The Criterion Collection

[monorail91]

I just watched The Best Little Wh0rehouse in Texas. Which weirdly goes back to the discussion from a few pages back - one of (many) movies my dad introduced me to!

Tomorrow I'm hoping to watch Capote (never seen), after just seeing In Cold Blood earlier this week and finished the book right before that.

Also, I just noticed Sorrentino's new film Youth is being distributed on iTunes by Fox. Should we take that as a sign that a Criterion isn't happening? (Which I'd be okay with... it's no The Great Beauty.)

[joie]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

What's everyone watching this weekend?

Cymbeline

[ajburke]

I saw The Revenant this evening as well, and I will add to the praise. It definitely reminded me of some Malick films, likely because the great Chivo was working the camera. He has shot Malick's 4 most recent films. The vistas were incredible. It is right up there among the best films of 2015 I've seen (up to about 25 last I checked). I've seen most of AG Inarritu's features and I think his body of work is exemplary. It would be nice to see a loaded CC edition of one or more of his movies at some point.

On an unfortunate note, there were issues with the projection when I saw it. All the beautiful camera work was interrupted by the picture frequently cutting out.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ajburke

I saw The Revenant this evening as well, and I will add to the praise. It definitely reminded me of some Malick films, likely because the great Chivo was working the camera. He has shot Malick's 4 most recent films. The vistas were incredible. It is right up there among the best films of 2015 I've seen (up to about 25 last I checked). I've seen most of AG Inarritu's features and I think his body of work is exemplary. It would be nice to see a loaded CC edition of one or more of his movies at some point.

On an unfortunate note, there were issues with the projection when I saw it. All the beautiful camera work was interrupted by the picture frequently cutting out.

His work has changed since BIUTIFUL.

His first 3 film were pure grit and pure emotion and focusing on troubling times on people who are genuinely suffering. Yes they still feature in his later films but the entire feel has changed, they don't feel as bleak and empty, since BIUTIFUL his films seem to have more hope and beauty in them.

It's nice to see him exploring and trying out new stuff, I don't think, in my opinion he has done a bad film - they all rate really high for me!

And yes THE REVENENT is amazing, the oscar hype around ti is annoying as usual, but its a near flawless film - you don't even notice the runtime! I think Tom Hardy needs more praise as I think I preferred him to Leonardo tbh.

It defo has that Malick feel, it feels like a film Malick would and could do, if he had a script! Much like his older films but with his newer style from TTOL, TTW, KOC...

Can't wait to go see again though !

[pro-bassoonist]

Bitter Rice Blu-ray REVIEW



The new transfer is very, very good. This is a major upgrade over the old Italian DVD release

***

On the disc that I was sent to review, there appears to be a small mastering defect. At the moment I do not know if it is only on my disc -- I have only one disc with me -- but I have contacted Criterion with a request for additional information. The video score is left unset at the moment.

I will update the review/thread when I have proper information.

Pro-B

[mrjohnnyb]

Warner Archives will finally be releasing The Big Sleep and Key Largo on blu-ray. I was holding out a faint hope that they both might receive "the treatment." Good news nonetheless.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18251

[Tns49]

Originally Posted by atlantajoseph

Since 4k and UHD BD have been the hot topics on this forum for the past two days, I wanted to get a feel for how many folks here are interested in Criterion following that path? I remember it took them a while to commit to BD releases, but that was mainly because of the long, drawn out format war which is not a factor this time.
...

Thoughts, opinions?

Certainly I would like to hear that for SOME selections Criterion would offer UHD BD.

Not sure which of there current titles might be good choices. The only one that immediately comes to mind is "Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". Others that they mention being scanned at 4k (or better) might be candidates.

I still need to upgrade my TV. I am eyeing the NEW 2016 LG OLED models. And so far only see the Samsung model player listed for pre-order. I have already pre-ordered 3 UHD BD movies.

[Reddington]

Sorry to say that overall I found The Revenant to be uneven and a bit of a slog. Unlike most films I see in the cinema, I was not spoiler-free going in as I had read quite a bit about how it was made -

[Show spoiler]shooting scenes in sequence, using only natural light, etc.

- which is something I am very interested in. In no way way did the film suffer for it and the cinematography was often spectacular. However, I thought the

[Show spoiler]supernatural elements

rather heavy-handed, and the

[Show spoiler]numerous uses of CGI in animal sequences

somewhat jarring and unconvincing. DiCaprio was good, but Tom Hardy's was the stand-out performance. Just unfortunate that much of his dialogue seemed too low in the mix. I could see it being a candidate for the CC treatment.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Sorry to say that overall I found The Revenant to be uneven and a bit of a slog. Unlike most films I see in the cinema, I was not spoiler-free going in as I had read quite a bit about how it was made -

[Show spoiler]shooting scenes in sequence, using only natural light, etc.

