The Criterion Collection

[Fellini912]

I finally pulled the trigger on A Man Escaped. The last Robert Bresson film that I watched is Au hasard Balthazar . The cinematography as well as the story is fantastic. I have also watched:

Diary of a Country Priest
Pickpocket
L'argent

I have enjoyed all of them. Many of the films have a Dostoevkian undertones. My favorite of the bunch is Pickpocket. I am very excited to watch A Man Escaped. I believe this is the first Bresson region A blu ray. I really hope that criterion will release Pickpocket next.

What is everyone's favorite Bresson film ?

[IronFingaz]

For those of you who have seen it, which version of Mr. Arkadin is the best one?

[octagon]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The recent Steve McQueen movie, Shame, is a rough take on sex addiction. It succeeds in making the addiction not look like fun. Great movie, but I've no desire to see it more than once.

The guy was a stunningly good-looking, successful professional who had to go to all the trouble of making eye-contact with strangers before they would have sex with him.

What were the rough parts again?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

What is everyone's favorite Bresson film ?

By default, it's Pickpocket, which is really great. I believe that was my introduction to French New Wavr all those years ago. If there's one cinematic blind spot I have, sadly, it's Bresson. I can't wait until I buy A Man Escaped, rent Diary of a Country Priest, Mouchette, etc. so I can say, "you complete me."

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

By default, it's Pickpocket, which is really great. I believe that was my introduction to French New Wavr all those years ago. If there's one cinematic blind spot I have, sadly, it's Bresson. I can't wait until I buy A Man Escaped, rent Diary of a Country Priest, Mouchette, etc. so I can say, "you complete me."

Thanks for the response. The editing on pick pocketing scenes is amazing. I have not purchased the DVD, because I always thought the blu ray was around corner.

[vader4]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

And it's a good thing that you have Antichrist. Otherwise, you might

[Show spoiler]cut off your genitals.

I laughed so hard I teared up a little!

To Abdrewes: Do tell me what you end up doing about that "blu-rays in the dorm" situation. It will end up becoming an issue within the next few years so I've wondered the same thing. I always figured I'd take the important ones and keep some sort of lock on them.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

What is everyone's favorite Bresson film ?

Mine is Balthazar. It was the first of his films that I watched and so maybe I'm biased, because it introduced me to the minimalist style, and after viewing it the first time I really liked it. Pickpocket is a close second.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Thanks for the response. The editing on pick pocketing scenes is amazing. I have not purchased the DVD, because I always thought the blu ray was around corner.

I take it the rest are totally worth seeing. I really should have caught up during the "filmspotting marathon."

Right now I believe they are going through a Max Ophuls marathon, which I endorse 100%. Lola Montes (sorry Pauline Kael), Letter from an Unknown Woman and Earrings of Madame De are all divine.

[pro-bassoonist]

Repo Man Blu-ray PRE-ORDER













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[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by vader4

I laughed so hard I teared up a little!

To Abdrewes: Do tell me what you end up doing about that "blu-rays in the dorm" situation. It will end up becoming an issue within the next few years so I've wondered the same thing. I always figured I'd take the important ones and keep some sort of lock on them.

A good 60% of my collection I can leave behind, as I plan on only revisiting them either never (Boondock Saints) or very infrequently (Tremors, etc.). We'll find out hopefully next year!

[vader4]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

What is everyone's favorite Bresson film ?

My personal favorite is A Man Escaped, but I have yet to see Pickpocket.

[Lino11]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

When I ordered my copy of Le Doulos a couple of days ago from Amazon Canada, it said it ships usually in 1 to 2 weeks. Now the price has increased and is shipping in 1 to 2 months. I guess the next step is that it moves to 'Temporarily out of stock'. Has anyone had a similar situation with Amazon and has eventually received their order?

You can maybe try ordering it from the barnes & nobles website. Le Doulos was $37 and they even have Mafioso still for $22.

My order for both went through without an issue but the expected ship date is April 26 so we'll see what that means. good luck!

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

The Lost Weekend is the Reefer Madness of alcohol. I like it for its corniness, certain scenes are just plain silly. Woman under the Influence by Cassavetes is by far more realistic.

