Insignificance

Taking a “what if?” approach, Terry Johnson's play Insignificance envisioned how a meeting between Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, Sen. Joe McCarthy, and Joe DiMaggio might play out. Adapted for film in 1985 by experimental auteur Nicolas Roeg, the famous faces are never identified specifically. We see a renowned blond actress (Theresa Russell) spend time with a forward- thinking professor (Michael Emil) and a sly, unscrupulous senator (Tony Curtis), after which a ballplayer (Gary Busey) shows up to make matters even more confusing. Over the course of a long night in a New York City hotel, the foursome explore many topics, including celebrity, power, sex, and nuclear paranoia. Even working within a single setting, Roeg shines behind the lens. Offering more tightly-wound angst than gossipy dish, Insignificance makes its second appearance on DVD and a Blu-ray debut with extras including new interviews with Roeg and editor Tony Lawson, a “making-of” featurette, and a booklet. Recommended. (B. Gibron)