I recall watching the previews for the indie movie The Station Agent about three disparate people (a woman whose son died a couple years before, a solitary dwarf who inherits a train depot, and talkative food truck guy) who become friends. It also was on IFC or something a week or so ago, but I only caught a few minutes. But, I did see it in the library, and noticed the DVD had a commentary track. Liking those things, I borrowed and enjoyed it, listening to the commentary first.
An interesting (or weird, ok) way of going about it perhaps, especially since unlike let us say Finding Neverland (good movie, good commentary), I never saw the movie. But, it does supply an interesting perspective, and suggests that people could watch movies without sound (not that they ever did that ... that would be lame!). The commentary was nifty in that it had the (first time) director and the three stars, and they interacted well. The three did well in the movie as well, it working on its own, putting aside the "hook" of the dwarf -- let's not be politically correct and say that he was of no note.
The movie also had some good small roles, which tend to make the movie, so to speak. For instance, Michelle Williams (now best known as the spurned wife in Brokeback Mountain, previous for Dawson's Creek ... a teen actress that has shown some success on the big screen after she got a bit older) played a cute local librarian. Another actor that I have seen over the years (including in a Lifetime comedy/drama some time ago that I wished last longer) had a bit part as Patricia Clarkson's (who, I'm sorry, had this titilicious thing going -- was it cold on location?) ex-husband, and was very good in his scene.
Clarkson btw is one of those actresses usually seen in these indie movies (Pieces of April is another one ... Dawson Creek co-star continuing to shine ... and having Tom Cruise's baby) that is great. She also has an understated sexiness (showed in an almost throwaway fashion here). Peter Dinklage (who had a bit in Elf -- not as an elf) was very good as well and has great reaction shots, including when dealing with the food truck guy who uses mindless chatter as a way to cover up insecurities as much as the other two use silence. He comes up third in the film, but as with the locales (and even his truck ... as the commentary notes, it too is an important background prop), serves an important function ... largely, I guess, as a sort of catalyst.
It was good sans commentary too. I'd add that various choices, including framing of shots and so forth, were just perfect. The craft required in good moviemaking (for all sorts of purposes) is amazing.