- which is something I am very interested in. In no way way did the film suffer for it and the cinematography was often spectacular. However, I thought the

[Show spoiler]supernatural elements

rather heavy-handed, and the

[Show spoiler]numerous uses of CGI in animal sequences

somewhat jarring and unconvincing. DiCaprio was good, but Tom Hardy's was the stand-out performance. Just unfortunate that much of his dialogue seemed too low in the mix. I could see it being a candidate for the CC treatment.

You still haven't watched Picnic At Hanging Rock have you?

...you make me sick.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Sorry to say that overall I found The Revenant to be uneven and a bit of a slog. Unlike most films I see in the cinema, I was not spoiler-free going in as I had read quite a bit about how it was made -

[Show spoiler]shooting scenes in sequence, using only natural light, etc.

- which is something I am very interested in. In no way way did the film suffer for it and the cinematography was often spectacular. However, I thought the

[Show spoiler]supernatural elements

rather heavy-handed, and the

[Show spoiler]numerous uses of CGI in animal sequences

somewhat jarring and unconvincing. DiCaprio was good, but Tom Hardy's was the stand-out performance. Just unfortunate that much of his dialogue seemed too low in the mix. I could see it being a candidate for the CC treatment.

I liked it and rated it a 4/5, but I didn't particular care much for it either.

Great cinematography and score, but overall I found it to be overrated, dragged out, and laughable at times. There's only so much you can endure before it becomes unrealistic.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I liked it and rated it a 4/5, but I didn't particular care much for it either.

Great cinematography and score, but overall I found it to be overrated, dragged out, and laughable at times. There's only so much you can endure before it becomes unrealistic.

Which part did you find laughable?

The only scene I thought was somewhat unrealistic was the scene where he

[Show spoiler]takes an extended swim through an ice cold river to escape the band of natives. There's no way someone could swim in water that cold for that long without getting hypothermia and most likely dying from it.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Which part did you find laughable?

The only scene I thought was somewhat unrealistic was the scene where he

[Show spoiler]takes an extended swim through an ice cold river to escape the band of natives. There's no way someone could swim in water that cold for that long without getting hypothermia and most likely dying from it.

[Show spoiler]It's totally possible to survive nearly being killed by a bear, being shot at by Indians, taking a nice long, cold journey down a river-like waterfall, being shot at by French soldiers, and being thrown off of a horse and over a cliff. Lollll.

I mean, this just adds to the harsh weathers conditions and fever he's dealing without throughout the film.

I also found all of the artsy flashback scenes with his Native American wife to be funny, particularly when she's floating over him in a field.

[lordmorpheus72]

Had a Saturday home alone today so have taken full advantage of the "choose my own film lineup."

Started with The Lady Vanishses then changed it up with Mulholland Drive. A nice combo, for a lazy and gloomy Saturday. The Lady Vanishes was quite excellent. Hitchcock never seems to disappoint, and the film looked great. I love the way Hitchcock plays with your head, makes you question what you've seen and what you think. A great film, and one I'm looking forward to watching over and over.

As for Mulholland Drive, yet again I sit here going, "wow. What did I just see?" I've not seen all of Lynch's films, nor have I seen all of Twin Peaks (I know, I know...), but I have seen Mulholland before, as well as Wild at Heart. Watching Mulholland again today was almost like seeing it for the first time. It'd been years since I last saw the film, and it was quite a joy to watch it again, with an almost fresh set of eyes. The confusion and the, "what just happened? what the hell?," and "oh yeah..." we all pretty awesome to experience again. I was also quite pleased with the how good the film looked and sounded. The scene with Rebekah Del Rio sounded particularly amazing on my system. It was always one of my favorite scenes... so much so I searched and searched to find the song after seeing the movie. After seeing it today, I just kind of sat with it for a little while, going over the many different scenarios and possibilities, and reading Lynch's 10 hints. Still, I think the movie is open to many interpretations, much like most Lynch's films.

I'm hoping to watch a few more tonight, but right now taking a break from the deep and thought provoking with RiffTrax Plan 9 from Outer Space!!

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by iScottie

[Show spoiler]It's totally possible to survive nearly being killed by a bear, being shot at by Indians, taking a nice long, cold journey down a river-like waterfall, being shot at by French soldiers, and being thrown off of a horse and over a cliff. Lollll.

