The Criterion Collection

[Rizor]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just found the relationship between him and Annie Hall to be so awkward and the funny bits he tried to throw in were so dry. (Notice I enjoy all of the films with him not in it)

I really don't know how I fell in love with Woody Allen's films. My friends are at a complete loss anytime I bring him up. Some of them are turned off by the awkwardness or nevousness they think is present in his characters. But I just find something relatable and even charming in Allen's personality, humor, and worldview that he brings to each and every one of his films, whether he's in it or not. He's got a rather diverse filmography ranging from his early slapstick films to his more serious-minded fair. I look at his early standup routines or interviews on Youtube and think he might be the greatest comedian of all time, but that's just me.

I'll second the love for Hannah and Her Sisters. My favorite used to be Radio Days, an Amarcord-inspired nostalgic remembrance of Allen's youth, but I keep going back to the humor and maturity in Hannah and Her Sisters. Crimes and Misdemeanors is another great one. I really like Annie Hall and Manhattan but think they could be a tad overrated. Other gems include Play It Again, Sam (which he did not direct), Sleeper, Love and Death (two of his earlier, funnier films), Stardust Memories (a riff on 8 1/2). Zelig and The Purple Rose of Cairo are equally charming. I have a soft spot for Everyone Says I Love You, his musical comedy. Of his recent films, my favorites are Match Point, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Midnight in Paris.

I watched Blue Jasmine a few days ago. Blanchett and Hawkins are great in it and it's well done overall, but I didn't find it to be one of Allen's better efforts.

[The Great Owl]

Woody Allen...

To my discredit, I have not seen many of Woody Allen's films. I do love Annie Hall and Match Point. Midnight in Paris is a lot of fun. I need to check out Manhattan and Hannah and Her Sisters.
Match Point is one of those "best Hitchcock movies that Hitchcock never made."

None of that tonight, though. I'm revisiting my Blu-ray of Creature from the Black Lagoon.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Sherlock_Jr

But why target just Spanish speaking people? Do all the French films they release have French subs for all the French people living in the US? Or Italian? Or Iranian? Etc.........

I think his point kinda had to do with that 'living the US' part. The United States isn't the be all and end all of Region A and I think he was suggesting it wouldn't be inappropriate for a Mexican filmmaker to underscore that point (even if only symbolically).

At least I think that's what he was driving at.

[Antonmassacre1]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

No subtitles are available on the BluRay edition of Kes.

There are definitely subtitles for Kes as I had to turn them on during my first viewing.

Edit: Sorry, didn't notice this had been already mentioned.

Did anyone pick up Wake in Fright during the Barnes & Noble sale? It's a terrific film with a great performance by Donald Pleasence.

[jw007]

More on the Woody Allen discussion that I started several pages back with my mention of Blue Jasmine...

I never was a big fan of his. I still am not. But I know several people who are. These are friends who either grew up in NYC, live there now or are just in love with NYC. This is understandable as a lot of Woody Allen's films use NYC as a character in itself. I think a person needs to be a neurotic pessimist like Woody Allen is, to really understand him. It might even be helpful if you're neurotic, a pessimist and Jewish as well. As I am all three of those, I fully understand Woody Allen's personality and background. I do not admire that man though. He has his own demons but I won't talk about the director. His films can be amazing and then they can be just subpar. Unlike a director such as Stanley Kubrick, Mr. Allen doesn't always make a masterpiece in every attempt. His output is frequent too, as somehow he is putting out a movie every year since 1982. Yes, I cannot say that I've seen all of Woody Allen's major movies either. In fact, I've probably only seen maybe 10 or 11 of his films (out of 40 or more he's made). I have friends who are Woody Allen diehard fans. I find it amusing that every movie of his since Annie Hall starts off the same way, with some sort of Jazz music and the Windsor typeface (font) in the opening credits. That is definitely an auteur style right there. You can be blind and still be able to tell what a Woody Allen film sounds like just by listening to the opening of the movie. He's an American original to say the least. He's probably one of the greatest filmmakers since the birth of cinema. Yet, at least in my opinion he is an unlikeable man with many unlikeable films. Blue Jasmine is purely realistic and purely cathartic though, at least from an acting standpoint. My favorite film of his is still Crimes and Misdemeanors, a devastating and serious drama and morality play. And this is just what makes Woody Allen brilliant. He makes films that are modern Greek tragedies. His exploration is of the human condition and all of the mistakes humans make. His films are not just for the neurotic people out there, but for everyone.

I still am trying to figure out how there is not one single Woody Allen film in the Criterion Collection.

[Icemouth]

Originally Posted by Sherlock_Jr

But why target just Spanish speaking people? Do all the French films they release have French subs for all the French people living in the US? Or Italian? Or Iranian? Etc.........

You realize the US=/=region A, right? I mean, it's not like there's a massive, Spanish speaking population in a Spanish speaking country that's included in said region....

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

You're gonna adore Purple Rose of Cairo. I can feel it.

It's one of the two "sane" films he wrote all by himself during his Bergman-Fellini 80's/90's, with a spark of fresh originality to it.
(I was going to say "three" films, but realized Radio Days was just ripping off more Fellini. So, two original films.)

The other "sane" film would be Zelig, but no sign of a Blu-ray yet.

Originally Posted by jw007

I still am trying to figure out how there is not one single Woody Allen film in the Criterion Collection.

