The Criterion Collection

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Gerby

Roy Andersson (especially Du Levande & Songs From The Second Floor).

Bent Hamer (O'Horten is a masterpiece imo, Kitchen Stories & Eggs are not that far behind either).

I would absolutely love a Roy Andersson set! I know the releases have been hit or miss.

[trobrianders]

Next Criterion Flash Sale? Any ideas? October?

[Mike0284]

Originally Posted by trobrianders

Next Criterion Flash Sale? Any ideas? October?

I'm guessing it's on the 17th since that's when the Tod Browning set comes out.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Mike0284

I'm guessing it's on the 17th since that's when the Tod Browning set comes out.

Either then, or the 24th for The Others (that way the Browning set is also included).

[fellinivettes]

Did Criterion state why Days of Heaven is delayed to December? Just curious

[MifuneFan]

Earlier today, I got to see Jacques Tati's PlayTime in 70mm at the Paris Theater here in NYC. The theater seats over 500 people, and it was completely sold out. Someone from the theater came out to introduce the film, and described it as a holy grail for 70mm screenings. Janus Films was also thanked for bringing it out of their vaults.

This was my first time seeing the film, and I went in completely blind, so I actually felt rather lost in the first few minutes, seeing one strange, yet humorous, scene follow another. And that's how much of the movie plays out. There is no storyline, nor narrative, but a series of wonderfully elaborate set-pieces that are the backdrop for countless gags, and chaotic mishaps by Monsieur Hulot, and others in this world. There is a lot to take in here as a first-time viewer, and perhaps even for those that have seen it numerous times. So much is happening in both the foreground, and background, that it feels near impossible to absorb it all.

I loved the film's visuals, with its futuristic sets and designs. Many of them resembling mazes, and traps than anything providing actual function. As cool as the film's visual signature was, the aural presentation was just as great. Numerous little sound effects for chair cushions, tech gadgets, and everything else, providing not only nice comic relief, but just adding to the complete sensory experience of the film.

The restaurant / nightclub scene in the last half of the film was equal parts comedy-gold, and anxiety-inducing. It felt like watching a car crash in slow motion, as we see this half-finished venue transform into pure bedlam, bordering on hellish nightmare by the end. I actually felt it was a bit too much for my senses at one point, and I just wanted to escape.

By the end, I realized my face was hurting from smiling, and laughing so much throughout the film. It was a great experience. I just started reading about the film's production, and it makes me appreciate it even more. Tati spent 10 years trying to make it, and due to increasing costs, it became the most expensive French film ever made at that point, ultimately bankrupting him in the end. While the film was no financial success, its legacy speaks for itself. Tati's ambition, and creativity is seen, and heard in every frame of the film. It's one I can see myself rewatching many times in the future, not only to glean more of its wonderful comedy, and social commentary aspects, but just to be re-immersed in this surreal universe filled with strange characters that Tati created.

[Knaldskalle]

PlayTime takes several viewings to "take it all in" and even then it's almost too much at times (because links between gags start popping up). I personally rank it as the greatest comedy ever made, but it never seems to catch on with people.

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by fellinivettes

Did Criterion state why Days of Heaven is delayed to December? Just curious

Why?????

[saqibhasan101]

Any clue why they don’t even list Malcolm X anymore?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by saqibhasan101

Any clue why they don’t even list Malcolm X anymore?

https://www.criterion.com/films/33245-malcolm-x

[Olmo]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

Deadass, when the Coens do a Blu-ray or 4K it ends in disaster. Miller’s Crossing was an insult, and the constant changes to Blood Simple is the reason I’ve never seen the film.

The DP (Roger Deakins) did the Shout transfer for Fargo, and then Deakins came back to do the HDR and DV for the 4K, but other than that there’s been no work done on it. And TBL apparently has no edits either, so at least their big two movies (for me anyway) escaped the Coens’ tomfoolery.

I know that there's a really small bit of revisionism on Millers's Crossing by the Coen's, I wasn't aware of any tinkering with Blood Simple (there's always the thorny issue with the music rights but they fixed that for the Criterion release by reinstating The Four Tops' song)?

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by Olmo

I know that there's a really small bit of revisionism on Millers's Crossing by the Coen's, I wasn't aware of any tinkering with Blood Simple (there's always the thorny issue with the music rights but they fixed that for the Criterion release by reinstating The Four Tops' song)?

They tinkered with Blood Simple quite a while ago. They even filmed an introduction to justify it. It wouldn’t shock me if they did even more tinkering for the Criterion release.

