The Criterion Collection

[GentleGiant]

Watched the Criterion Blu-ray of John Cassavetes' Love Streams the other day, and wow, what an exquisitely nuanced, mature piece of filmmaking. Some absolutely unforgettable, quirky, magical, heartbreaking moments, like that "Rock-ola" dance scene, for instance, or Robert waving through the pouring rain at the end, or Sarah (incredible performance by Gena Rowlands) buying and bringing a cab full of animals to Robert's home, etc.

Films like this not only tell a story, but also stimulate your brain, intuition, ability to read between the lines, peel away the layers of the onion. That's what I love the most about 'auteur' cinema.

[Scottie]

REVIEW

[AaronJ]

Wow, looks to be a great release. I figured as much. Can't wait for May 22.

BTW, and I know we're straying a bit OT here, but I figured where better to ask? I've been waiting and waiting for a US (preferably Criterion) release of 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days for what seems like a very long time. It sort of seems like it may not happen, or may take a very long time. So, a couple of questions:

1) What do people think are the odds against Criterion ever adding it to the schedule? Is there an issue preventing it? Or is it just something that hasn't happened yet?

2) For those of you, if any, who have the Artificial Eye release, what's your opinion on it?

Thank you.

[SammyJankis]

I mean, it's gonna happen. It's just a matter of when. I can't imagine it'll take the Y tu Mama route and take years.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

3 seems like a fair grade, inasmuch as some people will give it a soft 1 and some people will give it a hard 5.

Dead Man is one of the movies that made me realize my movie tastes aren't normal. I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it when it came out. I've played it for friends who either hated it or were indifferent to it. My wife thinks it's the most boring movie ever. And most shocking of all, was seeing how people on this forum don't care for it. This will be the 4th time I buy this (I had a DVD of it stolen). So yeah, I'm one of those weirdos that gives it a hard 5...

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

I've played it for friends who either hated it or were indifferent to it. My wife thinks it's the most boring movie ever.

Same here.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

Dead Man is one of the movies that made me realize my movie tastes aren't normal. I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it when it came out. I've played it for friends who either hated it or were indifferent to it. My wife thinks it's the most boring movie ever. And most shocking of all, was seeing how people on this forum don't care for it. This will be the 4th time I buy this (I had a DVD of it stolen). So yeah, I'm one of those weirdos that gives it a hard 5...

You have to gently introduce Neil Young instrumentals and Jarmusch movies to them before you plunge them in the deep end.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

Dead Man is one of the movies that made me realize my movie tastes aren't normal. I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it when it came out. I've played it for friends who either hated it or were indifferent to it. My wife thinks it's the most boring movie ever. And most shocking of all, was seeing how people on this forum don't care for it. This will be the 4th time I buy this (I had a DVD of it stolen). So yeah, I'm one of those weirdos that gives it a hard 5...

Honestly, I've never been a fan, but it's one of those movies where the passion of the people who do react strongly to it makes me really want to click with it.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Wow, looks to be a great release. I figured as much. Can't wait for May 22.

BTW, and I know we're straying a bit OT here, but I figured where better to ask? I've been waiting and waiting for a US (preferably Criterion) release of 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days for what seems like a very long time. It sort of seems like it may not happen, or may take a very long time. So, a couple of questions:

1) What do people think are the odds against Criterion ever adding it to the schedule? Is there an issue preventing it? Or is it just something that hasn't happened yet?

2) For those of you, if any, who have the Artificial Eye release, what's your opinion on it?

Thank you.

I am waiting on one of the review sites to cover 4M3W&2D too. In the meantime grab Beyond the Hills and Graduation, and also pick up either Kino or AE’s release of The Return and The Banishment.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

Dead Man is one of the movies that made me realize my movie tastes aren't normal. I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it when it came out. I've played it for friends who either hated it or were indifferent to it. My wife thinks it's the most boring movie ever. And most shocking of all, was seeing how people on this forum don't care for it. This will be the 4th time I buy this (I had a DVD of it stolen). So yeah, I'm one of those weirdos that gives it a hard 5...

