The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Yami

Just noticed that Sullivan's Travels has a conversation with Bill Forsyth as an extra. It would be a darn shame if that continues to be his only appearance in the collection for much longer. Local Hero and Housekeeping are both outstanding films and personal favourites. I had the pleasure of speaking to him a few months ago at a talk about the latter and he was a delight. He signed my Blu-Ray of That Sinking Feeling - which is region free so I do encourage everyone reading this thread to pick it up:

I'll second that. In fact, I'm expecting a copy of that BFI edition of That Sinking Feeling to show up in my mailbox any day now, along with the Second Sight region-free edition of Gregory's Girl.

It's really a shame that Forsyth just threw in the towel, and not made anything in the last 15 years.

[Davy]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I'll second that. In fact, I'm expecting a copy of that BFI edition of That Sinking Feeling to show up in my mailbox any day now, along with the Second Sight region-free edition of Gregory's Girl.

It's really a shame that Forsyth just threw in the towel, and not made anything in the last 15 years.

A great release. The film has two audios, one is slightly more Anglicised Glaswegian accents than the other.

Gregory's Girl also has a great UK release, from Second Sight. Like Sinking Feeling it has a commentary with Forsyth and Mark Kermode.

Hopefully Local Hero will come out sometime soon.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

the packaging and booklet for the CC edition are gorgeous. I won't read the book now that I've seen the film, but there's that, too. very happy with it all around.

I can't be the only one who wishes the Blu ray came without the book, right? I mean, I really don't have desire to read the book (And I really love the film), and it turns a nice package into something really bulky. I wish they had an option to get the package with or without a book.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by DfndroftheFaith

I'd like to thank all the people on this forum who passionately recommended Il Sorpasso. I had known nothing about this film, and it was near the bottom of my very long list of Criterion titles I wanted to buy. After I saw several glowing reviews here, it became one of the first titles I added to my cart during the last flash sale. I watched it this past weekend and loved it. Between all the gritty film noir and serious art house fare I've been watching recently, it's easy to forget how much fun movies can be. I'm looking forward to more releases or upgrades for more Italian comedies.

It's a great movie and I'm glad my recommendation helped you in your purchase. I recently re-watched this again a month ago and this time I screened it for my dad. I rarely watch movies with him anymore but since he grew up during this time in the mid 1960s, I felt he might be able to relate to it. He enjoyed it but also thought it was very

[Show spoiler]tragic how it ended

. I'm sure it brought back a lot of vivid memories of his own adolescence.

[fancyclaps]

My blind buy quick reviews from the flash sale...

1. Paris, Texas 4/4
I loved the atmosphere and mood of this movie. I liked how the scenes weren't rushed, I was intrigued by the slow build up, and I was blown away with how the final twenty minutes of the movie were handled. My one criticism would be it lulled in a few spots and the ending could have been wrapped up better, but I can't wait to re-visit this movie in a few months.

2. Breaking the Waves 4/4
This is a very close second. First off, Emily Watson was phenomenal and one of the best acting performances I've ever seen. Now that that's out of the way...
I didn't know how I'd feel about the handheld camera work, but as time went on it seemed completely appropriate, and even necessary. The only other Lars Von Trier film I've seen is Dogville, and it reminded me of that movie in a lot of ways - isolated town, a woman being taken advantage of repeatedly because of her kindness. Anyway, I also can't wait to re-visit this one, even though it isn't exactly pleasant viewing.

I must say - I didn't really care for the very last shot when I saw it, or when I thought about it later on. I read some different interpretations online and still am leaning towards a negative viewpoint (but I don't feel it takes away from the movie that much).

3. Rashomon 3/4
My introduction to Kurosawa. It was pretty much what I was expecting: gorgeously shot, great choreography and camerawork, and each image packed with a ton of subtext. I'm looking forward to the rest of his work in the Criterion catalogue.

4. Repo Man 1/4
Not a fan - will be selling this one. Great opening credits sequence, and a good opening scene....but after that it just couldn't keep my attention. It was practically the shortest movie of the 4 but it felt like the longest. A little too meandering and "out" there for me, it didn't hit any of the right notes. Oh well, when you blind buy 10 Criterions you're not going to like them all

Up next:
Days of Heaven
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Seven Samurai
High and Low
Waterhip Down
Eyes Without a Face

[oildude]

I first saw Repo Man on a rental VHS in the early 1990s and have been hooked on it ever since. I cannot say why exactly, because it isn't a favorite movie of mine and yet it keeps pulling me back in. Maybe it is the memorable characters, the dialogue, and the whole wacky premise of a mad scientist hunted by the government, nihilistic punk culture, and the dangerous lives of repo men all rolled up into a stinging social satire.

