The Criterion Collection

[CriterionBlues]

Predictions already?

I'm going to say no Apu. Figure that'll get pushed back.

In Cold Blood
La Chienne
The Graduate
Eclipse Naruse
Mishima (upgrade)
Pickup on South Street (upgrade)

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Eclipse Naruse

If that and Apu came out in the same month, I'd probably be dreaming.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Here is a list of 100 classic-era film noir movies that I personally think is a better encapsulation of the genre.

100 Greatest Films Noir

I've seen 95 out of these 100 films.

A handful of them (Journey into Fear, Undercurrent, etc.) are not easily available on DVD. I could probably search them out online, but I haven't done so yet.

I've only seen 45 of them, but that puts me in the top 22% of people who have taken the quiz. (There's one or two that I have probably seen long enough ago that I don't remember too - I found that several movies I had thought I hadn't seen I actually had in the noir course).

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by buffetfroid

I think Red Rock West is great. Nice hybrid of Western and noir. Cage is hilarious in it. This and the Last Seduction are the best things John Dahl did. Recently I think he directed some episodes of Justified, which fits well with these.

I think one of the problems I had with Red Rock West is that I was able to predict all the plot twists well in advance; there ended up being no surprises for me at all. Most of that was the director's fault; he kept tipping his hand way in advance. Between his inability to build any mystery or suspense and my familiarity with the genre, it didn't just didn't jell for me. I was very surprised when you mentioned that John Dahl also directed The Last Seduction. I haven't seen that one in several years, but I found it to be brilliant. Linda Fiorentino's performance was absolutely amazing.

I'm watching another one of the so-called "Top Films Noir" this evening, and I'm finding it almost impossible to slog my way through it. It's never a good sign when, twenty minutes into a film, I pause it and turn on the lights so that I can check the running time on the box. I'm now 45 minutes into it, and am taking another break. Maybe this is one of those films that you have to see more than once to appreciate; it certainly was/is a critical and festival favorite, and I don't know why I'm not enjoying it. It's Brick starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and I'm just grateful that I only paid $3.00 for it at a Big Lots store. Hopefully it will get better, but right now I'm thinking the spoof Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid is more "noirish" (and entertaining) than this.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I think one of the problems I had with Red Rock West is that I was able to predict all the plot twists well in advance; there ended up being no surprises for me at all. Most of that was the director's fault; he kept tipping his hand way in advance. Between his inability to build any mystery or suspense and my familiarity with the genre, it didn't just didn't jell for me. I was very surprised when you mentioned that John Dahl also directed The Last Seduction. I haven't seen that one in several years, but I found it to be brilliant. Linda Fiorentino's performance was absolutely amazing.

I'm watching another one of the so-called "Top Films Noir" this evening, and I'm finding it almost impossible to slog my way through it. It's never a good sign when, twenty minutes into a film, I pause it and turn on the lights so that I can check the running time on the box. I'm now 45 minutes into it, and am taking another break. Maybe this is one of those films that you have to see more than once to appreciate; it certainly was/is a critical and festival favorite, and I don't know why I'm not enjoying it. It's Brick starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and I'm just grateful that I only paid $3.00 for it at a Big Lots store. Hopefully it will get better, but right now I'm thinking the spoof Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid is more "noirish" (and entertaining) than this.

Thats bad to hear. I've had Brick on my "to watch" list for a long time now.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by iScottie

$65, but someone has already questioned me about it, so if it doesn't go through, you're next in line.

Wooo! Thank-ee good sir!

[tisdivine]

Received The French Lt. Wife today. It was a blind buy from Amazon. I love Meryl Streep but I'm not going to lie I am not excited about this movie. I really really hope I prove myself wrong lol putting it on now.

Here goes....

[TheHumanTornado]

Hey everyone, just wanted to mention that I have a sealed copy of Marienbad I'm selling on the trading forum.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

Thats bad to hear. I've had Brick on my "to watch" list for a long time now.

Well, as they say, "your mileage may vary." I finally finished Brick, but I took a couple of additional breaks to take out the garbage, and wash some dishes by hand (seriously). I've already deleted it from my "owned" list and added it to a pile of DVDs that I plan to trade in for credit at a used video store.

Apparently, it's a very polarizing film, with most viewers either loving it or hating it. I laughed when I read one review that compared it to "Bugsy Malone without the songs", and felt relieved when some people referred to it as a comedy, others called it a parody, and still others labeled it as a serious homage to the genre. That kind of fit in with my general impression that the film wasn't sure what it was trying to achieve.

I feel fairly safe in predicting that this one will never find its way into the Criterion Collection. I'll be appalled if I'm wrong!

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Well, as they say, "your mileage may vary." I finally finished Brick, but I took a couple of additional breaks to take out the garbage, and wash some dishes by hand (seriously). I've already deleted it from my "owned" list and added it to a pile of DVDs that I plan to trade in for credit at a used video store.

Apparently, it's a very polarizing film, with most viewers either loving it or hating it. I laughed when I read one review that compared it to "Bugsy Malone without the songs", and felt relieved when some people referred to it as a comedy, others called it a parody, and still others labeled it as a serious homage to the genre. That kind of fit in with my general impression that the film wasn't sure what it was trying to achieve.

