The Criterion Collection

[shrex]

Criterion Designs book can be had on Amazon for $49.97 w/ HOLIDAY30 taking 30% off.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by prior

Do you guys have any suggestion in terms of Criterion films with underlying abstract or philosophical themes that challenge you intellectually as well as emotionally, maybe concerning a moral dilemma and playing largely in one room/dialog driven/with only a limited ensemble cast?

Films I love are

12 Angry Men,
Anatomy of a Murder,
Sweet Smell of Success,
On the Waterfront,
Black Narcissus,
Seconds.

Non-Criterions would be

Inherit the Wind,
The Night of the Iguana,
Suddenly, Last Summer,
The White Ribbon.

I'd like to have more of that kind (if you consider all of the above mentioned of one kind). Thanks for any help.

You just described almost all of Ingmar Bergman's films.

[johnbonham1980]

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to decide on what to go for with my 30% off code. I'm looking for something a bit more on the mainstream side, and am generally not a huge fan of the Italian or French directors in the collection (I prefer Bergman, Kubrick, and Kieslowski over Fellini, Kurosawa, and Truffaut, if that gives you any idea of my tastes)

That said, I think I've got it narrowed down to the following:

Ice Storm
The Killing
Being John Malkovich
Paths of Glory
Broadcast News
Battle of Algiers
Double Life of Veronique (didn't enjoy this one too much first time out but I watched it distracted which is always a mistake)

I'm also considering these as it seems like they belong in my collection regardless:
8 1/2
La Dolce Vita
400 Blows
Yojimo/Sanjuro

Thoughts, and suggestions for something completely different?

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by johnbonham1980

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to decide on what to go for with my 30% off code. I'm looking for something a bit more on the mainstream side, and am generally not a huge fan of the Italian or French directors in the collection (I prefer Bergman, Kubrick, and Kieslowski over Fellini, Kurosawa, and Truffaut, if that gives you any idea of my tastes)

That said, I think I've got it narrowed down to the following:

Ice Storm
The Killing
Being John Malkovich
Paths of Glory
Broadcast News
Battle of Algiers
Double Life of Veronique (didn't enjoy this one too much first time out but I watched it distracted which is always a mistake)

I'm also considering these as it seems like they belong in my collection regardless:
8 1/2
La Dolce Vita
400 Blows
Yojimo/Sanjuro

Thoughts, and suggestions for something completely different?

Lots of great titles there, but I would say that Being John Malkovich is a very unique, odd and trippy experience. A great Criterion release.

[Wizard-of-Wars]

Originally Posted by johnbonham1980

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to decide on what to go for with my 30% off code. I'm looking for something a bit more on the mainstream side, and am generally not a huge fan of the Italian or French directors in the collection (I prefer Bergman, Kubrick, and Kieslowski over Fellini, Kurosawa, and Truffaut, if that gives you any idea of my tastes)

That said, I think I've got it narrowed down to the following:

Ice Storm
The Killing
Being John Malkovich
Paths of Glory
Broadcast News
Battle of Algiers
Double Life of Veronique (didn't enjoy this one too much first time out but I watched it distracted which is always a mistake)

I'm also considering these as it seems like they belong in my collection regardless:
8 1/2
La Dolce Vita
400 Blows
Yojimo/Sanjuro

Thoughts, and suggestions for something completely different?

The Killing and Paths Of Glory

[jw007]

I watched Ingmar Bergman's Autumn Sonata last night. Wow, what a film. As usual with Bergman's films, I always find myself reluctant to play his films but then once the movie starts I find myself glued to the screen. This happened again last night. Ingrid Bergman's difficulties working with Ingmar Bergman were no secret and in Liv Ullmann's fantastic interview in the supplements, she stated this. The film is excruciating at times to watch. It's not a pleasant experience by any means. There is so much sadness and bitterness and pent up anger in these characters that it can be somewhat overwhelming. As a friend of mine once said, "if you want to get depressed, watch a Bergman film." I did just that last night.

Sidenote:

Polaroid: if you're reading this and are still in the mood for seeing incredibly depressing films, make sure you watch Autumn Sonata.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched Ingmar Bergman's Autumn Sonata last night. Wow, what a film. As usual with Bergman's films, I always find myself reluctant to play his films but then once the movie starts I find myself glued to the screen. This happened again last night. Ingrid Bergman's difficulties working with Ingmar Bergman were no secret and in Liv Ullmann's fantastic interview in the supplements, she stated this. The film is excruciating at times to watch. It's not a pleasant experience by any means. There is so much sadness and bitterness and pent up anger in these characters that it can be somewhat overwhelming. As a friend of mine once said, "if you want to get depressed, watch a Bergman film." I did just that last night.

One of my fave Bergman films it is so simple, but the phenomenal performances make it so complex, you don't need anything but the performances.

I was so fixated on the screen when it hit 'that moment' in the film and I didn't want to blink! Such a heart breaking film. I still need to crack into the amazing supplements! Maybe tomorrow !

It's a must have in my opinion!