[rickmiddlebrooks]

Originally Posted by saqibhasan101

Any clue why they don’t even list Malcolm X anymore?

I think they're having a problem with their site search function. I can't find it either by entering the title in their search bar and had the same problem yesterday trying to find Fantastic Mr. Fox. I had to resort to Shop the Collection > Shop the Entire Collection and scroll down to its Spine number. I couldn't sort by any heading other than Spine.

Rick

[rickmiddlebrooks]

Originally Posted by Olmo

I know that there's a really small bit of revisionism on Millers's Crossing by the Coen's, I wasn't aware of any tinkering with Blood Simple (there's always the thorny issue with the music rights but they fixed that for the Criterion release by reinstating The Four Tops' song)?

Check out the several Alternate Versions on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086979...ef_=tt_trv_alt

Rick

[Taylor3978]

Originally Posted by rickmiddlebrooks

I think they're having a problem with their site search function. I can't find it either by entering the title in their search bar

I've been able to find titles by filtering by director.

Very frustrating to have a broken search function as I try to build a shopping list for any flash sale.

[Infra-man]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Earlier today, I got to see Jacques Tati's PlayTime in 70mm at the Paris Theater here in NYC.

Sooooo jealous! :P

PlayTime is one of my favorite films, and seeing it in 70mm is a bucket list item for me. There are very few things I miss about living in a big city, but stuff like this is right up there!

[kmhofmann]

Originally Posted by Infra-man

Sooooo jealous! :P

PlayTime is one of my favorite films, and seeing it in 70mm is a bucket list item for me. There are very few things I miss about living in a big city, but stuff like this is right up there!

I might be in the minority among those who have seen Play Time but I found it incredibly tedious and boring, a cardinal sin for any comedy. Sure, there might be a lot going on in some scenes and I think I "got" the vast majority of the jokes and internal references (and didn't find it too much to take in, far from it)... but what's the use if none of it is either funny or subtle or both.
Any tips on how I might be able to appreciate Play Time more?

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by kmhofmann

I might be in the minority among those who have seen Play Time but I found it incredibly tedious and boring, a cardinal sin for any comedy. Sure, there might be a lot going on in some scenes and I think I "got" the vast majority of the jokes and internal references (and didn't find it too much to take in, far from it)... but what's the use if none of it is either funny or subtle or both.
Any tips on how I might be able to appreciate Play Time more?

Do you really think someone can explain to you how to enjoy a comedy? It wasn’t your taste. Let it go and enjoy the films you like.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by kmhofmann

I might be in the minority among those who have seen Play Time but I found it incredibly tedious and boring, a cardinal sin for any comedy. Sure, there might be a lot going on in some scenes and I think I "got" the vast majority of the jokes and internal references (and didn't find it too much to take in, far from it)... but what's the use if none of it is either funny or subtle or both.
Any tips on how I might be able to appreciate Play Time more?

Maybe don't look at it as a comedy where there's jokes you're supposed to laugh at.

The title is Playtime. It's Tati immersing himself in a giant modern playground of glass and steel, so look at as a visual orchestra of sorts and appreciate the extensive amount of choreography that went into all of the major set pieces of the film; let your eye wander and look for the little pieces of background activity and drink it all in.

I'm not the type of person to chuckle away incessantly at a film anyway, but when I see things like the opening scene

[Show spoiler] where you think it's a hospital then it turns out to be an airport, I mean that's not "funny" per se, but it is clever and it makes me appreciate the little tricks of perception that Tati is playing on the audience

.

[tatterdemalion]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Maybe don't look at it as a comedy where there's jokes you're supposed to laugh at.

The title is Playtime. It's Tati immersing himself in a giant modern playground of glass and steel, so look at as a visual orchestra of sorts and appreciate the extensive amount of choreography that went into all of the major set pieces of the film; let your eye wander and look for the little pieces of background activity and drink it all in.

I'm not the type of person to chuckle away incessantly at a film anyway, but when I see things like the opening scene

[Show spoiler] where you think it's a hospital then it turns out to be an airport, I mean that's not "funny" per se, but it is clever and it makes me appreciate the little tricks of perception that Tati is playing on the audience

.

I agree 100%. This isn't a 'comedy' in the way most would define it. It's Tati's ultimate satire on using real life as humor. Everything in the movie could happen in the real world. It's all beautiful set pieces with the restaurant scene being one the best

[Show spoiler] 'things couldn't possibly get any worse'

moments on film. And the romance is so sweet. For me it's a great feel good movie and one of my 100 favorite films of all-time.