The Criterion Collection

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

oildude and jayembee answering this question and actually having somebody to name makes me feel better about things.

I Thought he was giving him another choice, There is also Bresson to add to ejm69 pending list of French directors

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

OTOH, there is absolutely NO WAY IN HELL that I am missing The Assassin, whenever it appears here. So, if nothing else, I will have seen at least ONE film by Hou Hsiao-Hsien by the end of the year.

So, as the year progresses, I will be "getting there."

Hi Aaron,

Well Go actually picked up the U.S. rights so you will have it on Blu-ray

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=16741

On a related noted, Gaspar Noe's latest also went to Alchemy, so I expect to see a Blu-ray release as well:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?studioid=1846

Pro-B

[jw007]

Originally Posted by ejm69

My experience with French directors is limited pretty much to Malle. So what do I need to rectify first? Demy, Tati, or Truffaut?

Malle is my favorite French director I'd have to say.

I just watched The Fire Within a few nights ago for the first time finally. This was an insanely difficult film to watch. In the supplements I learned that Malle originally wanted this to be a personal film he showed around to his friends and family as opposed to the public. But I cannot see myself revisiting this one anytime soon. Some of his other films are definitely easier to digest though (Au Revoir les Enfants or My Dinner with Andre). Have you seen The Fire Within too?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Hi Aaron,

Well Go actually picked up the U.S. rights so you will have it on Blu-ray

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=16741

On a related noted, Gaspar Noe's latest also went to Alchemy, so I expect to see a Blu-ray release as well:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?studioid=1846

Pro-B

Thanks. Yeah, I heard about the Well Go thing. But The Assassin just sounds -- from podcasts from Cannes and reviews -- like something I absolutely NEED to see on the screen.

As for Noe's Love -- Ouch! That simply sounds terrible, no matter how much I admire Irreversible and have been fascinated by Enter The Void. I mean, I'm sure I'll see it eventually. But I'm not expecting much, from what I've heard.

Thanks.

[TomN245]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

I've never seen a film by Hou Hsiao-Hsien. Combine that with the fact that I have yet to see a film by Ozu (Late Spring didn't work out for me last night -- tonight, though, definitely).

Watching Late Spring in late spring. Maybe this is what Ozu intended. I did watch Early Spring last month so maybe I should do this as well...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I definitely would have thought that you'd have at least seen one film from darn near everybody. Pretty confident that you'd like some of the Dardenne brothers films.

Thanks.

Based on what I've read about them, I'm pretty sure that the Dardennes films are ones that I'd like. I've just not managed to see one yet. I'm sure that there are other notable directors (most likely from the last 10-15 years) that I've not managed to catch up with. The difficulty is coming up with names that don't readily come to mind.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I Thought he was giving him another choice, There is also Bresson to add to ejm69 pending list of French directors

Yes, that was my intent. Melville was my entry in to French cinema followed by Clouzot, Malle, Truffaut, Renoir, early Godard, Tati, Chabrol, Bresson, Resnais, Clement, and as of this week finally working my way through Demy (and very pleased with the Demy box so far).

But Melville is still THE MAN and my favorite.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by jw007

Malle is my favorite French director I'd have to say.

I just watched The Fire Within a few nights ago for the first time finally. This was an insanely difficult film to watch.

I love The Fire Within! Still pissed that this title could have been on BLU but this was the time period that CC started doing BLU and some titles they didn't have in their contract for BLU. I love internal films like this.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by oildude

Yes, that was my intent. Melville was my entry in to French cinema followed by Clouzot, Malle, Truffaut, Renoir, early Godard, Tati, Chabrol, Bresson, Resnais, Clement, and as of this week finally working my way through Demy (and very pleased with the Demy box so far).

But Melville is still THE MAN and my favorite.

That box set is one of the most wonderful pieces of my collection, easily. Then again, I've always been a big fan.

There was a period a few years ago where I am pretty sure that I watched The Umbrellas of Cherbourg more or less every day for like two weeks.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I Thought he was giving him another choice, There is also Bresson to add to ejm69 pending list of French directors

oh, yes.. you are right. my apologies to the oildude.

I love me some Bresson, btw... gonna pick up the Mouchette blu from Artificial Eye today!

[SammyJankis]

DVDBeaver for My Dinner with Andre

[AaronJ]

Max Ophuls' Lola Montès is showing for free on Hulu. I just started it, but I'm going to have to wait until after the Tigers' game is over around 10pm to watch it.