Really? I've seen both films and totally agree about Reefer Madness. Made as a "serious" film about pot, it tried too hard to scare people and wound up lampooning itself. If you know anything about alcoholics, a lot of The Lost Weekend is dead on...as corny as it may have seemed at times. Days of Wine and Roses hits some of those same notes, but I think Lost Weekend is a darker film. I wound up buying the MoC blu ray and don't regret it...it struck a cord with me.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by rkish

Really? I've seen both films and totally agree about Reefer Madness. Made as a "serious" film about pot, it tried too hard to scare people and wound up lampooning itself. If you know anything about alcoholics, a lot of The Lost Weekend is dead on...as corny as it may have seemed at times. Days of Wine and Roses hits some of those same notes, but I think Lost Weekend is a darker film. I wound up buying the MoC blu ray and don't regret it...it struck a cord with me.

I can kind of see what he means. Yeah, a lot of The Lost Weekend is darker but a lot of it kind of comes across as cartoonish too. Overall I found Days of Wine and Roses a lot more somber and powerful because they seemed like real people with real problems as opposed to charicatures.

To be fair though (and I swear, I think I'm going to make a macro for this), I've only seen The Lost Weekend one time from start to finish.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

Mine is Balthazar. It was the first of his films that I watched and so maybe I'm biased, because it introduced me to the minimalist style, and after viewing it the first time I really liked it. Pickpocket is a close second.

I was amazed how a director can make a powerful film around a donkey.

[Show spoiler]Also he makes a great comparison between the donkey and Marie.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by rkish

Really? I've seen both films and totally agree about Reefer Madness. Made as a "serious" film about pot, it tried too hard to scare people and wound up lampooning itself. If you know anything about alcoholics, a lot of The Lost Weekend is dead on...as corny as it may have seemed at times. Days of Wine and Roses hits some of those same notes, but I think Lost Weekend is a darker film. I wound up buying the MoC blu ray and don't regret it...it struck a cord with me.

Don't get me wrong, rkish; the film production is flawless, greatly due to Billy Wilder's direction. I love the film's editing. It is actually one of my favorite Wilder films.

I think the last half of the film,story wise, seems a little bit exaggerated. The delirium tremens (DTs) from alcohol withdrawal is a bit unreal (visual delusions). Also no one would let an alcoholic go cold turkey, especially in the hospital. To me thats what makes it lose it's impact.

Where Cassavetes gets it right on alcoholism is the effect of the people around the alcoholic(family and friends)? Crazy Heart is another great film on alcoholism.

After some thought Reefer madness was not a good comparison

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Don't get me wrong, rkish; the film production is flawless, greatly due to Billy Wilder's direction. I love the film's editing.

I think the last half of the film,story wise, seems a little bit exaggerated. The delirium tremens (DTs) from alcohol withdrawal is a bit unreal (visual delusions). Also no one would let an alcoholic go cold turkey, especially in the hospital. To me thats what makes it lose it's impact.

Where Cassavetes gets it right on alcoholism is the effect of the people around the alcoholic(family and friends)? Crazy Heart is another great film on alcoholism (more so than country music).

Hey man, Crazy Heart had great music!

Finally going to watch Ripley's Game it's gonna be tough to beat Purple Noon.

[brandon_260]

I think I'm going to watch Le beau serge tomorrow, depending on when I get finished up with school. I'm down to only two Criterion films in my collection that are unwatched, the other being Everlasting Moments. I've got a handful of blus that I haven't watched since I upgraded, but none I am currently looking to jump on at the moment.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

snip

I'm filled with Jelly

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I was amazed how a director can make a powerful film around a donkey.

[Show spoiler]Also he makes a great comparison between the donkey and Marie.

[Show spoiler]I was amazed too by how emotional the film is and what a powerful viewing experience it was, contrasted with how minimalist and spare the film itself is. So I really dug that, and also how the film, for me, works both as a coming of age movie and as a movie about aging.

In that regard, it has a lot in common with Rumble Fish. They make a sweet pair, imo. I was originally turned on to watch Balthazar after seeing it included in somebody's top 10 on the Criterion site, I'm forgetting who right now.