The Criterion Collection

[dwk]

Originally Posted by Takeshi666

I've been watching the Criterion discs from 2010 that were listed as potentially affected by disc rot and it seems my copy of Sanjuro has it pretty bad.

Did Criterion ever expand the replacement program beyond the initial ten or am I stuck with this?

If the disc no longer works, email them. You most likely will have to send the disc to them, but they are pretty good about exchanging faulty discs.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Takeshi666

Did Criterion ever expand the replacement program beyond the initial ten or am I stuck with this?

At that time, Criterion was trying to manage what might've been a deluge of returns. In the 30+ years they've been in business, they've never failed to replace a faulty disc.

Well, I suppose if I found one of my Criterion LDs went bad, they probably wouldn't replace it, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they sent me a DVD (assuming it was a title they released on DVD) as a replacement.

[Scottie]

Polish film director Andrzej Wajda dies

Oscar-winning Polish film director Andrzej Wajda has died aged 90, the Polish Filmmakers' Association has confirmed.

He made more than 40 feature films in a career spanning 60 years.

Many of his films - including Kanal, Man of Marble, Man of Iron and Katyn - were inspired by Poland's turbulent wartime and communist history.

In 2000, Wajda was awarded an honorary Oscar for his contribution to world cinema.

'Be alert to everything'

Wajda had been recently taken to hospital.

Unconfirmed reports say he died of lung failure.

Wajda's last film Powidoki (Afterimage) tells the life story of the avant-garde painter Wladyslaw Strzeminski, who suffered under the post-war Stalinist government in Poland.

The director said he wanted to "warn against state intervention in art".

The film was recently chosen as Poland's official entry for the best foreign language film at the 2017 Oscars.

Four of Wajda's earlier works had been nominated for that category. Man of Iron won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1981.

Wajda once said that "the good Lord gave the director two eyes - one to look into the camera, the other to be alert to everything that is going on around him."

Wajda was born in 1926 in the north-eastern Polish town of Suwalki.

His father was among the victims of the Katyn massacre of Polish army
officers by the Soviet Union in 1940.

Wajda tried to follow in his father's footsteps, but was rejected by a military academy, and joined the Polish resistance in World War Two.

During World War Two, Wajda joined the Polish resistance. He later studied to be a painter, before entering the Lodz Film School.

In 1955, he made his feature film debut with Generation, set during the German occupation of Warsaw in World War Two. It was followed by Kanal, and Ashes and Diamonds, which form a trilogy about life in wartime Poland.

Some of his films found disfavour with the communist rulers of Poland because of their trenchant portraits of the wartime Warsaw Uprising and the suppression of the Solidarity movement in the 1980s.

It was only after the fall of communism in 1989 that he was able to make his film about Katyn.

"I never thought I would live to see the moment when Poland would be a free country," Wajda said in a 2007 interview with the Associated Press.

"I thought I would die in that system. It was so surprising and so extraordinary that I lived to see freedom."

Following Poland's first free elections in 1990, he served for two years as a senator in the upper house of parliament.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37603756

[I KEEL YOU]

RIP. A highly respected director. Martin Scorsese has Ashes and Diamonds in his top 10 movies ever list and Stanley Kubrick called Danton the greatest historical movie ever made. We lost two truly all-time great directors in Wajda and Kiarostami in 2016.

[zakzak]

The recent John Wick 2 poster reminds a lot of people of Lloyd's old B&W called Two Gun Gussies. I wish Criterion would release more Lloyd's stuff

Two Gun Gussies

[kuro_sawa]

RIP

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

RIP. A highly respected director. Martin Scorsese has Ashes and Diamonds in his top 10 movies ever list and Stanley Kubrick called Danton the greatest historical movie ever made. We lost two truly all-time great directors in Wajda and Kiarostami in 2016.

I would also add Curtis Hanson. While he did not have the body of work like the ones of Wajda or Kiarostami, I would name L.A. Confidential as one of the greatest films of the 90's and one of the last outstanding neo-noirs.

R.I.P. all three!

[theater dreamer]

Every year is rough, as far as losing artistic greats. But 2016, for me, will go down as one of the years of greatest loss. 2016 started off on a real sour note when David Bowie died. Glenn Frey a week later. It's gone on and on since then.

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

RIP. A highly respected director. Martin Scorsese has Ashes and Diamonds in his top 10 movies ever list and Stanley Kubrick called Danton the greatest historical movie ever made. We lost two truly all-time great directors in Wajda and Kiarostami in 2016.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Every year is rough, as far as losing artistic greats. But 2016, for me, will go down as one of the years of greatest loss. 2016 started off on a real sour note when David Bowie died. Glenn Frey a week later. It's gone on and on since then.