Uh, the fact that most of them are MGM/UA, except for the Miramax ones?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Uh, the fact that most of them are MGM/UA, except for the Miramax ones?

Well, actually my theory is that since he is very much against bonus materials, Criterion wouldn't be able to include anything anyway since he wouldn't authorize it. Of course it probably is due to MGM owning the rights anyhow.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Uh, the fact that most of them are MGM/UA, except for the Miramax ones?

Why would that be an obstacle? MGM hasn't exactly been shy about licensing to Criterion.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Rizor

Nearly all of WKW's films are essentially about the same thing, so complaining that one feels like a retread seems a bit strange. He even manages to shoehorn it into The Grandmaster.

Yeah, that's what I mean. I still love every single one of his films (that Ive seen). The man simply knows what I like

So much great conversation going on in here guys, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around Lore. It's probably the "purest" piece of cinema I have seen this year. What director Cate Shortland managed to accomplish--transform the war torn German countryside into a labyrinth of sensations, both pained and sweet--is nothing short of miraculous. Had it been distributed by IFC, it would have been spined by CC.

Has anyone seen her previous two films: The Silence and Somersault?

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Match Point is one of those "best Hitchcock movies that Hitchcock never made."

You can't be serious. The giant right hand turn in the plot is idiotic, it makes no logical sense whatsoever. The best thing about Match Point is Scarlett Johanssen is smoking hot in it.

I know I will get crucified for this, but I liked Scoop better than Match Point...I know Scoop is lame, but it's so lame it's fun.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by lemonski

You can't be serious. The giant right hand turn in the plot is idiotic, it makes no logical sense whatsoever. The best thing about Match Point is Scarlett Johanssen is smoking hot in it.

You just described half of Hitchcock's movies and about 80% of his hits

(that said, while I certainly liked Match Point I never got a real Hitchcock feel from it)

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by jw007

I still am trying to figure out how there is not one single Woody Allen film in the Criterion Collection.

Hell, I'm still trying to figure out why Take the Money and Run isn't available on the format yet. From anyone.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by EricJ

It's one of the two "sane" films he wrote all by himself during his Bergman-Fellini 80's/90's, with a spark of fresh originality to it.
(I was going to say "three" films, but realized Radio Days was just ripping off more Fellini. So, two original films.)

The other "sane" film would be Zelig, but no sign of a Blu-ray yet.



Uh, the fact that most of them are MGM/UA, except for the Miramax ones?

I believe Broadway Danny Rose would like to have a word with you...

Also, a lot of different companies own the rights to different films of his aside from those two.
I'm also going to throw Deconstructing Harry and Bullets Over Broadway to that list of great Woody Allen movies. I love most of the ones I've seen (Hannah is also my favorite) and think that even his lesser works life Whatever Works and Small Time Crooks are worth watching and better than most junk.
Only film of his I hated was To Rome With Love

[Yami]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

Hell, I'm still trying to figure out why Take the Money and Run isn't available on the format yet. From anyone.

There are pages up for the cast/crew of Take the Money and Run on Criterion's website so it may be coming.

Woody Allen
Mickey Rose
Janet Margolin
Marcel Hillaire

Etc

[MattvonSyborg]

Originally Posted by lemonski

I know I will get crucified for this, but I liked Scoop better than Match Point...I know Scoop is lame, but it's so lame it's fun.

I agree. Scoop is a guilty pleasure of mine. Overall I prefer Woody Allen films with Woody in it, at least of the ones I've seen, since I prefer him playing himself instead of getting another actor to play a Woody Allen-type character.

I'm a fan Annie Hall and Manhattan, but I'm so-so about a lot of the other films of his I've seen. And I don't understand the praise for Midnight in Paris at all, for example.

[Dragun]

Originally Posted by jw007

Well, actually my theory is that since he is very much against bonus materials, Criterion wouldn't be able to include anything anyway since he wouldn't authorize it. Of course it probably is due to MGM owning the rights anyhow.

Criterion released "Annie Hall" and "Crimes and Misdemenors" on LaserDisc. Maybe MGM/UA licensed them to Criterion before releasing their own versions? In any case, the transfers on MGM's Blu-Rays of his films are fine, and extras are not an option, so Criterion releases would be pointless and more expensive.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by Yami

There are pages up for the cast/crew of Take the Money and Run on Criterion's website so it may be coming.

Woody Allen
Mickey Rose
Janet Margolin
Marcel Hillaire

Etc

I would be thrilled if this were to come to fruition. I've been waiting patiently...and now, not-so-patiently...for a BD release of this early Woody Allen gem. To be rewarded with a Criterion release would make my decade.

[Sherlock_Jr]

Originally Posted by Icemouth

You realize the US=/=region A, right? I mean, it's not like there's a massive, Spanish speaking population in a Spanish speaking country that's included in said region....

Yep, I know my regions.

And I also made my original post very clear.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Dragun

Criterion released "Annie Hall" and "Crimes and Misdemenors" on LaserDisc. Maybe MGM/UA licensed them to Criterion before releasing their own versions? In any case, the transfers on MGM's Blu-Rays of his films are fine, and extras are not an option, so Criterion releases would be pointless and more expensive.

Well, the "Woody Allen Collection" only comprises of 4 films. There are plenty of his films that have yet to be released on BD. Crimes and Misdemeanors would be my first choice for a BD release. I'm also certain that Criterion would offer superior versions over the MGM releases in terms of the transfer. The MGM releases are fine though, but there is always room for improvement.