-

Edit:

Oh haha, I beat your edit :P! you guys know me so well :P!

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched Ingmar Bergman's Autumn Sonata last night. Wow, what a film. As usual with Bergman's films, I always find myself reluctant to play his films but then once the movie starts I find myself glued to the screen. This happened again last night. Ingrid Bergman's difficulties working with Ingmar Bergman were no secret and in Liv Ullmann's fantastic interview in the supplements, she stated this. The film is excruciating at times to watch. It's not a pleasant experience by any means. There is so much sadness and bitterness and pent up anger in these characters that it can be somewhat overwhelming. As a friend of mine once said, "if you want to get depressed, watch a Bergman film." I did just that last night.

Sidenote:

Polaroid: if you're reading this and are still in the mood for seeing incredibly depressing films, make sure you watch Autumn Sonata.

Oh, I love being depressed!!
What else would you suggest?
(I've seen Autumn Sonata and loved it too of course!)

[Gusto-Guus]

Originally Posted by johnbonham1980

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to decide on what to go for with my 30% off code. I'm looking for something a bit more on the mainstream side, and am generally not a huge fan of the Italian or French directors in the collection (I prefer Bergman, Kubrick, and Kieslowski over Fellini, Kurosawa, and Truffaut, if that gives you any idea of my tastes)

That said, I think I've got it narrowed down to the following:

Ice Storm
The Killing
Being John Malkovich
Paths of Glory
Broadcast News
Battle of Algiers
Double Life of Veronique (didn't enjoy this one too much first time out but I watched it distracted which is always a mistake)

I'm also considering these as it seems like they belong in my collection regardless:
8 1/2
La Dolce Vita
400 Blows
Yojimo/Sanjuro

Thoughts, and suggestions for something completely different?

Those highlighted are, IMO, the best of the rest.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Gusto-Guus

Those highlighted are, IMO, the best of the rest.

Just buy them all haha! Why do people put them selves through selecting! Just take them all and give them all a home

Its like Sophie's choice!

[simonjamesconstable]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Just buy them all haha! Why do people put them selves through selecting! Just take them all and give them all a home

Its like Sophie's choice!

Because owning films that you don't even like is nonsensical.

[Gusto-Guus]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Just buy them all haha! Why do people put them selves through selecting! Just take them all and give them all a home

Its like Sophie's choice!

Those credit card bills, man.....

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by simonjamesconstable

Because owning films that you don't even like is nonsensical.

Obviously they are interested if they are putting them in a list lol, and worse case scenario you just sell it on.

I was only having a joke, it was a great list of films.

Originally Posted by Gusto-Guus

Those credit card bills, man.....

That's why you don't look at the bill :P

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Just buy them all haha! Why do people put them selves through selecting! Just take them all and give them all a home

Its like Sophie's choice!

To answer your question, so people won't be whining on this thread about paying essential bills at the end of the month.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

To answer your question, so people won't be whining on this thread about paying essential bills at the end of the month.

Lol I was only joking >.<

-

GREAT film list in your sig btw !

[jw007]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Oh, I love being depressed!!
What else would you suggest?
(I've seen Autumn Sonata and loved it too of course!)

Bela Tarr's The Turin Horse comes to mind as another terribly bleak and depressing film.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Just buy them all haha! Why do people put them selves through selecting! Just take them all and give them all a home

Its like Sophie's choice!

Saying choosing between which films to buy is like Sophie's Choice is pretty offensive.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Saying choosing between which films to buy is like Sophie's Choice is pretty offensive.

Maybe they never read the book or saw the movie. To understand all is to forgive all. Namaste.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Bela Tarr's The Turin Horse comes to mind as another terribly bleak and depressing film.

I saw another one the other night on Netflix: Feng Xiaogang's Aftershock. Most of the first 20 minutes or so is a horrifying depiction of the 1976 earthquake in Tanshang, China, in which about 250,000 people died. A lot of what follows seems quite depressing, though it ends on a more life-affirming note (despite focusing in part on the 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan). A marvelous film.

And talking about Sophie's Choice, a similar situation happens in Aftershock.

[pedromvu]

I finally completed the documentary on John Cassavetes A Constant Forge and with this i complete all the special features of the set, and i must say i am very impressed with the set as a whole, the supplements are fantastic, specially the documentary, it does a great job at explaining the mindset of the director and they way he worked.

I don't know if the 30% barnes and noble code is still valid, but if someone hasn't used it already i can recommend anyone to just get it right now, i haven't seen any Cassavetes film before watching the set and i now think he is one of the greats. Even if you don't enjoy all the films in the set (and i personally think it has at least two masterpieces after one viewing) i think these films are worth it in the long run, i can see how they might get better after watching them a second time, and even more years down the road after having different life experiences and seeing things a bit different, this set represents truly the pinnacle of American independent cinema.

Now the only films i haven't seen from him are A Child is Waiting (which doesn't appear to be very good according to Cassavetes), Husbands and Gloria, hopefully we get some more by CC in the near future.