I feel fairly safe in predicting that this one will never find its way into the Criterion Collection. I'll be appalled if I'm wrong!

Hmm. Normally I think I agree with you, but this time... Nope.

[MTS]

Excuse me for asking a DVD question, but I picked up 8 1/2 for a friend during the sale and when I told her I hadn't seen it yet, she told me to watch it before I gave it to her. Trying tonight, but-- any reason why subtitles wouldn't be showing up on my Oppo bdp-93? I've tried everything I know. Subtitles on, Oppo language preferences, video format, etc.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by myka22

Whenever someone mentions credit sequences I can't help but think about Enter the Void. Criterion was offered the option to release this but they passed on it. It is a flawed film but the intro credits are super entertaining.

Enter the Void - Intro Title Credit Sequence (1080p) - YouTube

Don't forget Irreversibles!

Irreversible Credits - YouTube

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Well, as they say, "your mileage may vary." I finally finished Brick, but I took a couple of additional breaks to take out the garbage, and wash some dishes by hand (seriously). I've already deleted it from my "owned" list and added it to a pile of DVDs that I plan to trade in for credit at a used video store.

Apparently, it's a very polarizing film, with most viewers either loving it or hating it. I laughed when I read one review that compared it to "Bugsy Malone without the songs", and felt relieved when some people referred to it as a comedy, others called it a parody, and still others labeled it as a serious homage to the genre. That kind of fit in with my general impression that the film wasn't sure what it was trying to achieve.

I feel fairly safe in predicting that this one will never find its way into the Criterion Collection. I'll be appalled if I'm wrong!

Wow. I also tend to agree with you, but I'm on the complete other side of this one. I found it to be a modernistic send-up of the neo-noir genre, and the homage was serious (Rian Johnson loves noir), but it was also tongue-in-cheek and satirical. You are right that this film is divisive. My wife hates it too.

[ShellOilJunior]

Gordon-Levitt has really been in some schlock, imo (500 days, Inception, etc).

[malakaheso]

Enter The Void's biggest problem was its length. It has some incredible sequences in it. Truly inventive camera work.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Here is a list of 100 classic-era film noir movies that I personally think is a better encapsulation of the genre.

100 Greatest Films Noir

I've seen 95 out of these 100 films.

A handful of them (Journey into Fear, Undercurrent, etc.) are not easily available on DVD. I could probably search them out online, but I haven't done so yet.

Owl you can get Undercurrent as part of this set : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NJXG68/

It's going for a very reasonable price on Amazon voia 3rd party sellers.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by nitin

Owl you can get Undercurrent as part of this set : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NJXG68/

It's going for a very reasonable price on Amazon voia 3rd party sellers.

I pulled the trigger on that yesterday for the same price after I saw someone else's comment in another post. Thanks!

When I looked at the set a couple years back, when I was filling out my film noir collection by searching out all of the DVDs, the set was a lot more expensive, so I figured that the movie was going to pass me by. I'm glad that the price went down.

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Well, as they say, "your mileage may vary." I finally finished Brick, but I took a couple of additional breaks to take out the garbage, and wash some dishes by hand (seriously). I've already deleted it from my "owned" list and added it to a pile of DVDs that I plan to trade in for credit at a used video store.

Apparently, it's a very polarizing film, with most viewers either loving it or hating it. I laughed when I read one review that compared it to "Bugsy Malone without the songs", and felt relieved when some people referred to it as a comedy, others called it a parody, and still others labeled it as a serious homage to the genre. That kind of fit in with my general impression that the film wasn't sure what it was trying to achieve.

I feel fairly safe in predicting that this one will never find its way into the Criterion Collection. I'll be appalled if I'm wrong!

Brick is absolute pastiche but I find it quite enjoyable. I have the UK blu-ray, which is okay but not a stellar release. Anyway, maybe one's mileage will vary with this title based on how much one can tolerate genre conventions? The film's lack of originality in that regard is its selling point.

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

I practically made out with the mailman today.

Here is my 5 OOP disc order with two replacement cases.



This isn't the biggest Criterion purchase I've made, but it is the biggest for this few titles. And I could not be happier.

I am now 3 away from Blu-Ray completion: The Third Man, Pierrot le fou, Blue is the Warmest Color (special edition when it comes out).

I think you may have bought that Chunking Express off me. I noticed you mentioned buying it soon after mine sold and that copy does look like it (sticker placement).

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Gordon-Levitt has really been in some schlock, imo (500 days, Inception, etc).

if you're trying to say that he is quite talented and he should perhaps aspire to more challenging (for lack of a better word) projects, then I might agree.

the two films you mentioned, though, are hardly "schlock"

500 days:
7.8 imdb
86% RT
4/4 stars Ebert

Inception:
8.8 imdb
86% RT

I personally liked both. 500 Days of Summer I've seen more than once. Not many movies where the protagonist is singing Pixies songs at karaoke or listening to The Smiths on his iPod, so its got that going for it, too.