The Criterion Collection

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Somewhat baffling to release a 1980s film as contemporary, even if it’s tied to a more recent documentary, and then not license any of the existing extras (commentary/interview). Should be the same master as the French/Italian BDs which is a HD improvement compared to the Curzon.

I get what you're saying about the '82 film being in the Contemporaries line, but despite it being in the title, I do feel like Criterion are looking at it more as an extra with their release of Room 999. Consider that their MSRP for the release is still the same $29.99 as if it were just one film. I also think that pricing is another perk to having this as a Janus Contemporaries release rather than a Criterion one. As far as extras, since they were released by another label it's very possible they just weren't able to license them. I find in most cases boutique labels tend to keep their own extras to themselves, which of course makes sense since they're selling points for their release over their competition.

[Rayjg]

Been on a Tarkovsky kick lately. Watched The Mirror for the first time since seeing it at the FilmLinc 16 years ago. Followed up with Andrei Rublev and a first ever viewing of The Steamroller and the Violin. It was interesting to see a lot of repeated images in the first two considering the 10 year gag between them: large balloons, water, fire, horses, girls with chapped lips for some reason...discuss.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

Been on a Tarkovsky kick lately. Watched The Mirror for the first time since seeing it at the FilmLinc 16 years ago. Followed up with Andrei Rublev and a first ever viewing of The Steamroller and the Violin. It was interesting to see a lot of repeated images in the first two considering the 10 year gag between them: large balloons, water, fire, horses, girls with chapped lips for some reason...discuss.

I most recently watched Stalker and Nostalghia and water is definitely a thing in them, on the ground or in buildings, in pools or running. The UHD of the latter is fantastic for this, especially when there is reflected light.

[jshaide]

Always assumed Room 666 would end up being a supplement over a full spine anyway, so putting it on this set makes perfect sense.

[Shane Rollins]

Had a small epiphany today about two of David Lynch's films.

Eraserhead is about someone who's seen as a monster by one person, and seen as a human being by everyone else.

The Elephant Man is about someone who's seen as a human being by one person, and seen as a monster by everyone else.

For his first and second movies, what a hell of a range.

[The Great Owl]

A couple of years ago, a friend admonished me, “The reason you hardly ever ask women out is not because you are afraid that they will say no, but because you are afraid that they will say yes.”

The above head cannon of an observation resurfaced in my mind a few times during my initial viewing of the brilliant 2023 French science fiction romantic drama, The Beast (La Bête), directed by Bertrand Bonello. Inspired by a 1903 Henry James novella, “The Beast in the Jungle”, this film carries that tale's themes of loneliness, apprehension, and the fear of intimacy into our contemporary era, a time when the world wide web, technology, and artificial intelligence are increasingly fostering social isolation. I cannot claim to have solved all of the puzzles presented by the narrative, but I will say that those who, like me, enjoy the cinema of the late great David Lynch will find a lot to love here.

In the year 2044, when humans wear gas masks outdoors while roaming the mostly-empty streets of Paris in the aftermath of an unspecified tragedy, Gabrielle, played by Léa Seydoux, is encouraged by an apparent AI advisor to undergo a DNA purification process that will cleanse her mind of trauma from her past lives, resultantly causing her to be more emotionally detached and better qualified for gainful employment. Through this procedure, we are ushered into two of Gabrielle's previous incarnations, one in 1910, when she thrives as a pianist while married to a doll maker during a season when the streets of Paris were devastated by a flood, and one in 2014, where she finds occasional work as a model and small-time actress while housesitting in an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood. In all three of these timelines, she makes the acquaintance of an attractive, but enigmatic man played by George MacKay.

The Beast jumps back and forth between Gabrielle's timelines in an engagingly suspenseful fashion that gradually picks up urgent momentum, with everything culminating in a terrifying stalker/home invasion scenario that could have formed the bulk of a horror plot in any other film. All the while, solitude, fleeting attachments, and risk dictate the interactions of our two leads in disparate ways.

Incidentally, during the proceedings set in 2044, we the viewers learn that the unspecified climate disaster occurred in 2025. At the time of this write-up, just two months into 2025, this particular plot development definitely tracks.


Aside from a 16-minute director short, this Criterion Blu-ray is a bare bones affair. While I would love to have seen a 4K UHD Blu-ray of this spectacular movie, I get the impression that certain sequences that are filmed on an iPhone may not have much room for improvement. As is, everything looks marvelous.

[Techlet]

Indeed, it was a beast of a movie. Definitely hope to see it get a 4K release.

[hawkikwah]

Originally Posted by CRASHLANDING

Both currently on the Channel for anyone interested. I've had The Beast on my watchlist, thanks for the reminder Owl. Had not heard of Last Summer but added that as well.

Saw both of these in the theater last year and absolutely loved them both.

