The Criterion Collection

[Yami]

Either would be terrific. Especially O Drakos though as I think Young Aphrodities has had a DVD release. O Drakos is the definition of "forgotten masterpiece"

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by Shout92

I think anyone who says John Wayne is a one note actor seriously needs to watch or rewatch The Searchers and Red River. Even John Ford admitted he didn't know the Duke had it in him until he saw what Howard Hawks did with him in Red River.

I'd never accuse him of being one-note. Indeed I've found his performances enjoyable in several films. What holds me back from loving him or ranking him more highly as an actor is that the prominent notes he relies on (and all artists have "go to" or signature techniques - or tics, i suppose) are notes I don't really care for. Another example from earlier is James Stewart, wh-wh-who certainly has his own tics, and yet for me they enhance his performances where Wayne's detract.


Like Maude says, "consistency isn't a human trait" (paraphrase).

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Sorry if this is off topic...

Just watched The Devils (1971). I had heard of the film before but was not prepared for what I experienced. The term masterpiece gets used quite often these days, but I feel quite certain to label this film as such.

I really don't know what to say.

Speaking of which, are there any 'look for this release/stay away from that release' recommendations about this?

Every time this comes up I make a mental note to add it my wish/shopping/rental lists and this time I might actually do it.

[Yami]

It's terrific. There could have been a better release (i.e most recent director's cut on Blu-Ray) but Warner won't allow it and probably never will. This is the best possible compromise

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Yami

It's terrific. There could have been a better release (i.e most recent director's cut on Blu-Ray) but Warner won't allow it and probably never will. This is the best possible compromise

+1. Now bring on The Last Movie BFI.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

we will finally start seeing more films from Latin America, Spain or the Middle East. Some stuff from Iran, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Israel would be really appreciated .

You and me both.

[Wally Q]

Originally Posted by bizarre_eye

We can only hope...

Andrei Rublev however would be most welcome.

I'm not a snob when it comes to Armageddon and I've held off on picking it up in case Criterion does pick it back up. Though it still remains an odd choice for a Criterion title.

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by Wally Q

I'm not a snob when it comes to Armageddon and I've held off on picking it up in case Criterion does pick it back up. Though it still remains an odd choice for a Criterion title.

I would hardly call it one of my favorite Criterions, nowhere near, but since I first saw it I've grown to appreciate it for what it is. It's not top of my list, but I do hope they upgrade it, not least of the reasons so that they could bring in the money this title will and put that into other titles we want to see.

[monque]

I would love to see Criterion release on Blu-ray The Devil and Daniel Webster.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

I am really hoping they give this treatment to the more risky stuff if that means we will finally start seeing more films from Latin America, Spain or the Middle East. Some stuff from Iran, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Israel would be really appreciated .

You's and me threeth.

But what about Can-a-duhhh?!? Specifically Québec! Am I the only one here, other than P@t, who loves the work of Villeneuve? Or Chouinard? Or Falardeau? Or world film vets Arcand and Jutra? This isn't peasant stuff.

A whopping one Québécois film on Criterion DVD. None on Blu-ray. And it's right under their Paris-pointed noses. Yeeesh...

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Shout92

I think anyone who says John Wayne is a one note actor seriously needs to watch or rewatch The Searchers and Red River. Even John Ford admitted he didn't know the Duke had it in him until he saw what Howard Hawks did with him in Red River.

My old high school English teacher served in Vietnam and said pretty much as soon as he got there he cursed John Wayne's name. Not because of Wayne's beliefs or anything, but that the fact that all his war movies (especially the Green Berets) were extremely misleading. But I don't think he has anything personal against Wayne or his other films.

It's a shame that the performances take the back seat to eccentricities/ private life in many minds. Look at Nic Cage, (Moonstruck, Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation, etc) Tom Cruise (Born on the Fourth of July & Magnolia).

On another note: I wasn't expecting The Lady Vanishes to be so great! Hitchcock states on the interview that his technical side was always developed, and it's clearly evident. There's some Genius editing, and camerawork and its quite entertaining throughout. It's very much like Rules of the Game. That would be an excellent double feature!

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

I have been trying to figure out what should I buy from the latest slates and I just noticed that most of my "anticipated" or wanted titles are those in the cheaper price point (MSRP $29.99). In fact, I think some of the most interesting/refreshing choices of the last months have been these ones. What is your opinion about this kind of releases? They seem to give Criterion a greater chance of putting -not so obvious- stuff in the Collection by sacrificing the supplements. I am really glad they are taking this route with at least one title per month (Don't know why June didn't follow the trend, though). So far, the only titles in the mentioned price point are:

- The Makioka Sisters by Kon Ichikawa
- Identification of a Woman by Michelangelo Antonioni
- The Moment of Truth by Francesco Rosi
- Three Outlaw Samurai by Hideo Gosha
- Letter Never Sent by Mikhail Kalatozov
- The Organizer by Mario Monicelli
- Summer Interlude by Ingmar Bergman

Which titles do you think may fit the trend? I am really hoping they give this treatment to the more risky stuff if that means we will finally start seeing more films from Latin America, Spain or the Middle East. Some stuff from Iran, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Israel would be really appreciated .