A few other reasons:

It was one of the most "out there" and clever black comedies I had seen up to that point and it just stuck with me.

I love the soundtrack and the visuals make me relate to it like one long punked-out music video that is fun to watch.

This movie is how I discovered The Plugz, who soon morphed into The Cruzados, and from there I followed frontman Tito Larriva to his current band (and one of my favorite groups) Tito and Tarantula.

I discovered that punks named Otto are kind of endearing and crack me up.

Throw Harry Dean Stanton and his infinitely entertaining lessons of life into that mix and suddenly I have a film that I can watch over and over again.

[ravenus]

Not as yet a Criterion release, but it could well be so...

I saw Secrets & Lies last night on the UK 4dvd blu. The last time I saw this film was in the fag end of the '90s when it created a bit of a splash by being nominated for a half a dozen Oscars (including best film and best actress) and winning none.

The film starts off with a highly qualified and well-groomed black woman (a lovely Marianne Jean-Baptiste) who after the death of her foster parents decides to track down her biological mother. Imagine her surprise when the mother turns out to be a white woman (Brenda Blethyn), an alcoholic emotionally needy factory worker raising another illegitimate daughter, with whom she has a troubled relationship. The other main character in the film is Brenda's brother (Timothy Spall), a well-off photographer who cares for and understands his sister, but has his own marital issues. You can see even from this inadequate description that this is quite a tangle of personalities and relationships.

Due credit to director-writer Mike Leigh for maintaining clarity and flow in the narrative and bringing out each major character in a three dimensional manner. Leigh is famous for his technique of building scenes on the set, requiring that actors improvise their dialog instead of reading fixed lines. When you have a sufficiently talented and enthusiastic cast like here, this works brilliantly. One of the center-pieces of the film is a 7 min long single take where Brenda and Marianne first chat in a tea shop - apparently till the day of the actual shoot, Leigh had not informed Brenda that her adopted daughter would be black, and her genuine surprise is given some credit to the effectiveness of her acting in that scene. Whatever, the scene works beautifully, as does the large scale family gathering tableau where all the titular secrets and lies come tumbling out. Even after all these years, I found the film as funny and emotionally gripping as before - more so, since with the subtitles, I was able to better follow Brenda Blethyn's working class accent.

While it doesn't look like some spanking new master, 4dvd's blu has a solid encode with an organic boldly colourful look. Even better is the audio track (stereo) which faithfully reproduces the dialog and the absolutely wonderful chamber music score from Andrew Dickens (Why is there no soundtrack CD of this movie, I demand to know!). Extras include a decent 5min conversation with Mike Leigh talking about the film, and a short film by him - A Sense of History (which I have not yet seen).

While some of you may want to see if a Criterion version is upcoming, if you can play UK region discs, at this price it's highly worthwhile for getting a gander at this marvellous film.

[tisdivine]

Blind bought The Man Who Fell To Earth about a week ago bc I found a great deal on eBay $70 shipped with the plastic case version. Anyway I am literally 1 hour and 15 minutes into it and I had to pause it and write this because it is A bit confusing.

Im going to be honest Im not sure Im getting all the subtext that Roeg is putting down but its just so weird to me. I keep having to rewatch parts because I keep thinking I know im missing something because that scene makes no sense in that particular spot. I hate having to re-watch mid-movie because I feel like it distorts the intended flow.

Theres a good chance Im over analyzing and have built this movie up in my head. Plus I have to admit I really like it. It makes me want to keep watching even though half the time I have no idea whats going on lol. I can see a lot of parallels with Walkabout. The aboriginal boy and Newton are basically playing the same character. Trying to discover a new world. I hope TMWFTE doesnt have such a horrible outcome. I am a Roeg and Bowie fan.

I did enjoy the Gatsby reference with the blue light at the end of the dock. Well played Roeg well played!

Hope others share this sentiment bc Ive definitely seen many a more challenging movie and got through it fine. Ok just had to say that and now back to watching.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I'll second that. In fact, I'm expecting a copy of that BFI edition of That Sinking Feeling to show up in my mailbox any day now, along with the Second Sight region-free edition of Gregory's Girl.

It's really a shame that Forsyth just threw in the towel, and not made anything in the last 15 years.

Thankfully, he's working on new stuff now! Hopefully we'll be hearing about it soon

[GC Riot]

I was about to give in and order Fantastic Mr Fox yesterday from Amazon, as I just didn't have the patience to wait for a repackaging any longer, but the item was under review so I couldn't order it. Anyone have any idea what that's about?