Link

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Speaking of Renoir, has anyone seen Elena and her men?
This was one of the most boring movies I have ever seen.
I don't remember anything.
Maybe I was too tired? I don't know.
And I love Ingrid Bergman.

You are not alone. I'm a huge Renoir fan, seen most of his available sound French films and a lot of his American stuff. This is without question my least favorite of his. I watched it maybe 7-8 years ago and barely remember a thing.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Since 6 brave posters admitted to never having seen a film by one of the acknowledged masters of cinema, what about everyone else?

Fill in the blank:

"I am embarrassed to say, but I've never seen a film directed by......"

mine would be Jean Renoir

Why would anyone be embarrassed not to have seen a director's work unless they are putting on some pretense of being more worldly or an expert on all things cinema? I also haven't heard every band nor have I even seen all the ones I like in concert. I also haven't read every book. I haven't been to every country but I try experience the ones on top of my list. I also haven't been to every state. Sorry, I'm not embarrassed, but sad that I can't live long enough to experience all the wonders that are out there that I am interested but happy for those I can.

[Scottie]

I have not seen any Akerman, Rivette, or Rohmer.

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by Fabs

I think An Autumn Afternoon is Ozu's masterpiece.

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

I wouldn't go that far, but it's up there.

Those of you who are waiting to watch or buy it, I encourage you to pull the trigger. It's also lighter (in a way) and an easier watch than a lot of Ozu. Phenomenal and beautiful film.

The audio commentary is wonderful too. It's a pleasure to listen to an expert break down each scene and explain how a master like Ozu composes each shot.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

The audio commentary is wonderful too. It's a pleasure to listen to an expert break down each scene and explain how a master like Ozu composes each shot.

That would be Mr. David Bordwell, probably one of the most credible scholars to give a Criterion commentary. He has written countless film studies books, including Film As Art, which is used as the textbook for many film survey classes. He has also written about and studied Ozu and it shows with his commentary. This is among my favorite commentaries on a Criterion.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Why would anyone be embarrassed not to have seen a director's work unless they are putting on some pretense of being more worldly or an expert on all things cinema? I also haven't heard every band nor have I even seen all the ones I like in concert. I also haven't read every book. I haven't been to every country but I try experience the ones on top of my list. I also haven't been to every state. Sorry, I'm not embarrassed, but sad that I can't live long enough to experience all the wonders that are out there that I am interested but happy for those I can.

I think it might be the feeling that one wouldn't seem as "well-read" (or whatever you think the cinematic equivalent of that term would be). It also depends on how you think of yourself relative to the subject. If I come across someone who likes reading science fiction or mysteries, or even books on the NYT Best Sellers list, I wouldn't necessarily expect them to have read Joyce or Dostoyesky or James. But if I came across someone who was an Lit major at college, I think I would be surprised if they'd never read those authors.

If someone claims, or demonstrates by what they write, to be passionate about film (as opposed to just liking to watch movies), I would be surprised if they hadn't seen at least one film by all or most of the acknowleded masters of the medium. I wouldn't hold it against them if they didn't, but I'd still be surprised.

It's also not necessary to have seen (or read or listened to) "everything" in order to be "well-read". But the cream of the crop isn't the same as "everything". A fan of pop music wouldn't have to have heard every pop song ever written to be taken seriously. But wouldn't you think it odd if someone claimed that they loved rock'n'roll, and had never heard a single song by The Beatles?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

That would be Mr. David Bordwell, probably one of the most credible scholars to give a Criterion commentary. He has written countless film studies books, including Film As Art, which is used as the textbook for many film survey classes. He has also written about and studied Ozu and it shows with his commentary. This is among my favorite commentaries on a Criterion.

Bordwell's book on Ozu is OOP, but I believe he still offers it as a free pdf download on his website because of this.

Edit: Download is here

[ejm69]

Originally Posted by jw007

Malle is my favorite French director I'd have to say.

I just watched The Fire Within a few nights ago for the first time finally. This was an insanely difficult film to watch. In the supplements I learned that Malle originally wanted this to be a personal film he showed around to his friends and family as opposed to the public. But I cannot see myself revisiting this one anytime soon. Some of his other films are definitely easier to digest though (Au Revoir les Enfants or My Dinner with Andre). Have you seen The Fire Within too?

No I haven't! I'll add it to my watch list. Au Revoir les Enfants remains my favorite Malle, but I also really enjoyed his documentaries.