None of these have been my most anticipated. Like it or not, most often the larger titles are the ones I anticipate the most, but even when titles don't excite me, whether by virtue of ignorance of title or by director I haven't explored as much, I'm always down for what Criterion is bringing.

A perfect example was The Moment Of Truth. I still haven't seen Salvatore Giuliano or Hands Over The City. I knew who Francesco Rosi was, but due to my lack of experience with his films, I wasn't excited for it. It was one of the best films I've seen them release lately. Seriously great.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

You's and me threeth.

But what about Can-a-duhhh?!? Specifically Québec! Am I the only one here, other than P@t, who loves the work of Villeneuve? Or Chouinard? Or Falardeau? Or world film vets Arcand and Jutra? This isn't peasant stuff.

A whopping one Québécois film on Criterion DVD. None on Blu-ray. And it's right under their Paris-pointed noses. Yeeesh...

A couple of those names I haven't seen films from. I would like to see some early films from Michel Brault. How about a native Canadian Michael Snow? I want to see him and Jonas Mekas get some Criterion love (If Hollis Frampton got a release, I see no reason these 2 couldn't).

And of course I like a little movie that Americans came up and made.....Out of the Blue. Don't know if we should count that.

[Yami]

I'd say the logical choice would be Jean-Pierre Lefebvre.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

You's and me threeth.

But what about Can-a-duhhh?!? Specifically Québec! Am I the only one here, other than P@t, who loves the work of Villeneuve? Or Chouinard? Or Falardeau? Or world film vets Arcand and Jutra? This isn't peasant stuff.

A whopping one Québécois film on Criterion DVD. None on Blu-ray. And it's right under their Paris-pointed noses. Yeeesh...

Agreed. The Allan King Eclipse set is one of the gems of my 300+ Criterions.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by joie

Incendies is on blu-ray. Is this a complaint that it (or something else) isn't a Criterion blu-ray? Why? Do people think a release by Criterion is some sort of stamp of approval? Couldn't it be a kiss of death?

That's a recent film so I'm not sure it 'counts'

[BohemianGraham]

Why are we only focusing on French film-making out of Canada? There's plenty of other fantastic Canadian film makers besides those French-language films, and Cronenberg, such as Donald Shebib, Ishu Patel, and Norman McLaren.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Why are we only focusing on French film-making out of Canada? There's plenty of other fantastic Canadian film makers besides those French-language films, and Cronenberg, such as Donald Shebib, Ishu Patel, and Norman McLaren.

There is a lot of movies that are pass over from Canada. Some I am surprise that were never included in the Criterion collection (but I understand that not everything can, just think these would make a good fit) are :

L'Homme Qui Plantait Des Arbres by frederic back
Lies My Father Told Me by Jan Kadar
Kamouraska by Claude Jutra

Nothing to say these are the best of the best of Canadian cinema but I just think they would fit pretty good in the collection.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

A couple of those names I haven't seen films from. I would like to see some early films from Michel Brault. How about a native Canadian Michael Snow? I want to see him and Jonas Mekas get some Criterion love (If Hollis Frampton got a release, I see no reason these 2 couldn't).

And of course I like a little movie that Americans came up and made.....Out of the Blue. Don't know if we should count that.

Isn't Snow one of those filmmakers that prefers not having his films released on home video? (Unless I'm thinking of Mathew Barney...)

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

There is a lot of movies that are pass over from Canada. Some I am surprise that were never included in the Criterion collection (but I understand that not everything can, just think these would make a good fit) are :

L'Homme Qui Plantait Des Arbres by frederic back
Lies My Father Told Me by Jan Kadar
Kamouraska by Claude Jutra

Nothing to say these are the best of the best of Canadian cinema but I just think they would fit pretty good in the collection.

Lies My Father Told Me was on TCM last month as part of 31 Days of Oscar. It was an interesting film, but one I'm not sure if I'd revisit a lot. It was kinda need to see Marilyn Lightstone in something other than a Kevin Sullivan production based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's literature though.

I think Criterion should release Ivan Reitman's Cannibal Girls. If they can release Equinox, or Murder a la Mod, then they can release Cannibal Girls. It's an interesting horror comedy starring Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin, before SCTV or anything else. Eugene is practically unrecognisable with his massive afro and gigantic 'stache:

Cannibal Girls 1973 - YouTube