Agreed. It's excellent. I have a hard time believing the program guide gives it 2-stars :confused:

I think it works because

2009 was a good year. Having few Criterions at 21-23 dollars was a regular thing for Amazon, plus they price-matched B&N -50% sales. Now it's different. Prices are $26 or more and rarely drop lower. Current sale came as a pleasant surprise to me. Too bad I could only afford one title at the moment. Ordered Sweet Smell of Success. :cool:

Bit the bullet and bought America Lost & Found at $52.99. A little steep for my pocket, but I suppose this is the best price that I can get it.

Blow Out
 

Just finished watching Blow Out on Blu-ray. And after years of the crappy MGM DVD this is finally how that Movie should look like.
It's such a great Movie, it's all over the place, most Movies about Movies are oriented on the impact of Hollywood on the Persons working there and on Audiences.
This Movie goes way beyond that. It's more in the direction of how the psyche of Nation can be manipulated by the power of pictures and the effect on the Individual. Because after all the political nightmares and paranoia, in the end it focuses (and that is a strike of genius) on Travoltas personal recurring error and the nightmare that follows.
Vilmos Zsigmond capturing of the red, white and blue urban landscapes/dreamscapes is great, and look at the camera movements from one cut to the next, this is perfection.
Sometimes you just have to go with Brian De Palma and don't be distracted by his love for a little bit over the top trashy romance and violence, just enjoy the sheer visceral rush of images and the joy found in his Movies.

Same here rezpekt...decided to buy Le Cercle Rouge, even though I wasn't thrilled by it on first viewing. I really like "Army" and "Samourai", and I like Melville, so I'm willing to give it a repeat viewing(s).

I watched "The King's Speech" this weekend and loved it...I might buy that this week as well. Glad it picked up the Best Picture and Lead Actor Oscars.

My wife and I also recently watched "A King's Speech" and I thought it was very well done...... Not sure I'll pick it up though.... same with "The Black Swan" which was a recent viewing as well.

"It's the code!";)

I love Le Cercle Rouge, but I think Dassin's Rififi, which deals with similar subject matter, is more direct and expresses the characters' mindsets clearly, so one understands why they take the paths they do; Melville expresses them more though mood and reflection.

Rkish, make sure you check out Leon Morin, pretre next month - I'd forgotten how good that was. Although it took me a few goes, I've become quite fond of Bob le flambeur. However, even though it was very well done, I'm going to need to rewatch Le Doulos a few more times; it's not premier Melville for me.

It beats me how Criterion has not yet put out any version of Le Silence de la mer :confused:

Originally Posted by charnier

It's a different thing with Rififi and Cercle Rouge, I think the idea behind Cercle Rouge is that it's not driven by the motivation of the Characters, it's their predestined way that they should meet and and the path it's already chosen by their actions and interactions prior to the point where they would have to decide something. It's already predestined. Like the way Delon and Volonte meet is nothing but a series of paths they have taken in their lives. BUT the important thing is they have learned in their lives how to recognize a good hand they have been dealt by chance.

Thanks for the heads up charnier! :)

I had planned on getting Leon Morin with a few of the other July releases...but will obviously wait until the B & N sale for it and hopefully the rest of the July releases.

I can stream Bob le Flambeur, but haven't gotten around to watching it yet. Le Doulos was pretty good (another stream), but I think I'll need to watch it again at some point to appreciate it more.

As I said earlier...I have enough of a respect and liking of Melville's films to give Le Cercle Rouge another chance.

I had not really considered pre-determination, but nevertheless it is referenced - in Rouge and Le Samourai, I think, Melville opens the films with quotes relating to Buddhism. What I really meant was though that characters like Corey and Jeff Costello in Meville tend to be characters of few words, but big actions - not explaining why they do what they do but doing it anyway, while Rififi's characters are big on both words and actions - Tony mentions the code to another character, and warns his friend . There is also the scene that invites comparison with both films -

Even though Rififi makes no reference to buddhism, one could also make the case that pre-determination applies in this film too - these characters choose to live their lives in such ways in both these films that certain outcomes are likely

FYI, Criterion has just put the clear cases back on their website. Unfortunately, they now sell them for $3 each or 5 for $12. They previously had them for $3 each or 6 for $12. Anyways, to get the free shipping, you need to order $50 worth.

I think Leon Morin is better than Melville's crime pictures (which are of course, exquisitely crafted) - just my opinion. I love how Belmundo plays against type and how the picture is atypical for Melville. Plus, Riva is incredible in anything I've seen her in.

She is gorgeous in Leon Morin.

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Leon Morin is indeed a great Movie. But still got to love his crime Movies. Love the way his color almost is like a black and white in Samurai more brown colored and in Cercle more blue. But I think Melville adds a nice touch to his Noir Inspired Movies. But not to say that it's better than Huston's Asphalt Jungle or Kubrick's The Killing, it's just his take on this kind of Movies.

Amazon sale is still going, but same films. I wish they mix in a few different films.

Yeah, I agree. I really want some of the future new ones to be on sale, like Diabolique, Solaris, and The Great Dictator.

Wait until we can restore our funds first.

ummm... are u sure you like movies?