nancy claims that she can get drugs, and Sid naively gives her his money. Nancy doesn't show up with the goods, but when Sid runs into her a few days later, she has a tall tale about getting ripped off - and Sid sympathizes with her. Before long, Sid and Nancy have fallen in love, and while they argue with uncommon vehemence, they also depend completely on each other. When The Sex Pistols break up, Sid has few prospects and an increasingly voracious appetite for heroin, and Nancy's attempts to "manage" his career only hasten his downhill slide. Former Clash leader Joe Strummer wrote the film's theme song, "Love Kills," and The Pogues, The Circle Jerks, and Pray for Rain contributed to the soundtrack.

Extras

• England's Glory - This archival documentary was produced by Martin Turner in 1987. It blends raw footage from the shooting Sid & Nancy and some quite entertaining observations from cast and crew members. A couple of half-drunk blokes with meaningful things to say pop up in front of the camera as well. (31 min, 720p).

• Alex Cox - In this new video interview, director Alex Cox discusses his career, and the shooting and critical reception of Sid & Nancy in the U.S. and UK. The interview, which was conducted in 2016, also appears on the recent Region-B release from StudioCanal. (24 min, 720p).

• Sad Vacation - Presented here are excerpts from Danny Garcia's recent documentary Sad Vacation: The Last Days of Sid and Nancy (2016) with comments from actor Victor Colicchio, Howie Pyro (D Generation/Intoxica Radio), photographer Bob Gruen, actor Ned Van Zandt, author Brett Dunford, and Kenny "Stinker" Gordon (Pure Hell), amongst others. (15 min, 720p).

• D.O.A.: A Right of Passage - Presented here are scenes featuring the real Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen as well as some punk fans and anti-fans from D.O.A.: A Right of Passage, a documentary about Sex Pistols' American tour which was produced by Lech Kowalski in 1980. (11 min, 720p).

• Sid Vicious, 1978 - On January 19, 1978, five days after the last Sex Pistols concert and three days after experiencing nonfatal overdose, Sid Vicious got on a plane headed from San Francisco to London via New York. He fell into a drug-induced coma during the flight and, upon touchdown in New York, was rushed to Jamaica Hospital. Presented here is a phone interview with Sid Vicious which was conducted on the next day by photographer Roberta Bayley. (14 min, 720p).

• The Filth and the Fury! - Presented here is the notorious scandalous episode of the British program Today, hosted by Bill Grundy, that established the Sex Pistols' controversial image in the United Kingdom. (3 min, 720p).

• The London Weekend Show - Presented here are excerpts from British television journalist Janet Street-Porter's exploration of punk music and fashion in London that appeared on The London Weekend Show on November 28, 1976. Included in the excerpts are clips from interviews with the Sex Pistols and punk fans. (14 min, 720p).

• Audio Commentary One - This audio commentary features recorded interviews with screenwriter Abbe Wool, actors Gary Oldman and Choe Webb, cultural critic Greil Marcus, filmmakers Julien Temple and Lech Kowalski, and musician Eliot Kidd. The bulk of the information is about the era in which the Sex Pistols emerged and the disillusionment and frustration that was channeled through the punk movement, Sid Vicious' persona and controversial public image, the type of research that was done for Sid & Nancy and the representation/misrepresentation of facts and characters in the film, the death of Nancy Spungen, the music performance in the film, some of Roger Deakins' specific lensing choices, etc. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 1994.

• Audio Commentary Two - This audio commentary features director and cowriter Alex Cox and actor Andrew Schofield, who plays Johnny Rotten. The exchanges between the two gentlemen focus primarily on the shooting of various sequences from Sid & Nancy, the characterizations, and some of the music performances. There are plenty of very funny observations/comments as well. (See the segment with the dominatrix who reads a popular British feminist magazine). The commentary was recorded in 2001.

• Sid's Clothing - A short slideshow of Sid's clothing, designed by Malcom McLaren and Vivienne Westwood.

• Trailer - Original theatrical trailer for Sid & Nancy. (2 min, 720p).