Don't forget the great Gene Wilder, Alan Rickman, The incomparable Abe Vigoda, Michael Cimino. Not to mention a huge number of character actors. It does seem this year has seen more then its fair share.

[pedromvu]

So yesterday I watched Valley of the Dolls, and not knowing much about it I must say I don't really get why it is so hated.

I mean it mostly plays like a typical big Hollywood movie which I wasn't expecting considering it seems to be a film with cult following, it reminded me a lot of A Star is Born with Judy Garland (haven't seen other versions).

And I am quite puzzled reading the IMDb boards, the movie seems quite serious and depressing yet it is regarded as having a lot of camp, I have seen a lot of campy films and I don't think this had any, sure the writing is not all that good specially noticeable with the character motivations and at the end, and some of the acting is not great, but I thought it was an OK movie still, not sure why it get picked by Criterion but that is a matter of personal opinion as I could name several others in the same situation.

Maybe I am just used to switch gears and see old movies differently but I even thought the music and songs were fine.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

So yesterday I watched Valley of the Dolls, and not knowing much about it I must say I don't really get why it is so hated.

I mean it mostly plays like a typical big Hollywood movie which I wasn't expecting considering it seems to be a film with cult following, it reminded me a lot of A Star is Born with Judy Garland (haven't seen other versions).

And I am quite puzzled reading the IMDb boards, the movie seems quite serious and depressing yet it is regarded as having a lot of camp, I have seen a lot of campy films and I don't think this had any, sure the writing is not all that good specially noticeable with the character motivations and at the end, and some of the acting is not great, but I thought it was an OK movie still, not sure why it get picked by Criterion but that is a matter of personal opinion as I could name several others in the same situation.

Maybe I am just used to switch gears and see old movies differently but I even thought the music and songs were fine.

I haven't watched either, but isn't it Beyond the Valley of the Dolls that's more known to be a campy satirical parody of the original?

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I haven't watched either, but isn't it Beyond the Valley of the Dolls that's more known to be a campy satirical parody of the original?

I think so, I've yet to watch that one, but the first one is definitely regarded as campy:

http://decider.com/2015/08/27/valley...e-about-drugs/

BTW you can check it out on Netflix currently.

Edit: Maybe after having seen too much old and Bollywood films, I developed a resistance against camp, I know it bothers a lot of people and is what keep some avoiding some old films, but I don't mind it that much.

[jw007]

I watched Salesman the other night for the first time and really liked this documentary film by the Maysles brothers. Has anyone else watched this?

I liked how there was nothing irrelevant about this film even today. The social commentary and context was not outdated even though it took place in the mid to late 1960s. The grueling hustling of having to go from door to door to try and pitch a bible (from the Mid-American Bible Company) and even plead for a $1 a week payment plan was quite impressive. I enjoyed some of the main characters, esp. the Gipper, the Badger, the Bull and the Rabbit. What I really enjoyed the most was the downtime footage of these men hanging out in motel rooms talking about how their day went and how many bibles they sold. They all traveled together in packs without GPS technology. I particularly enjoyed the scene when the Badger (Paul Brennan) was driving around Opa Locka, FL, trying to find one particular owner who he had a lead with. You can see how it took a toll on this guy towards the end of the story. It takes a certain type of person to hustle like this, one with charm and resilience.

A job like this reminded me of some canvassing experiences I had a few times with the Sierra Club as well as this solar power company I was working for, for a week out of the summer, trying to make quota. The latter was just dropping off pamphlets at every front door, so I didn't have to confront any residents. The sheer repetition and exercise and dangers (scary barking dogs, suspicious neighbors with guns, slipping on steps or pavement, etc.) was not worth it for me in the end, esp. since it was basically a part-time job.

I definitely recommend this film if you're a fan of good documentaries. The Maysles bros. captured a time capsule with this film.

[Scottie]

Pedro --

I, too, watched both "Dolls" films this weekend.

I didn't particularly enjoy either film, but I also wouldn't consider them some of the worst films to be made.

My criticism with "Valley" is not so much its campiness. Instead, it's the dullness associated with its campiness. The film doesn't really want to know what it wants to be yet it continues to take itself seriously. Is it supposed to be a melodramatic musical about three characters falling victim to Hollywood and show business? Is it supposed to be a critique on glitz and glamour? Is it supposed to be a provocative comedy about how characters fall into a vicious cycle of drugs and disarray and get nothing resolved? All I know is that I had enough after 30 minutes or so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In contrast, I enjoyed "Beyond" much more. Unlike "Valley" this film does not take itself seriously. It's merely a parody of the first film with cheesy music, a cheesy plot, and lots and lots of sex (which got boring after quite some time). The one thing I preferred in "Valley" is that the characters' motivations for going into show business seemed much more explicit. In this film, happenstance brought a musician to Los Angeles and she fell victim to the party culture and getting ahead any way she could.

