The Criterion Collection

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

My wishlist for the next announcement (just one please):

Ikuru, Stray Dogs, The Castle of Sand, Stray Dogs, Red Beard, Early Summer..

That's a nice list. I caved a bit ago and imported a dvd of Castle of Sand, but I've yet to watch it. My region free player is temperamental when it comes to dvds which has made it less enjoyable to even try.

I watched Gates of Heaven/Vernon Florida this weekend. I liked Gates of Heaven alright, but man was Vernon Florida mesmerizing! Has anyone else watched this yet?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by octagon

I can certainly understand the people who see more Kurosawa on a wishlist and think 'yeah, he's great and all but there's more to world cinema than Kurosawa' but yeah, more Kurosawa - particularly more swordless Kurosawa - would be very welcome.

Red Beard is perfect. Swordless, but you still get to see

[Show spoiler] Mifune kick some ass

. What more could you ask for?

[octagon]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Red Beard is perfect. Swordless, but you still get to see

[Show spoiler] Mifune kick some ass

. What more could you ask for?

Straw Dogs, Red Beard, Drunken Angel, The Bad Sleep Well...I would love to see any of those updated. Ikuru is kind of a blank for me but I'm sure I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Red Beard is perfect. Swordless, but you still get to see

[Show spoiler] Mifune kick some ass

. What more could you ask for?

Red Beard and Ikiru are two of the only films that actually have the power to change your life.

...I mean seriously.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by octagon

I can certainly understand the people who see more Kurosawa on a wishlist and think 'yeah, he's great and all but there's more to world cinema than Kurosawa' but yeah, more Kurosawa - particularly more swordless Kurosawa - would be very welcome.

While I agree there's more to world cinema than Kurosawa, there hasn't been a single one from Criterion this year (Throne of Blood re-release doesn't count ). There's so many great ones remaining, and with them only putting out at most 2 a year, it will be a long time before I see some on BD, if ever. A few more Ozu films a year wouldn't hurt either.

[Namuhana]

I ended up watching Ride the Pink Horse today. It's certainly a solid film noir, with great acting my Montgomery. It was cool to see a film noir that mingled between two cultures, and one that had a happier ending. I quite enjoyed the interview with Imogen Sara Smith (who spoke about quite a few different things that are being discussed in the TCM Film Noir course), and I hope to watch the film again with the commentary. I doubt I need to own this film, but at least I know that my local library has a copy that I can use whenever I get the desire to rewatch the film.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Went into B&N vowing to buy no more than one title, after already buying three during this sale.

Walked out with THREE more.

-Insomnia
-Friends of Eddie Coyle
-World on a Wire

I think I have a serious problem.

...I may need some kind of treatment.

Not a problem. Just wisdom.

Congrats on Friends of Eddie Coyle. That film really touched me, as much for the technical elements as for the main character. Mitchum is awful, awful good, and the character has so much poignancy. Pretty sure you're gonna be glad for the moment of temporary insanity that landed that in your collection.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by RojD

Not a problem. Just wisdom.

Congrats on Friends of Eddie Coyle. That film really touched me, as much for the technical elements as for the main character. Mitchum is awful, awful good, and the character has so much poignancy. Pretty sure you're gonna be glad for the moment of temporary insanity that landed that in your collection.

I was actually gonna ask you guys a question about that film before I watch it.

Is it a great film with a great story and great writing/craft?

...or just a great performance by Robert Mitchum?

Is there anything that makes it unique for a 70s film?

[Shout92]

Originally Posted by octagon

Straw Dogs, Red Beard, Drunken Angel, The Bad Sleep Well...I would love to see any of those updated. Ikuru is kind of a blank for me but I'm sure I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Drunken Angel is so good. Watched it through Hulu Plus a couple weeks back cause I'm slowly making my way through Kurosawa's filmography and was surprised at how emotional it was, all while shining a spotlight on a mainstay of the crime genre. (back alley physicians).

