Looking to increase your hipness quotient? Check out three ultra-cool new DVDS, released under the umbrella title of the Directors Label, that showcase the influential music videos and short films of three innovative young directors.
The Work of Director Spike Jonze (Palm Pictures, $19.99)
Jonze, who directed the quirky Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, first gained attention in the mid-'90s for making weirdly watchable music videos such as having the Beastie Boys parody '70s cop shows for "Sabotage" and Christopher Walken gliding through a hotel lobby to Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice." Viewing these plus 14 others, one sees Jonze grow exponentially in the sophistication of his ideas and execution.
Extras: Short films (the deceptively breezy How They Got There is a hoot) and documentaries, mostly music-themed. (Not rated)
The Work of Director Michel Gondry (Palm Pictures, $19.99)
The French-born Gondry (Human Relations) dolefully claims he opted for quantity rather than quality here, but his Lego-licious video for the White Stripes' "Fell In Love with a Girl" and 26 others are striking in their conceptual integrity. (Not rated)
The Work of Director Chris Cunningham (Palm pictures, $19.99)
London-based Cunningham's mind-searing imagery (check out what he does to Björk in "All Is Full of Love" and Madonna in "Frozen") have deservedly earned him a shot at directing the forthcoming movie version of William Gibson's cult novel Neuromancer. (Not rated)
