The Criterion Collection

[UNCMT9]

Anyone familiar with these two works from Ray? I loved the Music Room but know nothing about these two releases.

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'm just going to call it right now. Although, my preference is for Lubitsch and Ophuls, quite a few people will be floored by Seconds. I expect to see it on a bunch of "best Criterion releases of 2013 lists."

Seconds is definitely a movie worth watching. Sure, the Twilight Zone appeal is there but this one is particularly creepy and unsettling. And that ending! Wow.

Still, it's a one and done title for me. No new Criterions have caught my eye so far this year and I'm saving up for Seven Samurai when the next Flash Sale rolls around. Figured it's finally time to add it to my collection.

[zoodermin]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I think Criterion forgot about Y Tu Mama Tambien? and Grey Gardens.

Both have been hinted for a while.

I would love to see Grey Gardens on Blu. One of the best documentaries I've seen. I also want the HBO TV movie on Blu. Both are excellent and compliment each other perfectly.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

What's wrong with wanting more Kubrick? Is he not obscure enough?

Well I would like to think Fassbinder isn't obscure either but if you want to come to conclusions on my opinion for disliking something, go right ahead, because it seems to go in a circle around here.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by kolosomo

It's a bit rich coming from SpiderBaby who claims to have almost no interest every single month. Maybe it's ignorance, maybe it's not. Who cares.

Well if you want me to join in for the dislike for this month, I will be happy to include that I think this Fassbinder release is pointless, in the fact that you can get all these films plus 4 more for about $7 more on Amazon right now in a set. Also the fact that these were all released separately by Wellspring on dvd, that also included little things like trailers and short films. I doubt there were any new restorations done to these either, so there, now I'm joining in.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by buffetfroid

Artwork for Earrings clearly done by same person who did Belle de Jour

This has not been news since at least January 2012.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

What's wrong with wanting more Kubrick? Is he not obscure enough?

Kubrick is one of my favourite directors but every one of his films is now available on Blu-Ray. Sure, some transfers can be improved - Spartacus in particular - and you may even want HD transfers for Day of the Fight and Flying Padre, but these are surely a lesser priority than getting films out Blu-Ray/DVD that haven't been gifted that opportunity before?

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Just a small note that Cohen Media will be releasing Rene Clement's The Damned. We could not review the Gaumont release because it is not English-friendly, but I would like to strongly recommend this film (and the French transfer is beautiful). It has been very difficult to see on this side of the Atlantic for many years:

Pro-B

I saw that, Pro-B! Excellent news.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Well if you want me to join in for the dislike for this month, I will be happy to include that I think this Fassbinder release is pointless, in the fact that you can get all these films plus 4 more for about $7 more on Amazon right now in a set. Also the fact that these were all released separately by Wellspring on dvd, that also included little things like trailers and short films. I doubt there were any new restorations done to these either, so there, now I'm joining in.

I think it's an outcome of their deal with RWF Foundation, and how they want Fassbinder's films curated together. If RWF Fdn and/or Criterion can't afford restorations, they end up on Eclipse. I'm not surprised, but it is a little disappointing (although surely Holy ***** could have warranted a bare-bones blu-ray at least?). The more chronological approach is more appealing, too, as the Arrow collections are a bit all over the place.

My biggest disappointment out of this is that it likely means no Fassbinder Blu-ray releases for some time. I was hoping for a BRD upgrade by November and now I'd hazard to guess we won't see any more RWF releases from Criterion until at least 2014.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I think Criterion forgot about Y Tu Mama Tambien? and Grey Gardens.

Both have been hinted for a while.

I bet your right. Have you emailed them to remind them?

Tambien is at the mercy of Cuaron's involvement, as has been reported numerous times here and elsewhere.

Both films are currently available on DVD or to stream if you're really itching to see them.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Never heard of Seconds.

John Frankenheimer, a few years before The Manchurian Candidate.
(And if you never thought Angela Lansbury could play a creepy nasty, wait till you get a load of Will "Grandpa Walton" Geer... )

Originally Posted by dsman71

I never said his films were bad or good for one thing...BUT seeing some of the greatest films ever I can confidently say a lot of us would not think these APU movies wouldn't be as good. Its a taste issue.

Ok you call yourself Sherlock Jr and has nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes, ok that's logical

It's referring to a Buster Keaton film you haven't seen either.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I think it's an outcome of their deal with RWF Foundation, and how they want Fassbinder's films curated together. If RWF Fdn and/or Criterion can't afford restorations, they end up on Eclipse. I'm not surprised, but it is a little disappointing (although surely Holy ***** could have warranted a bare-bones blu-ray at least?). The more chronological approach is more appealing, too, as the Arrow collections are a bit all over the place.

My biggest disappointment out of this is that it likely means no Fassbinder Blu-ray releases for some time. I was hoping for a BRD upgrade by November and now I'd hazard to guess we won't see any more RWF releases from Criterion until at least 2014.

Very true, and I'm not disappointed with this release but with what the future holds with some of the other Wellspring/Janus pick ups of the Fassbinder films, as Bitter Tears, etc certainly hasn't got any new restoration work done either, so are they just going to put that on Eclipse too? That would suck.

The best thing about the Fassbinder Foundation though is that they seem focused on restoring Fassbinder's obscure films, the TV films. As they go through them, we will start seeing those on blu-ray, as what happened with Despair, World on a Wire, Stationmaster's Wife in a few months and in a couple years Eight Hours Are Not a Day.