[MifuneFan]

When I made my wishlist earlier, I forgot about the last Criterion clue. If it was indeed for Let The Right One In, we'll more than likely see it announced for October. If it's In Cold Blood, that could also be an Oct. release. They do have two previous newsletter clues to tackle eventually as well

[Shout92]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I was actually gonna ask you guys a question about that film before I watch it.

Is it a great film with a great story and great writing/craft?

...or just a great performance by Robert Mitchum?

Is there anything that makes it unique for a 70s film?

It's a great performance by Mitchum... and yet you never miss him when it cuts to other characters. It's called The FRIENDS of Eddie Coyle for a reason and David Yates does a great job making everyone's story matter, not just Mitchum's.

Also, awesome Dave Grusin soundtrack.

[octagon]

Let Me In (much like Nolan's Insomnia) was a perfectly serviceable remake but bite your tongue (or, I guess, fingers in this case).

if they're going that way at all Let the Right One In or bust.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by octagon

Let Me In (much like Nolan's Insomnia) was a perfectly serviceable remake but bite your tongue (or, I guess, fingers in this case).

if they're going that way at all Let the Right One In or bust.

Meant Let The Right One in

[Edward J Grug III]

I wouldn't worry about it, it's In Cold Blood anyway.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Shout92

It's a great performance by Mitchum... and yet you never miss him when it cuts to other characters. It's called The FRIENDS of Eddie Coyle for a reason and David Yates does a great job making everyone's story matter, not just Mitchum's.

Also, awesome Dave Grusin soundtrack.

Sounds good.

...does it have great cinematography?

[Bandit Tajomaru]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

While I agree there's more to world cinema than Kurosawa, there hasn't been a single one from Criterion this year (Throne of Blood re-release doesn't count ). There's so many great ones remaining, and with them only putting out at most 2 a year, it will be a long time before I see some on BD, if ever. A few more Ozu films a year wouldn't hurt either.

Yes, Ikiru, Red Beard, Dersu Uzala, Floating Weeds and Early Summer please.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I was actually gonna ask you guys a question about that film before I watch it.

Is it a great film with a great story and great writing/craft?

...or just a great performance by Robert Mitchum?

Is there anything that makes it unique for a 70s film?

A low-key, unglamorous and downbeat crime film, with a tremendous performance by Mitchum. It was filmed entirely on location - coincidentally, some of it around where I lived in Massachusetts from 2002-2014.

[Show spoiler]The heist at the beginning was filmed at my local bank. Interestingly, the interior hadn't changed that much in the 30-plus years since filming. Plenty of other local scenes that added to my personal enjoyment.

Definitely recommended as a great example of 70's "gritty" realism.

[Shout92]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Sounds good.

...does it have great cinematography?

You know, I watched it before the sale to see if I would possibly be interested in it, and I rented it through YouTube only to find it appeared to be a pan-and-scan copy. So... I think? There's not a lot of flashy camera tricks or movements, but I think that's part of its appeal. It's simple, grounded, and slow like Mitchum's character.

EDIT: If you want another take, go with Criterion's. Probably a better indication of the PQ anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6uEFgh5aes&index=30&list=WL

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Shout92

You know, I watched it before the sale to see if I would possibly be interested in it, and I rented it through YouTube only to find it appeared to be a pan-and-scan copy. So... I think? There's not a lot of flashy camera tricks or movements, but I think that's part of its appeal. It's simple, grounded, and slow like Mitchum's character.

Does it feel like the kind of movie you'd want to revisit on a semi-consistent basis?

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Sounds good.

...does it have great cinematography?

Art direction is impressive. The film has lots of interiors and muted tones, and it's tawdry in keeping with the characters.

It'll be good to hear how you respond to it. It's far more than an outstanding acting performance, though it is that. It really has a tone, and an outcome, that it earns. Something clicks here that doesn't work in Midnight Express or Sorcerer, though those movies are aiming at a similar target. And I think it's Eddie, as written and as acted, that gives the film such heft.