Jarmusch movies aren't for everyone, that's for sure. I know people who find his movies incredibly boring. I saw "Stranger Than Paradise" when I was 14 or 15 and have been a huge fan ever since. I don't think he's made a bad film. I'd say "Stranger Than Paradise", "Down by Law", "Mystery Train", "Night on Earth", "Dead Man", "Ghost Dog", "Only Lovers Left Alive", and "Paterson" fall into the great category for me, while "The Limits of Control", "Broken Flowers", and "Coffee and Cigarettes" are solidly above average. But if someone doesn't get into the style of his films right away, then there's not much that will change his or her mind IMO.

"Dead Man" is a glacially paced acid Western with a main character who is a complete blank slate. Depp's character is very unusual because it gives the audience nothing to work with. He's not a particularly good or bad man, he's just this guy kind of floating through the landscape.

[theater dreamer]

Turner Classic Movies
The Earrings of Madame de... April 30th, 1 AM
Lola Montes April 30th, 3 AM
Anatomy of a Murder April 30th, 4:15 PM
Charade May 4th, 1 PM
It Happened One Night May 6th, 7 AM
I Married a Witch May 6th, 10:30 AM
The Scarlet Empress May 10th, 9 PM
Shanghai Express May 10th, 11 PM
Morocco May 11th, 12:45 AM
Blonde Venus May 11th, 2:30 AM

The Scarlet Empress, Shanghai Express, Morocco and Blonde Venus are four of the six films contained in the upcoming Dietrich & von Sternberg in Hollywood box set being released on July 3rd. It is being preceded by The Blue Angel which is not part of the set, but a great intro for anybody who has never seen any of the collaborations between Marlene Dietrich and Josef von Sternberg. I highly recommend recording it, too. It's airing on May 10th at 7 PM.

[darkness2918]

Recently ive started getting into the Godzilla & other Kaiju films (had only seen maybe 3-4 of the Japanese Godzilla ones before). Had never really seen the original that I can remember, watched the Criterion BD tonight & loved it. Cant wait for Criterion to release the other Godzilla films they have on BD.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

[IMG]

Turner Classic Movies
The Earrings of Madame de... April 30th, 1 AM
Lola Montes April 30th, 3 AM
Anatomy of a Murder April 30th, 4:15 PM
Charade May 4th, 1 PM
It Happened One Night May 6th, 7 AM
I Married a Witch May 6th, 10:30 AM
The Scarlet Empress May 10th, 9 PM
Shanghai Express May 10th, 11 PM
Morocco May 11th, 12:45 AM
Blonde Venus May 11th, 2:30 AM

The Scarlet Empress, Shanghai Express, Morocco and Blonde Venus are four of the six films contained in the upcoming Dietrich & von Sternberg in Hollywood box set being released on July 3rd. It is being preceded by The Blue Angel which is not part of the set, but a great intro for anybody who has never seen any of the collaborations between Marlene Dietrich and Josef von Sternberg. I highly recommend recording it, too. It's airing on May 10th at 7 PM.

I haven't see the first two. I taped The Earrings and am glad you mentioned The Blue Angel which I haven't watched yet but want to get real soon. Marlene's screentest for The Blue Angel is classic Marlene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbaRRDgTIkc

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by mja345

Jarmusch movies aren't for everyone, that's for sure. I know people who find his movies incredibly boring. I saw "Stranger Than Paradise" when I was 14 or 15 and have been a huge fan ever since. I don't think he's made a bad film. I'd say "Stranger Than Paradise", "Down by Law", "Mystery Train", "Night on Earth", "Dead Man", "Ghost Dog", "Only Lovers Left Alive", and "Paterson" fall into the great category for me, while "The Limits of Control", "Broken Flowers", and "Coffee and Cigarettes" are solidly above average. But if someone doesn't get into the style of his films right away, then there's not much that will change his or her mind IMO..

Paterson was middling to me. Only Lovers.... should have been a eulogy to rock music. Instead it was just a cliched Anglo arthouse film with a vampire gimmick. If u want to see a more original art film with a vampire from around that time that's more aesthetically ambitious, check out Serra's Story of My Death. Blows that Jarmusch crap away.

Dead Man and Down By Law are probably my favs. Ghost Dog hasn't aged that well imo, although I enjoyed it at the time.

I admire Limits of Control because it was ballsy and almost played like a parody. Plus it took a chance after the rather safe Broken Flowers.