The funny thing is, that these obscure Fassbinder films never seen the light of day until now, and they will have better restoration work and releases than most of Fassbinder's most known.

[Archedamian]

I am pretty excited about The Earrings of Madame De... I will definitely be picking it up.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

It's not as though the multiple interests that Criterion engages with and caters to are mutually exclusive . . . Lubitsch's To Be very clearly played into the many influences that drove Mel Brooks (watch To Be alongside The Producers), and as others have pointed out, Ophuls has been a primary source of inspiration and innovation for directors as diverse as Kubrick and Linklater, and Seconds in its engagement with sci-fi, the thriller, and paranoia as genre forms would make a wonderful double-bill with something like Vanilla Sky, Following, Memento, or Inception. So to me, these movies are not only exceptional in themselves - they also provide a helpful and necessary context for understanding more recent and perhaps more popular, or publicly, or critically recognized work. My respect for Criterion has to do with the fact that the company brings out a range of releases so that these contexts can be part of how we as fans and consumers experience the films, because they do enrich those experiences. Being able to watch Dazed and Confused just wouldn't be the same without being able to pop in Ophuls - for its own sake, and for the sake of understanding film as art and history.

Originally Posted by AverageAtBest

I kinda like when I haven't heard of a movie in a month of criterion releases. Not even being sarcastic I like it because I get to discover new directors or genres most of the time.

Thank you both. There is a great language and history to cinema, and Criterion does a pretty good job of representing key pieces of it. It kind of floors me that people could be attracted to the brand and seemingly so intellectually incurious toward what the brand really entails.

Some of these films can be a bit like eating your veggies, but you need that so that you don't become a big Cheeto-stained blob. Being willfully ignorant and "meh"ing like some kind of jaded hipster sheep in a public forum just makes you come across as bland. I'm certainly not urging people to drop $40 on a blind buy but rent something outside of your comfort zone once in a while if you're actually calling yourself a film buff. (And this is coming from someone who is really looking forward to Scanners, so I'm not a ****ing snob, although I'm also really looking forward to Marketa Lazarova, too!)

[georgec]

Nothing there for me, but I'm not complaining.

[Brad1963]

I never have issue with Criterion's choices; they stay true to their goal which is to bring quality filmmaking of all genres, countries and decades to enthusiasts who love film. I'm always amazed on how many people gripe each month about not knowing films or filmmakers and complain about what they want and aren't getting. The joy of Criterion is the discovery; trying something new and perhaps finding a new film or filmmaker you could admire. IMO 2013 has been exceptional and l have no complaints about any of the titles.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Very true, and I'm not disappointed with this release but with what the future holds with some of the other Wellspring/Janus pick ups of the Fassbinder films, as Bitter Tears, etc certainly hasn't got any new restoration work done either, so are they just going to put that on Eclipse too? That would suck.

The best thing about the Fassbinder Foundation though is that they seem focused on restoring Fassbinder's obscure films, the TV films. As they go through them, we will start seeing those on blu-ray, as what happened with Despair, World on a Wire, Stationmaster's Wife in a few months and in a couple years Eight Hours Are Not a Day.

The funny thing is, that these obscure Fassbinder films never seen the light of day until now, and they will have better restoration work and releases than most of Fassbinder's most known.

I'm not sure how many of his films they have, but another Eclipse set (or two) wouldn't surprise me. When they dumped all of these on Hulu+ I assumed they were going to be an Eclipse set.

Their method is ironic but maybe RWFF are paying special attention to the obscurities because there isn't the market saturation like the more common works, so there is an appeal there for both old fans and newcomers. Obviously partnering with Criterion will bring a wider casual audience and ensure high quality presentation whether it's Eclipse or mainline, but they likely have limited resources and it would make sense that they'd sink the money into releases that haven't been released before along with upgrades of the more popular titles like Ali: Fear Eats the Soul and the BRD trilogy.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by AverageAtBest

I kinda like when I haven't heard of a movie in a month of criterion releases. Not even being sarcastic I like it because I get to discover new directors or genres most of the time.

Absolutely. I feel like at least half of the monthly releases fall in this category for me and it's so exciting.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by lastemp3ror

I got to say this thread is pretty hilarious. Some people seem to get offended pretty easily about if someone likes or dislikes something. Am I missing something? Or did some of you play a role in creating some of these movies?

It's more a tone thing. I don't know if you lurk here much, but if you do it should be pretty clear. Sometimes there is a lot of actual discussion about film and sometimes there is just sort of consumerist circle-jerking. Criterion appeals on different levels to different folks. Things tend to boil over on announcements day when the schism between the two is most obvious.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I've never seen any Fassbinder, and I'm interested, but I'm also pretty much off buying DVDs at this point...

Since I'm here going off anyway, I'll harp on another of my peeves. I want to ask you: assuming you could rent these, would you not even consider renting these to see them? I'm just curious. I know people want to experience films in the greatest possible quality blah blah blah*, but would you seriously tamp your interest because you won't watch an upscaled DVD?

* Which is utter bullshit, BTW, because I fell in love with movies watching old Star Wars VHS tapes and badly damaged public domain prints of silent films on late night cable TV, and I still get a great feeling of nostalgia and immersion whenever I see an old tape. Blu-ray is wonderful and shiny and can reinvent how we see films, but it's not everything.