I mean, this just adds to the harsh weathers conditions and fever he's dealing without throughout the film.

I also found all of the artsy flashback scenes with his Native American wife to be funny, particularly when she's floating over him in a field.

The man is a SURVIVOR!!!!!

But yeah...those shots with the wife were somewhat corny.

Was some of that CGI?

I also thought the last shot of the film was a pretty blatant rip-off of the last shot of Castaway.

I didn't think it was necessary.

...or even made much sense to be honest.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

The man is a SURVIVOR!!!!!

But yeah...those shots with the wife were somewhat corny.

Was some of that CGI?

I also thought the last shot of the film was a pretty blatant rip-off of the last shot of Castaway.

I didn't think it was necessary.

...or even made much sense to be honest.

[Show spoiler]He couldn't have died in the end. Like I said, you survive all of those ridiculous circumstances just to die to a bitten ear, a cut face, and a knifed leg?

[Polaroid]

Yah they could have done those wife scenes a bit better haha - was a bit silly XD.

Terence Malick got it right in The Tree of Life, and so did Tarkovsky in The Mirror, but they didn't get it right in The Revent (same for Nymphomaniac lol).

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I saw The Revenant today.

I think this could end up being a future Criterion release.

It's sort of like an extremely intense, brutal hybrid of Jeremiah Johnson, Kill Bill (minus the humor) and a Terrence Malick film.

Very glad I decided to see it on the big screen.

...a true cinematic experience.

I saw the film on opening night last night too at an 8pm showing here. The theater was packed to the rafters and pretty much was sold out! My friend Marc and I managed to get there 15 min. early and found 2 great seats in the 2nd row on the stadium seats on the left. This film was an intense experience! Like many people have already said, some of the flashback scenes and survival sequences might have been over the top, but personally I thought the bear attack scene was one of the most realistic animal attack scenes I've ever seen in film (in terms of CGI).

My friend called it "Jeremiah Johnson vers. 2.0" (or even 3.0 for that matter). I thought of the more recent movie The Grey, especially when Liam Neeson's character jumps off a cliff and lands on pine trees to "cushion" his fall (an instance that happens in this film too). In The Revenant, Leo DeCaprio was pretty much Jeremiah Johnson on steroids in terms of surviving everything he went through. Obviously, Tom Hardy's character was outrageous and as bad as fur traders come. I actually thought often of Terrence Malick in those flashback/dream sequences. I also thought of Costner's Dances with Wolves as well, with the Native American element and ties to a woman the main character had. I enjoyed the artistic backstory on Hugh Glass (DeCaprio) too, and appreciated the fact that this was based on a true story.

The real winner is the Cinematography though. Emmanuel Lubezki has often been superlative in his work with Innaritu, but if he doesn't win an Oscar for his work in this movie, it would be a tragedy of immense proportions. Some of these scenes in the film, from the opening "water forest" landscape to many others in terms of lighting and scenery, were outstanding. It's no "wonder" (no pun intended) that Lubezki has always been Terrence Malick's Director of Photography as well (since 2005's The New World). I was reminded of some scenes in The New World as well while watching The Revenant, in addition to the 1991 Beresford movie Black Robe, which is, in terms of sheer Production Design and Cinematography, underwhelming, compared to The Revenant. The score by Ryuichi Sakamoto (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence) was remarkable also, adding a minimalist and sweeping tone to the film, and never being invasive or overpowering. I loved the use of synthesizers for many of the film's scenes.

As a survival story, I thought this film was as good as it gets. However, the third act of predictable revenge is where it fell. It became a bit too obvious about how this story was going to end, and though I was expecting all of this frontier violence and gore, it was incredibly graphic and I sometimes found myself looking away from the screen for a few moments. But man, what a movie! I don't think DeCaprio's character of Hugh Glass is well-rounded enough or shows his character with enough depth, for DeCaprio to win an Oscar for Best Actor, but he surely deserves a nomination, which he most likely will receive. Mr. Glass was simply unbreakable!

[Polaroid]

Also remember, it's a film just enjoy it for what it is - if you want ultra realism go watch Bear Grylls or I dunno.. David Attenborough? >.>

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Also remember, it's a film just enjoy it for what it is - if you want ultra realism go watch Bear Grylls or I dunno.. David Attenborough? >.>

RayJ don't play no silly-ass, mindless entertainment!

You feel me?!

RayJ ain't never been about that!!

...ain't never been about playin no silly-ass tainment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

RayJ don't play no silly-ass, mindless entertainment!

You feel me?!

RayJ ain't never been about that!!

...ain't never been about playin no silly-ass tainment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!