[Polaroid]

Just found this clip on Youtube for Picnic at Hanging Rock: ***SPOILERS***

[Show spoiler]

Picnic at Hanging Rock (The Original Ending) - YouTube

Wondering why it wasn't included as a supplement? Never even knew there was an alt ending...?

[ShellOilJunior]

These films are currently free if you have Amazon Prime:

Chang-dong Lee
Peppermint Candy

Antonioni
Story of a Love Affair

Jean Renoir
Diary of a Chambermaid
The Southerner

Fritz Lang
Scarlet Street

Hitchcock
Lifeboat
Jamaica Inn
The Secret Agent
Murder!
The Farmer's Wife
Sabotage
Young and the Innocent

Delver Daves
Dark Passage

Ingmar Bergman
Passion of Anna

[sjconstable]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Just found this clip on Youtube for Picnic at Hanging Rock: ***SPOILERS***

[Show spoiler]Picnic at Hanging Rock (The Original Ending) - YouTube

Wondering why it wasn't included as a supplement? Never even knew there was an alt ending...?

For some reason embedded videos aren't showing for me lately, can anyone advise? I'm using Chrome.

[tallrichard]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

Blind bought The Man Who Fell To Earth about a week ago bc I found a great deal on eBay $70 shipped with the plastic case version. Anyway I am literally 1 hour and 15 minutes into it and I had to pause it and write this because it is A bit confusing.

Im going to be honest Im not sure Im getting all the subtext that Roeg is putting down but its just so weird to me. I keep having to rewatch parts because I keep thinking I know im missing something because that scene makes no sense in that particular spot. I hate having to re-watch mid-movie because I feel like it distorts the intended flow.

Theres a good chance Im over analyzing and have built this movie up in my head. Plus I have to admit I really like it. It makes me want to keep watching even though half the time I have no idea whats going on lol. I can see a lot of parallels with Walkabout. The aboriginal boy and Newton are basically playing the same character. Trying to discover a new world. I hope TMWFTE doesnt have such a horrible outcome. I am a Roeg and Bowie fan.

I did enjoy the Gatsby reference with the blue light at the end of the dock. Well played Roeg well played!

Hope others share this sentiment bc Ive definitely seen many a more challenging movie and got through it fine. Ok just had to say that and now back to watching.

Don't feel bad, many of us have the same reaction to The Man Who Fell to Earth...I saw it in the theaters on it's initial release and have re-watched it a couple of times since...I'm still not sure I get all the sub-text.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Just found this clip on Youtube for Picnic at Hanging Rock: ***SPOILERS***

[Show spoiler]Picnic at Hanging Rock (The Original Ending) - YouTube

Wondering why it wasn't included as a supplement? Never even knew there was an alt ending...?

Because Peter Weir would probably throw a fit and refuse them his oh-so-important directors approval if they showed any footage other than the DC.

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Just found this clip on Youtube for Picnic at Hanging Rock: ***SPOILERS***

[Show spoiler]Picnic at Hanging Rock (The Original Ending) - YouTube

Wondering why it wasn't included as a supplement? Never even knew there was an alt ending...?

The best release (imo) of the film on blu includes it.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Because Peter Weir would probably throw a fit and refuse them his oh-so-important directors approval if they showed any footage other than the DC.

I can't see issue of it's an optional supplement, I can see why it wasn't used but it's nice to see it from other point of view

Originally Posted by kuro_sawa

The best release (imo) of the film on blu includes it.

Oh I have his release, but neglected to watch as I got just before Criterion announced it so I kinda held off lol

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Fabs

I can't be the only one who wishes the Blu ray came without the book, right? I mean, I really don't have desire to read the book (And I really love the film), and it turns a nice package into something really bulky. I wish they had an option to get the package with or without a book.

I didn't think I'll ever understand the "I wish I got less for the same price" people.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Fabs

I can't be the only one who wishes the Blu ray came without the book, right? I mean, I really don't have desire to read the book (And I really love the film), and it turns a nice package into something really bulky. I wish they had an option to get the package with or without a book.

It's funny. I can't really say I'm all that interested in reading the book, but I'm glad it was included in Criterion's release, because at least now I have the option of reading it if the mood strikes. If the mood struck me and I had to make an effort to scare up a copy to read, I probably wouldn't bother. But having a copy to hand...

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

These films are currently free if you have Amazon Prime:

Chang-dong Lee
Peppermint Candy

Hitchcock
Lifeboat

Thank you for this. Been wanting to check out these two for the longest time.