[cropduster]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

Dead Man is one of the movies that made me realize my movie tastes aren't normal. I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it when it came out. I've played it for friends who either hated it or were indifferent to it. My wife thinks it's the most boring movie ever. And most shocking of all, was seeing how people on this forum don't care for it. This will be the 4th time I buy this (I had a DVD of it stolen). So yeah, I'm one of those weirdos that gives it a hard 5...

When I watched Dead Man for the first time years ago, I liked it but definitely preferred Jarmusch's other films compared to this one(I was obsessed with Ghost Dog and Stranger Than Paradise at the time). Then last year, I had the opportunity to watch Dead Man in 35mm on the big screen and this time, for whatever reason, everything about the film just clicked for me and now I consider Dead Man to be one of Jarmusch's best films. I could listen to that Neil Young soundtrack on repeat for days.

I'll definitely be upgrading my Lionsgate blu during the B&N sale this July.

[sawdustandtinsel]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Turner Classic Movies
The Earrings of Madame de... April 30th, 1 AM
Lola Montes April 30th, 3 AM
Anatomy of a Murder April 30th, 4:15 PM
Charade May 4th, 1 PM
It Happened One Night May 6th, 7 AM
I Married a Witch May 6th, 10:30 AM
The Scarlet Empress May 10th, 9 PM
Shanghai Express May 10th, 11 PM
Morocco May 11th, 12:45 AM
Blonde Venus May 11th, 2:30 AM

The Scarlet Empress, Shanghai Express, Morocco and Blonde Venus are four of the six films contained in the upcoming Dietrich & von Sternberg in Hollywood box set being released on July 3rd. It is being preceded by The Blue Angel which is not part of the set, but a great intro for anybody who has never seen any of the collaborations between Marlene Dietrich and Josef von Sternberg. I highly recommend recording it, too. It's airing on May 10th at 7 PM.

Add Crazed Fruit on May 12th at 4 am.

[billy pilgrim]

Originally Posted by mja345

Jarmusch movies aren't for everyone, that's for sure. I know people who find his movies incredibly boring. I saw "Stranger Than Paradise" when I was 14 or 15 and have been a huge fan ever since. I don't think he's made a bad film. I'd say "Stranger Than Paradise", "Down by Law", "Mystery Train", "Night on Earth", "Dead Man", "Ghost Dog", "Only Lovers Left Alive", and "Paterson" fall into the great category for me, while "The Limits of Control", "Broken Flowers", and "Coffee and Cigarettes" are solidly above average. But if someone doesn't get into the style of his films right away, then there's not much that will change his or her mind IMO.

"Dead Man" is a glacially paced acid Western with a main character who is a complete blank slate. Depp's character is very unusual because it gives the audience nothing to work with. He's not a particularly good or bad man, he's just this guy kind of floating through the landscape.

For me, Jarmusch's best are Mystery Train (love this film!), Dead Man, and Night on Earth. I haven't seen Stranger In Paradise or Down By Law yet. I have mixed feelings about Ghost Dog which I want to like more than I actually do. I think it's good, but it's just missing something to bring it up into the top tier.

[Leeon0]

"Mystery Train" and "Broken Flowers"--wonderful, wonderful films.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by billy pilgrim

For me, Jarmusch's best are Mystery Train (love this film!), Dead Man, and Night on Earth. I haven't seen Stranger In Paradise or Down By Law yet. I have mixed feelings about Ghost Dog which I want to like more than I actually do. I think it's good, but it's just missing something to bring it up into the top tier.

Definitely check out "Stranger than Paradise" and "Down by Law", I think you'll love both. "Down by Law" and "Mystery Train" may be my two favorite Jarmusch films, followed closely by "Stranger than Paradise", "Dead Man" and "Night on Earth". "Mystery Train" is absolutely fantastic, one of my favorite films of the 80s.

[billy pilgrim]

Originally Posted by mja345

Definitely check out "Stranger than Paradise" and "Down by Law", I think you'll love both. "Down by Law" and "Mystery Train" may be my two favorite Jarmusch films, followed closely by "Stranger than Paradise", "Dead Man" and "Night on Earth". "Mystery Train" is absolutely fantastic, one of my favorite films of the 80s.

Will do, sir. It sure seems that we share pretty close to the same tastes. Now if I can just find some way to auto correct my malapropisms. Jeez!

Stranger THAN Paradise.