The Criterion Collection

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Se.Vero

I also like his movies very much, however i found "Life during wartime" a bit weaker than other movies by him, especially "Happiness" which is his masterpiece in my book, and would truly deserve an upgrade from the non-anamorphic dvd.

I've only seen Happiness, but man... Unforgettable! I remember catching myself laughing while thinking "oh my god, this is terrible!"

[theater dreamer]

Ok guys, give me your top five Criterion documentaries. These can be your favorites, or the ones you think represent the best, and most compelling. Let me know what the list represents. You can also do one for each option.

I'm looking to start buying some more documentaries. They are grossly underrepresented in my collection, and I want to branch out.

The ones I've seen thus far:

Hoop Dreams
A Brief History of Time
The Thin Blue Line

The Hawking doc is in my collection, and the other two will be soon. I like Errol Morris' style a lot.

Which are must haves? I'll be adding the Ingrid Bergman doc soon, as I love me some Ingrid Bergman.

[Gacivory]

My Top Documentaries

Hoop Dreams
The War Room
The Thin Blue Line
F For Fake
Les Blank: Always For Pleasure

[theater dreamer]

I just need to buy Hoop Dreams, already. It's been showing on Showtime, and I've watched it like three times in the last few weeks. It's just gripping, even though I know the outcome now.

[nitin]

Don't Look Back is essential.

[theater dreamer]

You know, I have been meaning to explore Dylan. I've heard some of his music, and of course, his influence is all over the music I listen to. Maybe I just need to get this, and watch it as my introduction to the man.

Originally Posted by nitin

Don't Look Back is essential.

[jw007]

My favorite Criterion documentary releases (that I own):

1. Burden of Dreams (Les Blank)
2. Grey Gardens (Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer)
3. The Thin Blue Line (Errol Morris)
4. Crumb (Terry Zwigoff)
5. Les Blank: Always for Pleasure (Les Blank)
6. Gimme Shelter (David Maysles, Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin)
7. Eclipse Series 2: The Documentaries of Louis Malle (Louis Malle)
8. For All Mankind (Al Reinert)
9. War Room (Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker)
10. Don't Look Back (D. A. Pennebaker)

Bonus. Hoop Dreams (Steve James)

[ravenus]

The other day I saw Frank Capra's It Happened One Night. Earlier I had seen an unauthorized 90's era Bollywood ripoff of this film called Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin (literally, The Heart Doesn't Agree) In the story, spoilt heiress (Claudette Colbert) that wants to marry some flash-in-the-pan suitor runs off from home (in this case, dives off a yacht) and encounters a fast-talking worldly-wise journalist (Clark Gable) willing to help her in return for the exclusive scoop, only on the way they develop feelings for each other. A small modicum of misunderstanding is followed by a happy ending. Pretty good film on its own, and it's regarded as a pioneer of the rom-com genre. The film was shot on a tight schedule and budget, mostly on outdoor locations and a few simple sets. But there is a snappy chemistry between the leads and visual artistry on hand here, mainly in the night-time sequences with wonderful shadowy ambience, or the scene where Gable carries Colbert across the river, the ripples reflecting shimmery sunlight. And while the film offers glimpses of working class America during the Depression Era, unlike some of Capra's other films, it doesn't stop to give on-the-nose speeches about selflessness and universal fraternity.

Criterion's blu-ray (coming off a digital restoration done in India at Prasad Studios, Chennai) gives an expectedly good presentation of the film (although multiple film sources of different quality seem to have been used). Extras are significant, including a critical discussion of the film, a feature-length docu called Frank Capra's American Dream, an hour long edit of the tribute paid to Capra when he was given the Lifetime Achievement award by the American Film Institute etc.

[theater dreamer]

It Happened One Night is probably my favorite screwball comedy, of the ones I've seen thus far. It's really well done. Gable and Colbert have a really playful chemistry together.

[sawdustandtinsel]

Top 5 Documentaries (that I own):
1. Night and Fog
2. F For Fake
3. Grey Gardens
4. The Qatsi Trilogy (specifically Koyaanisqatsi, the other 2 aren't nearly as good IMO)
5. Hearts and Minds

Also, I think the two most underrated Eclipse boxes are the Allan King and Louis Malle documentaries.

[Vinyl]

For documentaries what about "For All Mankind"? That is very enjoyable to me.

[Scottie]

Koyaanisqatsi is the best documentary released by Criterion IMO.

[Sifox211]

Another vote for Les Blank - Always for pleasure - that set is ten hours of pure genius!

Also for most enjoyable:

Eclipse Series 43: Agnès Varda in California
Qatsi Trilogy
Dont Look Back

[billy pilgrim]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Ok guys, give me your top five Criterion documentaries. These can be your favorites, or the ones you think represent the best, and most compelling. Let me know what the list represents. You can also do one for each option.

I'm looking to start buying some more documentaries. They are grossly underrepresented in my collection, and I want to branch out.

The ones I've seen thus far:

Hoop Dreams
A Brief History of Time
The Thin Blue Line

The Hawking doc is in my collection, and the other two will be soon. I like Errol Morris' style a lot.

Which are must haves? I'll be adding the Ingrid Bergman doc soon, as I love me some Ingrid Bergman.

Hearts and Minds

Crumb

Both are excellent, IMHO

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Ok guys, give me your top five Criterion documentaries. These can be your favorites, or the ones you think represent the best, and most compelling. Let me know what the list represents. You can also do one for each option.

Sans Soleil
Gimme Shelter
For All Mankind
Hoop Dreams

I'm generally not a fan of documentaries, and I prefer fictional films by a long mile, but the Force is strong with the above titles.

Documentaries are "strongly underrepresented" in my Blu-ray collection, and, in fact, I only own eight documentary titles in general.
That is... If you count the Code Red Blu-ray of Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot/Encounter with the Unknown as a documentary. Hahahahahahahaha. (Blu-ray.com counts it as such.)

This reminds me that I need to watch my Blu-ray of Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel soon.

[mja345]

Hoop Dreams
The Thin Blue Line
For All Mankind
Crumb
Salesman

Those would be my top 5 documentaries in the collection, but I love "Hearts and Minds", "Gimme Shelter", "Don't Look Back", "A Brief History of Time", and "The War Room" as well. Also, "The Kennedy Films of Robert Drew and Associates" are well worth checking out.

One documentary I'd love to see Criterion release is the Robert Evans doc "The Kid Stays in the Picture". Also, I'd love to see some more Morris docs in the collection, like "Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control" or "The Fog of War".

[ShellOilJunior]

This one is not bad.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

This one is not bad.

I've still never checked that out. I still need to make it all the way through the entire Woodstock set I have, which is great, just easier to watch incrementally.

[buffetfroid]

For docs, I'll put in a vote for Teshigahara's Antonio Gaudi. Combine Teshigahara's style with Gaudi's architecture...perfect match!

[shadedpain4]

I know it doesn't have it's own release, but Tokyo-ga is my favorite doc in the collection.