[bwdowiak]

maybe I'd like the second one, but you guys are pretty much describing the experience I had with the first film years ago. I just felt it was kind of a non-event. I think 'camp,' just like comedy is pretty subjective. it didn't work for me on that level and not really on any other level either.

I did see a clip in Roger Ebert's Life Itself documentary from the second film that seemed kinda funny - the "in a Bentley, a BENTLEY, A BENTLEY!!" bit.

[jhiggy23]

Voyage of Time in IMAX is a phenomenal experience. I'd highly recommend it for those that have the opportunity.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Voyage of Time in IMAX is a phenomenal experience. I'd highly recommend it for those that have the opportunity.

I hate you

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

I would also add Curtis Hanson. While he did not have the body of work like the ones of Wajda or Kiarostami, I would name L.A. Confidential as one of the greatest films of the 90's and one of the last outstanding neo-noirs.

R.I.P. all three!

Yeah, RIP to Curtis Hanson as well. He could've had a greater directorial career with a little more luck.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jw007

[Show spoiler]I watched Salesman the other night for the first time and really liked this documentary film by the Maysles brothers. Has anyone else watched this?

I liked how there was nothing irrelevant about this film even today. The social commentary and context was not outdated even though it took place in the mid to late 1960s. The grueling hustling of having to go from door to door to try and pitch a bible (from the Mid-American Bible Company) and even plead for a $1 a week payment plan was quite impressive. I enjoyed some of the main characters, esp. the Gipper, the Badger, the Bull and the Rabbit. What I really enjoyed the most was the downtime footage of these men hanging out in motel rooms talking about how their day went and how many bibles they sold. They all traveled together in packs without GPS technology. I particularly enjoyed the scene when the Badger (Paul Brennan) was driving around Opa Locka, FL, trying to find one particular owner who he had a lead with. You can see how it took a toll on this guy towards the end of the story. It takes a certain type of person to hustle like this, one with charm and resilience.

A job like this reminded me of some canvassing experiences I had a few times with the Sierra Club as well as this solar power company I was working for, for a week out of the summer, trying to make quota. The latter was just dropping off pamphlets at every front door, so I didn't have to confront any residents. The sheer repetition and exercise and dangers (scary barking dogs, suspicious neighbors with guns, slipping on steps or pavement, etc.) was not worth it for me in the end, esp. since it was basically a part-time job.

I definitely recommend this film if you're a fan of good documentaries. The Maysles bros. captured a time capsule with this film.

I saw this film recently too. It wasn't a particularly entertaining experience, but it was an incredibly insightful one. Maysles really gets some audacious stuff on film...but it happens to be in small slice of life nuggets. People are flat out getting swindled. Buying shit they don't need and putting it all on credit no less.

It's just uncanny how this film predates the credit crisis of a few years ago.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by jw007

[Show spoiler]I watched Salesman the other night for the first time and really liked this documentary film by the Maysles brothers. Has anyone else watched this?

I liked how there was nothing irrelevant about this film even today. The social commentary and context was not outdated even though it took place in the mid to late 1960s. The grueling hustling of having to go from door to door to try and pitch a bible (from the Mid-American Bible Company) and even plead for a $1 a week payment plan was quite impressive. I enjoyed some of the main characters, esp. the Gipper, the Badger, the Bull and the Rabbit. What I really enjoyed the most was the downtime footage of these men hanging out in motel rooms talking about how their day went and how many bibles they sold. They all traveled together in packs without GPS technology. I particularly enjoyed the scene when the Badger (Paul Brennan) was driving around Opa Locka, FL, trying to find one particular owner who he had a lead with. You can see how it took a toll on this guy towards the end of the story. It takes a certain type of person to hustle like this, one with charm and resilience.

A job like this reminded me of some canvassing experiences I had a few times with the Sierra Club as well as this solar power company I was working for, for a week out of the summer, trying to make quota. The latter was just dropping off pamphlets at every front door, so I didn't have to confront any residents. The sheer repetition and exercise and dangers (scary barking dogs, suspicious neighbors with guns, slipping on steps or pavement, etc.) was not worth it for me in the end, esp. since it was basically a part-time job.

I definitely recommend this film if you're a fan of good documentaries. The Maysles bros. captured a time capsule with this film.

I have not seen this and really should make the effort. Coincidentally, I have Glengarry Glen Ross on order, which is released tomorrow. One of my favourite films, although depressing subject matter. Obviously quite different from Salesman, but I'd be interested in comparing the two.