The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Anyone have the Studio Canal Region B releases of Army of Shadows, Le Cercle Rouge, and Pierrot Le Fou? I'd like to get the Criterion editions, but having just gone region-free, these are very tempting given OOP prices. But I'm wondering how they stack up against the Criterions.

All three of these movies are wonderful, and, in fact, Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge are both high on my top 10 Criterion list.

I do not have the StudioCanal releases of these Blu-rays, but I believe that Pro-B wrote that the StudioCanal transfer of Le Cercle Rouge is probably closer to the filmmakers' intent. I'm intrigued by that assertion, but I'm sticking with my Criterion Blu-ray anyway.

[MeMynonsense]

Just done watching Mario Monicelli’s Big Deal on Madonna Street and it can be rightly labelled as the “Numbskulled Rififi”. Released on the heels of the classic french heist thriller, this wacky Italian farce does a terrific job in subverting genre expectations and delivering an uproariously funny take on the plight of incorrigible, incompetent delinquents in post war Italy.
This motley crew of hapless crooks includes Vittorio Gassman (in his first comedic performance), a mirthful Marcello Mastroianni (who plays Tiberio a camera-less photographer struggling to look after his infant son, while his wife does her stint for cigarette smuggling), and the scene-stealing Carlo Pisacane who’s dotty, bemused portrayal of the aged, dimwitted and perpetually peckish Capannelle provides the majority of the laughs.

In one of my favourite moments Capannelle tries to persuade Tiberio to take the rap on behalf of their friend not before dispatching his son to his incarcerated wife (while he (Capannelle) nonchalantly snacks on the baby-food):

Tiberio: Where would I leave the kid?

Capannelle: In jail, with your wife. Sure! They're well looked after in there. They've got the best nursery ever. The best in all Rome. I still remember it. When I was three...

Tiberio: No, no, the kid'll go to jail when he's all grown up.

There’s a ton of slap-stick which is nicely contrasted with such acerbic, sharp-tongued humour, beautifully punctuated with a couple of unforgettable vignettes. Despite the over-indulgent nature of some of the gags the movie moves at a brisk pace and does a splendid job in evoking sympathy for the desperate and poverty-stricken urban underbelly.
The sumptuous B+W photography is a visual feast and Piero Umiliani’s soothing jazz score further adds fluidity to the proceedings.

A bonafide masterpiece of the medium itself. Hope an upgrade is in the works.

[Marlow27]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I saw a few films at a local festival over the last two weeks:

Our Man in Havana
Hobson's Choice
Odd Man Out
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
A Passage to India

Odd Man Out and Col Blimp being the two highlights (and the only two I had already seen) though I enjoyed them all.

Really enjoyed Odd Man Out as well, my first time seeing it. I was bummed I didn't get to go to as many this time around, the festival times just clashed with work too much for me, unfortunately. Hopefully Pomeranz does a part 2 to the Retro Hollywood one.

[Marlow27]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Anyone have the Studio Canal Region B releases of Army of Shadows, Le Cercle Rouge, and Pierrot Le Fou? I'd like to get the Criterion editions, but having just gone region-free, these are very tempting given OOP prices. But I'm wondering how they stack up against the Criterions.

I have the Studio Canal Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge and they're both very, very good releases.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Marlow27

Really enjoyed Odd Man Out as well, my first time seeing it. I was bummed I didn't get to go to as many this time around, the festival times just clashed with work too much for me, unfortunately. Hopefully Pomeranz does a part 2 to the Retro Hollywood one.

Yeah, the way the films were arranged wasn't great, but I did prefer that they were at least back to back this time - the first time still remains the best.

I have to admit, I wasn't nearly as excited by this line up, but I tend to be pretty lukewarm on Ealing movies, so...

I am sure the Hollywood one will happen, I actually wonder how long the British one can sustain itself though. They can't really go too far off the beaten track. I'm wondering if David will be putting together a European film festival in the next couple of years...

[Knaldskalle]

Since we seem to be competing in who's worst off, the nearest movie theater (a small "multiplex" type) is 50 miles away. If I want an art house theater, it's 75 miles.

And you won't win any prizes for guessing how many "special cinematic events" take place in New Mexico.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Wow, the Brooklyn Academy of Music will be showing The Tree of Life accompanied by a live orchestra

http://www.bam.org/film/2016/the-tree-of-life

I'm SO going to this. Thanks, MF!

I just went up for three days to see the feathered dinosaur exhibit and the Hellenistic art show. And a terrible print of Made in USA at the Film Forum. (Surely more can be done with that film. Are you listening, Criterion?) This Tree of Life performance sounds like something to make every effort to see.

Anyone else going to the BAM performance? We could do a meetup and talk about why we love Malick without having to deal with naysayers.

[filmmusic]

FANTASTIC PLANET 2K Restoration!
Saturday May 28, 2016
10pm
Midtown Cinema (Harrisburg, PA)
FREE

Janus was nice enough to get us a DCP copy of their new 2K restoration of Rene Laloux's cult-classic1973 animated feature a few weeks before their Blu-Ray release!!! Thanks again Janus and Criterion!!!

See it again like never before, or see it for the first time and prepare to have your mind blown! Presented here with a 16mm print of Karissa Hahn's amazing 2015 short film "Regal"

https://www.facebook.com/events/1232627933429088/

[jw007]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Truth, truth. Actually, I live in Grosse Pointe, so it's not that bad. But I miss out on a lot of stuff.

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you think of the movie Grosse Pointe Blank? Might be Criterion-worthy... we need more Hollywood 90's movies in the collection!

[jw007]

Originally Posted by RojD

I'm SO going to this. Thanks, MF!