[hawkikwah]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

With Time Blake Nelson getting some attention due to the new Captain America film, that reminded me how much we need Buster Scruggs on disc. I was almost certain once Criterion revealed they had a deal with Netflix it would come out soon after, but nope. Great film.

Just saw this today, TBN was incredible in this. I also thought the movie was a valiant outlier in the MCU

[The Great Owl]

In her professional world, Anne, played by Léa Drucker, is respected attorney who advocates for teenage sexual assault victims. At home, she and her husband, played by Olivier Rabourdin, enjoy a pleasantly idyllic existence raising their two young adopted daughters in the Paris suburbs. Anne's life of domestic contentment gives way to risk and danger, however, when her husband announces that his estranged 17 year-old son from a previous marriage, Theo, a rebellious delinquent played by Samuel Kircher, is moving in with the family after having exhausted all other opportunities for a productive future. Against her better instincts, Anne is eventually drawn into a passionate love affair with her stepson.

The 2023 French drama, Last Summer (L'Été dernier), continues the oddly cathartic new millennium trend where the most transgressive movies are the ones that are helmed by female filmmakers. In this instance, director Catherine Breillat exudes an ability to unsettle viewers in a low-key fashion that causes us to question our own tendencies to feel nervous apprehension for characters who may not necessarily deserve such empathy.

As we watch Léa Drucker's Anne struggle to conceal her moments of poor judgment, we feel afraid for her while also asking ourselves why we should be afraid for her. Several moments late in the narrative, where our antihero heroine employs the same no-nonsense poise to continue living a lie that she has always utilized in her duties as a lawyer to protect victims of predatory abuse, are disquieting on many levels.

Last Summer is not a comfortable film to watch, but I love how its pastoral-sounding title and its fixation on sun-drenched backyard recreation belie some rather appalling subject matter.

The contributions of Kim Gordon and Sonic Youth to the soundtrack are icing on the cake.


After my viewing of The Beast last night, today's watch of Last Summer closes out a fun weekend of French cinema strangeness courtesy of The Criterion Collection.

[frakking toaster]

Is there any idea on when the next flash sale is happening?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by frakking toaster

Is there any idea on when the next flash sale is happening?

No one knows. They usually give advanced notice, often on the Friday before the sale (which are on Tuesdays) so it probably won't be tomorrow. So, we're probably looking at either March 4th, or 11th, though even later in March can't be fully ruled out since it was on March 21st in 2023.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

No one knows. They usually give advanced notice, often on the Friday before the sale (which are on Tuesdays) so it probably won't be tomorrow. So, we're probably looking at either March 4th, or 11th, though even later in March can't be fully ruled out since it was on March 21st in 2023.

The shadow knows.

[Querelle]

more like the shadow nose amirite

[Scottie]

Nick Lowe’s Closet Picks - YouTube

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Watershipdownisgood

Killer of Sheep is definitely on my to buy list for day one pre-orders along with four other titles I hope we get even more African American cinema this year from Criterion we got this, and Jojo Dancer so far. Hopefully though a lot more of them are coming maybe a big blaxploitation box set is coming, but that’s just an assumption on my part.

Anyways, my copy of Jojo Dancer got delivered today I didn’t pre-order it last month I decided to wait on buying it. However, I’m greatly looking forward to rewatching it on Saturday as it has been years since I last watched it.

I forgot Brother From Another Planet is also coming physically from Criterion later this year so that should be pretty exciting I’m really looking forward to that one.

Don't miss out on NOTHING BUT A MAN, one of my favorite films of all time and one that was first shown to me in a film study class when I was a teenager.

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Don't miss out on NOTHING BUT A MAN, one of my favorite films of all time and one that was first shown to me in a film study class when I was a teenager.

Where were you lucky enough to go to high school? Because none of the schools I was in ever had a class like that. Nothing even close.

The closest we had was the teacher putting a movie on almost daily so they didn't have to actually teach us anything.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

Where were you lucky enough to go to high school? Because none of the schools I was in ever had a class like that. Nothing even close.

The closest we had was the teacher putting a movie on almost daily so they didn't have to actually teach us anything.

I was already in college when I was 16 so it was a University Film Study course. However, my high school Film Study class was no slouch with movies such as WALKABOUT, KING OF HEARTS, BORSALINO and TWO FOR THE ROAD being on the screening docket.

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I was already in college when I was 16 so it was a University Film Study course. However, my high school Film Study class was no slouch with movies such as WALKABOUT, KING OF HEARTS, BORSALINO and TWO FOR THE ROAD being on the screening docket.

Lucky bastard...

[Scottie]

Janus update

Misericordia (2024)
Directed by Alain Guiraudie
https://www.janusfilms.com/films/2254

Entr'acte (1924)
Directed by René Clair
https://www.janusfilms.com/films/2255

Paris qui dort (1924)
Directed by René Clair
https://www.janusfilms.com/films/2256

Les Grandes Manoeuvres (1955)
Directed by René Clair
https://www.janusfilms.com/films/2257