The Criterion Collection

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

There will be Blood is a masterpiece.

That being said, this film was tough to watch because I found DDL one of the most reprehensible characters I've ever seen in cinema; the fact that he kindly adopted the baby boy at the beginning (when his real father died in the mine?! blast) was overshadowed by his horrific actions later....One of the most difficult scenes to watch (at least for me) was when he denounced his hearing-impaired son when he wanted to get his blessing to get married, for no particular reason....Quite unspeakable. Throughout the film, I always got the impression that the DDL character had serious issues with women...not necessarily that he wasn't attracted to them, but there seemed to be something misogynistic in his attitude towards them, which is possibly why he didn't like the fact that his son wanted to get married...Just my theory.

The scene at the very end

[Show spoiler]when he beat the PD priest character with the bowling pin (also without apparent reason) was quite gruesome & unexpected.

For these reasons, TWBB is not a film I re-watch often (I think I've only seen it twice).

The Master was an interesting story, but I couldn't get into it because I've never been able to understand why people join cults (I've always been an independent type of person, and couldn't really relate to the characters here). I especially couldn't understand why the Joaquim Phoenix character kept following PSH around, even after being verbally abused by him. Note that I do get that a lot of folks want to belong to something bigger than themselves and/or may be looking for a surrogate family, but this type of thing still doesn't sit well with me.

My favorite part of The Master was the end,

[Show spoiler]when Phoenix broke off from the group & went his own way....The scene where he walked alone down the tree-lined road (away from the group's facility) was great.

My favorite PTA film is his first, Hard Eight (1996). IMHO, this film is amazing, and screams for a Criterion Blu release...IIRC, the current DVD of the film is OOP...

Daniel Plainview disowned his "son" because HW wanted to go into the oil business for himself.

[Show spoiler]Don't you remember when Plainview said "your killing my image of you"? After HW states his intent to strike off on his own he becomes a "competitor". (Daniel said as much when he calls him "nothing but a bastard in a basket")

Great film.

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I started a separate thread about this question, before I realized that there was a Criterion sticky thread.



Does anyone have any information, insight and/or speculation about why Criterion hasn't been able to renew the rights for most of the Jean Pierre Melville films they once had?



Is Studiocanal asking too high a price for a rights renewal or is it something else?



Really sucks that we don't have a Criterion blu ray for Bob Le Flambeur or Le Doulos.

And that thread already got answered by multiple people. It's a good topic idea though.

[BTTF_]

Trying to buy "Mystery Train" on amazon and it says its the Canadian edition. I don't know why it would say that. Can anyone shed some light for me?

[myka22]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I mentioned Eyes Wide Shut previously :P - He was actually pretty good in Vanilla Sky, I do enjoy that film, but it does have its weaknesses...

Vanilla Sky is one of the most entertaining movies I've seen recently. It is so awfully absurd that I couldn't help but be transfixed about it. It was like Tom Cruise was playing Tom Cruise. And then Kurt Russel shows up. So bizarre.

[manunited1]

Being a 50/50 Mann fan and having never previously watched Thief until Criterion releasing it, I absolutely loved it.

While not as intense and action packed as the usual hiest film it remains a tight and focused vehicle capable of pulling you in.

The soundtrack and cinematography are top notch.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

You got it, man! I wish tom cruise would make more character driven films, kind of in the vein of Collateral. He's getting up there in age and I don't think he wants to do blockbusters for the rest of his career. But I am making an assumption about that point.

I loved Tom Cruise in Collateral too. He played such a bad ass with a moral code that was highly questionable. I didn't see his character in that film as wholly evil but he definitely wasn't good either as he was totally a sociopath.

My favorite films starring Tom Cruise would have to be (in this order):

1. Eyes Wide Shut
2. Magnolia
3. Collateral
4. Born on the 4th of July
5. Rain Man
6. Minority Report
7. The Last Samurai
8. A Few Good Men
9. The Firm
10. Interview with the Vampire

Bonus: War of the Worlds

And yes, he was good in Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, Risky Business and all the Mission Impossible movies too.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by myka22

Vanilla Sky is one of the most entertaining movies I've seen recently. It is so awfully absurd that I couldn't help but be transfixed about it. It was like Tom Cruise was playing Tom Cruise. And then Kurt Russel shows up. So bizarre.

Watch the original film, Abre Los Ojos. It's better in every way...well, except for the soundtrack.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Watch the original film, Abre Los Ojos. It's better in every way...well, except for the soundtrack.

I've always meant to see the original...Now I have to. No shock that Cameron's soundtrack is superior though.

[bstv69]

Originally Posted by bstv69

For anyone in NYC just saw that tonight they're showing the Black Narcissus with Thelma Shoonmaker there in person.
http://www.villagevoice.com/events/b...issus-4845962/

Wow! What an incredible experience! Seeing Black Narcissus for the first time on the big screen, looked incredible, and only to add to the experience was Thelma Schoonmaker with a wonderful intro to the film where she spoke about her husband, Scorsese, her work and the film itself. It was a wonderful experience to finally see a criterion on the big screen, to meet one of the greatest editors of all time and my favorite directors partner in crime.
Now to watch the blu-Ray with Scorseses commentary when I return home

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Watch the original film, Abre Los Ojos. It's better in every way...well, except for the soundtrack.

