The Criterion Collection

[monorail91]

Looks like it's okay to talk about Boyhood in here? Anyway, saw it for the first time tonight. Loved it, honestly felt like a time capsule of the 2000s through today (which in some ways, it is). Full review here.

[JulesAndJim]

Just watched Made in U.S.A. and really enjoyed it. It's refreshing see such a good, old-fashioned patriotic movie be included in the Criterion Collection.

[Wildcat47]

Originally Posted by monorail91

Looks like it's okay to talk about Boyhood in here? Anyway, saw it for the first time tonight. Loved it, honestly felt like a time capsule of the 2000s through today (which in some ways, it is). Full review here.

Should be ok since its an upcoming Criterion release

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Boyhood-Blu-ray/103595/

[biglou114]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

I think it may just yet get an upgrade along with a possibility for the other Handmade Films to re-enter the collection. A fairly recent rumor was that Time Bandits would be re-released by Criterion.

I think Life of Brian is a special case, and that the rights currently lay with the Pythons.

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by biglou114

I think Life of Brian is a special case, and that the rights currently lay with the Pythons.

Hopefully a deal can be made. Criterion would seem to have a friendly relationship with Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by aes3728

What do you mean by "get"? Actually receive or understand? We get it on Netflix and I personally love it.

I meant receive... but maybe I also meant understand! It seems very British to me so I was perhaps wondering if the humour would translate.

Ayoade also did a great series The Gadget Man with a great gag about how to pronounce his name

[easydreamer]

At least the Sony Blu of Life of Brian is OOP in the US, so there is a possibility. Hope Criterion upgrades it!

[ijustblumyself]

I love the film Submarine, and have yet to see The Double.

The only thing with Submarine is that I related to it so strongly that I actually found it hard to finish. I honestly don't know if I could ever watch it again.

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I watched Zodiac* tonight and enjoyed it. You can really see Fincher's directing trademarks in his films because of the camera work and the filters his films have.


*This relates to Criterion because David Fincher directed The Game which was released by Criterion.

Great movie, like most Fincher films. Gone Girl looks really great in the trailers.
And Fincher's films have really nice blu ray releases as well.

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Great movie, like most Fincher films. Gone Girl looks really great in the trailers.

And Fincher's films have really nice blu ray releases as well.

I've noticed that a lot of his films get very high aq/vq reviews on this site. I just checked and his films all have mostly different cinematographers but it's still easy to tell that he directed these films somehow.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I watched Zodiac* tonight and enjoyed it. You can really see Fincher's directing trademarks in his films because of the camera work and the filters his films have.


*This relates to Criterion because David Fincher directed The Game which was released by Criterion.

Finally got to watch Insomnia and found myself thinking of Zodiac. Not a unique connection, but the psychology of the detective in both is at least as important as the police procedural if not moreso.

And both have an impressive look. I thought the cinematography was beautiful and appropriate in Zodiac, like you expect in Fincher, but the light in Insomnia is practically a character. What a striking tie-up of character, setting and cinematography. Now I get all the praise.

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by RojD

Finally got to watch Insomnia and found myself thinking of Zodiac. Not a unique connection, but the psychology of the detective in both is at least as important as the police procedural if not moreso.



And both have an impressive look. I thought the cinematography was beautiful and appropriate in Zodiac, like you expect in Fincher, but the light in Insomnia is practically a character. What a striking tie-up of character, setting and cinematography. Now I get all the praise.

Yeah, I agree. Nolan's Insomnia remake is pretty good.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Good to hear. She is lovely. The Laura DVD I rented had a biography special that was rather thorough with her life, which is just incredibly depressing.

I don't know if that is the same one that is on the Blu-ray disc. I am looking forward to watching it, but I am trying to see all of her 'essential' films before I do that.

With that being said, which other films of hers would be considered 'essential?'

I've seen Leave Her to Heaven, Laura, Ghost and Mrs. Muir... I plan on seeing Heaven Can Wait soon. Anything else?

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I think it definitely fits as a classic and important film. I love the Godfather, and Part II is possibly my favorite movie of all time. I just can't imagine it in the Collection. I don't know why, but does ANYONE understand what I'm saying?? (My fellow posters who aren't argumentative snobs, help me out here!!)

I understand what you are saying 100%.

I have a feeling someone will take exception with this, but while this is part of their mission statement: "a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, has been dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world..." I feel that their niche is more along the lines of important foreign films that don't have domestic distribution and obscure-ish films by important American directors.

Of course, we have films like On The Waterfront and 12 Angry Men, but I feel that those are exceptions and not necessarily the "rule," if you will.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I don't know if that is the same one that is on the Blu-ray disc. I am looking forward to watching it, but I am trying to see all of her 'essential' films before I do that.

With that being said, which other films of hers would be considered 'essential?'

I've seen Leave Her to Heaven, Laura, Ghost and Mrs. Muir... I plan on seeing Heaven Can Wait soon. Anything else?

The Razor's Edge is a pretty famous one, with an all-star cast. It is based on the story by W. Somerset Maugham. Strangely enough, I purchased the DVD years ago as a blind buy based on the fact that Gene Tierney was in it alone, and the film just didn't "click" with me. Maybe it was just my mood at the time. I've been meaning to give that disc another spin soon to determine if it is just me.

Edit: By the way, it also stars Herbert Marshall (Trouble in Paradise) who is one of my very favorite actors of all time. I just don't understand why I'm so lukewarm on The Razor's Edge.

[Snicket]

Better backtrack those Boyhood predictions.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MEQ...7250366&sr=8-1

[SammyJankis]

Not so much of a prediction as it was confirmed by the director himself. I guess we won't be seeing it for some time.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I have a feeling someone will take exception with this, but while this is part of their mission statement: "a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, has been dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world..." I feel that their niche is more along the lines of important foreign films that don't have domestic distribution and obscure-ish films by important American directors.

But that's not an issue of prominent films by important American directors not "belonging" in the Collection. It's a matter of Criterion not being able to license such because the major studios want to hang onto them for themselves.

Back in the laserdisc days, Criterion released several prominent Hollywood films, from Taxi Driver and Raging Bull to Citizen Kane and Lawrence of Arabia. And that's because the major studios were largely indifferent to the LD medium. When DVD arrived and turned out to be a revenue bonanza, the licensing of titles to Criterion by the major studios pretty much dried up.

[ShellOilJunior]

It's at the usual CC pre-order price point....

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jayembee

But that's not an issue of prominent films by important American directors not "belonging" in the Collection. It's a matter of Criterion not being able to license such because the major studios want to hang onto them for themselves.

Back in the laserdisc days, Criterion released several prominent Hollywood films, from Taxi Driver and Raging Bull to Citizen Kane and Lawrence of Arabia. And that's because the major studios were largely indifferent to the LD medium. When DVD arrived and turned out to be a revenue bonanza, the licensing of titles to Criterion by the major studios pretty much dried up.

Yes. All true. I reread SD's post and he said that it was a matter of the films not "fitting" into the collection. I'm sure that isn't what he meant. It doesn't seem like something that CC would get the rights to, which he also says in an indirect way. ...and of course, like you say, it is because these films make too much money for their original studio/distributor.