The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by yhzmr

Bigger Than Life is an important film. Keep in mind that edgy film makers like Nick Ray were constrained by the studios and production codes i.e. the obligatory happy ending. However the "God was wrong" line was quite controversial and shocking perhaps to '50's sensibilities.

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

You're definitely not alone on that one.
While I loved the cinematography and though the direction was terrific, I really couldn't have cared less for Ali as his acting was so terribly wooden (and if this was him trying to channel Bresson I didn't think it worked to his advantage), the ending was stupid and tacked on just to fill the All that Heaven Allows checklist and I thought that their love was too rushed and out of nowhere.

I'd still give it a solid 7/10 though as I did think there were a lot of other terrific moments and technical merits.

Y'all are crazy in terms of Bigger Than Life though. That movie is terrific!

I’m not much for films that “tackled social issues” or were “important during their time.” I coupled my reply with Joe’s thoughts on Ali because I think that is the only case that could possibly be made for it being better than All That Heaven Allows. Ok… ATHA is just a May-December romance, while the social pressure the couple feels in Ali is mostly due to the fact that they are interracial. Was it a bigger social issue? Yes. Does it continue to be? Not so much, but a little bit still. Who cares, though? Doesn’t make it a better film and artistically speaking, it certainly doesn’t hold a candle to Sirk’s unique set design and stylishly overbaked melodrama. I’m not saying that loose remakes or a ‘reimagining’ of a story is ever wrong, but it was Sirk’s film that influenced Fassbinder. Looking at the two from strictly a ‘film as art’ lovers pov, THAT, to me, is what makes ATHA infinitely more important.

And to add to Joe’s critique of Ali, I felt that good and bad was too clearly defined w/ no middle ground. It was cute for a while, but the film is too “safe,” too cookie-cutter. You can gauge how everyone will react long before they are even on screen and that made it a small chore to sit through it all.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

I've never seen Bigger Than Life, but I definitely need to upgrade my copy of The Red Shoes, which, IMHO, is one of the best films ever made.

I didn't care for either. TRS, though, I would see again as I didn't outright dislike it.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I’m not much for films that “tackled social issues” or were “important during their time.” I coupled my reply with Joe’s thoughts on Ali because I think that is the only case that could possibly be made for it being better than All That Heaven Allows. Ok… ATHA is just a May-December romance, while the social pressure the couple feels in Ali is mostly due to the fact that they are interracial. Was it a bigger social issue? Yes. Does it continue to be? Not so much, but a little bit still. Who cares, though? Doesn’t make it a better film and artistically speaking, it certainly doesn’t hold a candle to Sirk’s unique set design and stylishly overbaked melodrama. I’m not saying that loose remakes or a ‘reimagining’ of a story is ever wrong, but it was Sirk’s film that influenced Fassbinder. Looking at the two from strictly a ‘film as art’ lovers pov, THAT, to me, is what makes ATHA infinitely more important.

And to add to Joe’s critique of Ali, I felt that good and bad was too clearly defined w/ no middle ground. It was cute for a while, but the film is too “safe,” too cookie-cutter. You can gauge how everyone will react long before they are even on screen and that made it a small chore to sit through it all.

I personally find ATHA a better film. And I am a big Fassbinder fan. Don't get me wrong. I see what he was going for and why he was going for that in his particular situation. I do. But in many ways, Sirk's film was more "dangerous" than Ali would ever be.

Then again, I LOVE Hayes' Far From Heaven, and I think it tells us something that so many versions of this film have been made. If it weren't an important subject, no one would have bothered with all of this stuff.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I didn't care for either. TRS, though, I would see again as I didn't outright dislike it.

Are you a fan, in general, of ballet?

[pedromvu]

I can't think of All that Heaven Allows being artistically better than Ali, sure it looked pretty, but the framing in Ali was impressive, and the long pauses helped understand the characters and their suffering in a way i didn't really felt in ATHA, it felt like a more traditional drama.

Will probably check ATHA again in the future.

[Helikaon]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I didn't care for either. TRS, though, I would see again as I didn't outright dislike it.

Boo! Hisssss!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Are you a fan, in general, of ballet?

No. I've come to discover, however, that a film about anything, any time, any topic can be interesting if handled the right away. I'm not saying TRS was "mishandled," but that many films that would seem terribly uninteresting on the surface level are actually quite fascinating.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Helikaon

Boo! Hisssss!

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

No. I've come to discover, however, that a film about anything, any time, any topic can be interesting if handled the right away. I'm not saying TRS was "mishandled," but that many films that would seem terribly uninteresting on the surface level are actually quite fascinating.

Makes sense.

I love ballet, so any film about it, no matter how sidelong it deals with it, I will probably have an initial attraction to.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

You realize, right, that saying stuff like "probs" makes you sound like a 14 year-old US girl?

How lol XD

[TheHighRoller]

Why is The Leopard being re-released?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

Why is The Leopard being re-released?

Plastic case

[Musicguy]

Paramount recently released a DCP of Richard Attenborough's 1969 film "Oh!, What a Lovely War" Criterion has released quite a few Paramount Picture films from the late 60's (Rosemary's Baby, ...if, Medium Cool, Midnight Cowboy (rumored)

Wonder if they'll acquire this film which received either glowing reviews or bad reviews (seems critics were split down the middle)
Attenborough recorded a commentary for the DVD release, and this is the kind of high brow film Criterion usually likes to release (can't see Paramount releasing this through Warner)

A DCP was also released of Robert Redford's 1980 Best PIcture "Ordinary People" another possible Criterion release? Most other Paramount films released as DCPs have been released on Blu-ray

[italy12]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Plastic case

Any other digis getting the plastic case treatment a la Night of the Hunter, Foreign Correspondent, and now The Leopard?

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

The Red Shoes and Black Swan is an awesome 2x feature.

Aronofsky's understanding of film history is one reason I'm such a big fan.

I interviewed Aronofsky during the Black Swan promotional circus, and was surprised to discover that he hadn't seen The Red Shoes when he set about making Black Swan. He eventually saw it when they were in post on the film.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I interviewed Aronofsky during the Black Swan promotional circus, and was surprised to discover that he hadn't seen The Red Shoes when he set about making Black Swan. He eventually saw it when they were in post on the film.

Really? I find it hard to believe he hadn't seen it, there are so many scenes that are clearly sintered by The Red Shows, the main one is the first person point of view and having the camera spin.

I dunno - may just be chance they are similar but I find it very hard to believe lol

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by italy12

Any other digis getting the plastic case treatment a la Night of the Hunter, Foreign Correspondent, and now The Leopard?

I do not believe that any others have been announced.

For those who did not see my previous post, The Night of the Hunter replacement case is no longer being offered by criterion.com.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I interviewed Aronofsky during the Black Swan promotional circus, and was surprised to discover that he hadn't seen The Red Shoes when he set about making Black Swan. He eventually saw it when they were in post on the film.

Wow. I would have thought that he had seen it, grasped it, and moved on it.

Fascinating.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Plastic case

The Digipack is very beautiful. Last year, I would have prefered the plastic case. But now I've changed my mind.

I wish they would have done plastic cases for the newest releases in Digipack. Now they're backtracking their steps.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

The Digipack is very beautiful. Last year, I would have prefered the plastic case. But now I've changed my mind.

I wish they would have done plastic cases for the newest releases in Digipack. Now they're backtracking their steps.

Love your signature such a great scene in the film!