It's been on my DVR for months. Ahh!

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by BTTF_

Trying to buy "Mystery Train" on amazon and it says its the Canadian edition. I don't know why it would say that. Can anyone shed some light for me?

There is no difference if it's a Canadian edition, same release as the USA except it as a sticker on it saying the movie is only available in English, if it's there at all, most of the time it's not. It's a sticker on the wrapping plastic so it does not change the box once it's open

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

There is no denying Altman's influence but as I have tried to make the point before, just because you come first, does not mean you are best. Again, my opinion only.

Agree, that's why I'm no fan of Griffith I haven't seen Short Cuts in years, but Altman generally doesn't look to emotionally involve you with characters, at least not in the way P.T does anyway, or at least did in his early years.

re: Mann's Thief. I recently watched the Criterion edition myself and felt that, while the film is impressively stylish, even somewhat ahead of its time, the story didn't really justify the length of the film. There just wasn't enough meat on the bones. Having said that, it's definitely well directed and acted and certainly worth a look for fans of Mann and/or Caan.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by bstv69

Wow! What an incredible experience! Seeing Black Narcissus for the first time on the big screen, looked incredible, and only to add to the experience was Thelma Schoonmaker with a wonderful intro to the film where she spoke about her husband, Scorsese, her work and the film itself. It was a wonderful experience to finally see a criterion on the big screen, to meet one of the greatest editors of all time and my favorite directors partner in crime.
Now to watch the blu-Ray with Scorseses commentary when I return home

One of my best cinematic experiences of recent years was a screening of the restored Colonel Blimp... It looked like new and was a totally engrossing experience to see it in the theatre. I hope I can see all of the Archers movies that way in time; I missed a screening of I know where I'm going! about 14 years ago and still kick myself... Don't know when (or if) that'll ever come round again.

[filmmusic]

I have a 15% off coupon for B&N that expires tomorrow and I won't be using! Let me know if anyone wants it!

[Helikaon]

Originally Posted by jw007

I loved Tom Cruise in Collateral too. He played such a bad ass with a moral code that was highly questionable. I didn't see his character in that film as wholly evil but he definitely wasn't good either as he was totally a sociopath.

My favorite films starring Tom Cruise would have to be (in this order):

1. Eyes Wide Shut
2. Magnolia
3. Collateral
4. Born on the 4th of July
5. Rain Man
6. Minority Report
7. The Last Samurai
8. A Few Good Men
9. The Firm
10. Interview with the Vampire

Bonus: War of the Worlds

And yes, he was good in Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, Risky Business and all the Mission Impossible movies too.

My favourite Tom Cruise moments:

1. Magnolia - "Don't go away, you ****ing *******, don't go away."
2. Mission Impossible - Ceiling break-in
3. Collateral - "Hey homie, is that my briefcase?"
4. Minority Report - In the bathtub
5. Magnolia - "Respect the c*ck! And tame the c*nt!"


HM:
Tropic Thunder - "First, take a big step back, and literally **** YOUR OWN FACE!"
Top Gun - "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"
Everything else.

[filmmusic]

When I think of Tom Cruise I think of Cocktail, because that was the first movie I saw him back in my childhood, and has stuck to me..

[malakaheso]

Great Cruise moments? Seriously? He is like Brando or Nicholson now? News to me

Cruise's greatest accomplishment is the fact that he is still acting after 30 or so years.

[Helikaon]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Great Cruise moments? Seriously? He is like Brando or Nicholson now? News to me

Cruise's greatest accomplishment is the fact that he is still acting after 30 or so years.

Does he have to be as good as Brando or Nicholson to enjoy his movies? If you read carefully you would have seen I listed my favourite Tom Cruise moments. But I guess you got up this morning and wanted to argue.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by Helikaon

Does he have to be as good as Brando or Nicholson to enjoy his movies? If you read carefully you would have seen I listed my favourite Tom Cruise moments. But I guess you got up this morning and wanted to argue.

Nah, i'm just rather disturbed at this general trend of taking Cruise seriously as an actor because he occasionally acts well under the guidance and supervision of quality directors.

He was wrongly dismissed as just a pretty face in his early days--although he was nothing stellar either--but the praise for him in the last 10-15 years is a little OTT for my taste.

Each to their own of course.

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by manunited1

Being a 50/50 Mann fan and having never previously watched Thief until Criterion releasing it, I absolutely loved it.

While not as intense and action packed as the usual hiest film it remains a tight and focused vehicle capable of pulling you in.

The soundtrack and cinematography are top notch.

I like to think that Robert Deniro's character in Heat learned the "Heat around the corner" motto from James Caan's in Thief. If you think about it its pretty much exactly what he does in Thief.

It starts at 2:11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gyfIvMd4T0