I just went up for three days to see the feathered dinosaur exhibit and the Hellenistic art show. And a terrible print of Made in USA at the Film Forum. (Surely more can be done with that film. Are you listening, Criterion?) This Tree of Life performance sounds like something to make every effort to see.

Anyone else going to the BAM performance? We could do a meetup and talk about why we love Malick without having to deal with naysayers.

I brought this up with AaronJ, and would seriously consider a meetup in NYC in November for this event if anyone wants to do this. Polaroid: come hop over the pond and join us cause we know you're Malick's #1 fan!

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Anyone have the Studio Canal Region B releases of Army of Shadows, Le Cercle Rouge, and Pierrot Le Fou? I'd like to get the Criterion editions, but having just gone region-free, these are very tempting given OOP prices. But I'm wondering how they stack up against the Criterions.

I have the Melville films and I think they stack up extremely well. Note that the colours are not identical on the A and B releases, the SC transfers having a colder palette (as also seen for Bunuel's Belle de Jour). But the cooler tones seem a more natural fit (especially for Army of Shadows where the detailed description of the intended colour tone and the measures taken to obtain it as discussed in the making of quite convince me that the SC release is on the right track). Extras on these releases are also terrific. I would strongly recommend them OVER the Criterions, OOP or not

[pro-bassoonist]

This film is available in the U.S. and in the UK. It should have gone to Criterion in the U.S. as there is so much that could have been done for the local release. See it on Blu-ray or theatrically!



The Gray Umber Sky Remix is special!

Nils Frahm - Them | Victoria OST (Gray Umber Sky Remix) - YouTube

If there is interest in the German Blu-ray release, let me know and we will post a review.

Pro-B

[ThisKid]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

[Show spoiler]Thought to post this here too, although i posted it in the relevant thread:


This should raise some interesting conversation!
Entirely new "teal-ish" color palette for the Criterion Fantastic Planet.
The comparisons of course is with the Eureka DVD, but the Eureka Bluray features the same transfer.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-r...et_blu-ray.htm

here's a direct comparison of the 2 Blurays:
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/174065

I say by those screenshots that it looks great. I haven't seen the film before, and I know that this isn't probably the original colours, but it still looks great. Almost anytime there is a revised colour scheme (e.g. Scanners & Dressed to Kill), I love the picture quality, but sometimes, I don't approve (I'm looking at YOU, Ran).

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

I brought this up with AaronJ, and would seriously consider a meetup in NYC in November for this event if anyone wants to do this. Polaroid: come hop over the pond and join us cause we know you're Malick's #1 fan!

Want to pay for my flight :'(?

That is the only thing stopping me!

BAH.

I hate life right now!

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by joie

"Pierrot le Fou" is region A/B. I prefer it to Criterion's offering. Criterion's was "approved" by the cinematographer, but its green-tinted shot of Sam Fuller at a party may not be what's on film. It has been said that he was shot in white light because he's the only "real" person at the party.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I've had both Pierrot le Fou releases and I much prefer Criterion's. You'd be fine, I think with the UK versions of the 2 Melville films. CC's LCR is nothing special.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

All three of these movies are wonderful, and, in fact, Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge are both high on my top 10 Criterion list.

I do not have the StudioCanal releases of these Blu-rays, but I believe that Pro-B wrote that the StudioCanal transfer of Le Cercle Rouge is probably closer to the filmmakers' intent. I'm intrigued by that assertion, but I'm sticking with my Criterion Blu-ray anyway.

Originally Posted by Marlow27

I have the Studio Canal Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge and they're both very, very good releases.

Originally Posted by ravenus

I have the Melville films and I think they stack up extremely well. Note that the colours are not identical on the A and B releases, the SC transfers having a colder palette (as also seen for Bunuel's Belle de Jour). But the cooler tones seem a more natural fit (especially for Army of Shadows where the detailed description of the intended colour tone and the measures taken to obtain it as discussed in the making of quite convince me that the SC release is on the right track). Extras on these releases are also terrific. I would strongly recommend them OVER the Criterions, OOP or not

Thanks very much for the comments. SC looks to be the way to enjoy these titles on BD without blowing my July B&N sale budget.

[nitin]

Didnt Criterion confirm sometime that the Le Cercle Rouge colours were definitely wrong, sometime before the BD release and after the dvd release?

Anyway, rather than paying OOP prices, I would definitely get the Region B versions.

[Le Grande Blu]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

This film is available in the U.S. and in the UK. It should have gone to Criterion in the U.S. as there is so much that could have been done for the local release. See it on Blu-ray or theatrically!



The Gray Umber Sky Remix is special!

Nils Frahm - Them | Victoria OST (Gray Umber Sky Remix) - YouTube

If there is interest in the German Blu-ray release, let me know and we will post a review.

Pro-B

I'm intererested in the German Blu. Is the transfer on par with the AE, and are the subtitle options the same ( ideally English subs for all the dialogue)?. Thanks

[ShellOilJunior]

The Strangelove review is up on the 'other' site (Not posting the link because my post will be zapped). From what I gather the Criterion is the better presentation but the difference in PQ is only noticeable if one has a properly calibrated setup. Criterion also has better technical stats like bit rate.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The Strangelove review is up on the 'other' site (Not posting the link because my post will be zapped). From what I gather the Criterion is the better presentation but the difference in PQ is only noticeable if one has a properly calibrated setup. Criterion also has better technical stats like bit rate.

I notice a difference and the Criterion does look better - it is close, but yeah I am waiting for Criterions

[Arch Stanton]

Nope. I'll be going with the Sony.