Lucy (Rosanna Arquette, Pulp Fiction) is an underpaid waitress at “Dali”, a terminally hip New York City restaurant, who’s seriously in need of cash. Dali’s new, mysterious, charming (and very in debt) bartender, Monte (David Bowie, The Hunger) needs to marry someone, anyone, by the end of the week… or else. Together they join forces– along with Lucy’s lingerie designing best friend, Viv (Eszter Balint, Stranger Than Paradise) — to rob the popular eatery and solve their financial woes. However these three are far from master criminals and they soon learn that in robberies, as in love, things never go as planned.

This “lively and amusing” (Los Angeles Times) romantic caper co-stars Andre Gregory (Demolition Man), Buck Henry (Heaven Can Wait) and Academy Award® winner Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God) and features “David Bowie’s zaniest most underrated film role” (Collider) in this engaging romantic comedy from acclaimed director Richard Shepard (The Matador) in this never before seen director’s cut.

For thoughts on The Linguini Incident, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

The Linguini Incident makes its Blu-Ray debut courtesy of MVD Entertainment with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer of a new Director’s Cut in 1.78:1 sourced from a brand new 4K scan of the Interpositive. This film has largely been MIA on physical media since its theatrical release, so it is a huge win for this to get such loving treatment. Instances of age-related wear and tear such as nicks and scratches have been almost completely eradicated, and overall clarity and detail are quite a sight.

This transfer retains the natural film grain of the presentation with everything resolving clearly free of clumping or swarming. Scenes set in the bright daytime are vivid with loads of detail and wonderful color saturation. Shadowy environments likewise capture fine detail consistently thanks to deep black levels. The picture provides a robust amount of depth, and close-up shots showcase a stellar amount of subtle texture. Skin tones are natural and consistent with facial features easily noticeable. This presentation is an excellent effort that treats the film with respect.

Audio Quality

This new Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mix that injects life into this film. It features a very effective implementation of score and soundtrack which elevate the thematic resonance of certain events. As the music radiates through the room, you are treated to a soundscape typified by its clarity and overall fidelity. The snappy dialogue likewise holds up favorably, coming through clearly without being drowned out by competing elements. The environmental sound effects are distinguished nicely from the din of the restaurant to the city sounds. The track avoids instances of age-related wear and tear and distortion. This is a track that represents the film in its most ideal state. Optional English subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: Two new commentary tracks are provided by the creative team that give great insights into the history of the film, the efforts to reclaim this film with a fresh director’s cut, where everyone was at in their lives during the production, how they got the script to David Bowie, the financial realities of the film, alternate ideas for casting, the constructions of the set, and much more that is a terrific listen.

- Audio Commentary #1: Director Richard Shepard

- Audio Commentary #2: Director Richard Shepard, actors Rosanna Arquette and Eszter Balint, co-producer Sarah Jackson, and co-screenwriter Tamar Brott, moderated by “Cereal at Midnight’s” Heath Holland

The Making of The Linguini Incident: A magnificent 105-minute documentary featuring interviews with Richard Shepard, Tamar Brott, Rosanna Arquette, Eszter Balint, Marlee Matlin, Sarah Jackson, Marcia Hinds, and Richard von Ernst. This is the type of piece every film fan dreams of their favorite film getting as you trace the production from the development of the script to the release and lost legacy.

Original Theatrical Version (1:38:22): An option to watch the original theatrical version of the film in standard definition is provided.

Photo Gallery: A six-minute collection of archival photos narrated by Richard Shepard for context.

Introduction by Richard Shepard: A two-and-a-half-minute-long introduction by the filmmaker who discusses his relationship with the film and this new cut of the film.

Trailers: There is a 2024 Theatrical Trailer (1:42) and the Original Theatrical Trailer (2:18) provided for The Linguini Incident. There are also trailers provided for Delirious, Mr. Jealousy, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints, Highball, Zeroville, and Art School Confidential.

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring essays from film historian Graham Rinaldi and director Richard Shepard.

Final Thoughts

The Linguini Incident is a hidden gem that seamlessly blends a clever caper with a heartfelt love story filled with witty exchanges. There are a few advances that have not aged well, but David Bowie and Rosanna Arquette bounce off of one another with great exuberance. This world is also populated with colorful characters that make the story a bit more exciting. The film has a screwball energy that grabs you from the beginning and rarely lets go. MVD Entertainment has provided a Blu-Ray featuring a new Director’s Cut of the film, a lovely A/V presentation, and a bounty of special features. This one is begging to be rediscovered. Recommended

The Linguini Incident is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.