The Criterion Collection

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by 812crew

Ha. I actually watched this again this weekend too (although I've probably seen it 5 times in the past). I looked at a lot of reviews / internet comments after I watched it, and noticed a lot of dislike for the movie. And I have to say, I think music was probably a big part of it (although many people didn't signal that out). With a lot of comments, people said the movie was cheesy or outdated or ridiculous, and I think some of that (even subconsciously) had to be the score. I don't hate the music (in fact, I think it works really well at times)...but I couldn't help think as I was watching yesterday: what if this movie had a different score entirely? A more conventional score, something much less in your face. It made me wonder: is it possible that the movie would be much more popular....and considered, overwhelmingly, a classic? Aside from the music (and a couple of cheesy soft lighting shots), I think the movie's really interesting / scary / suspenseful.

I read some bad reviews for it also before I bought it but I generally like De Palma's so I felt comfortable blind buying it. I was glad I did since I enjoyed the film a lot. I honestly didn't see the twist coming.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by llj

I think De Palma was going for a heightened sense of cinema, and the overpowering music was a big part of it. And when you exaggerate every element, especially the music, what you have is a movie that puts its emotions on its sleeve. Dressed to Kill is a conventionally written thriller that's just directed completely to the max. Every element is turned up to 11: swooning music, swirling cameras, slow-mo, every cinematic trick in the book.

Heightened sexuality/sleaze, a focus on bloody murders (ideally with a knife-wielding murderer and bright red gushing blood), amateur sleuths and dumb cops, intrusive characteristic scores, weak psychological explanations for why the killer is the way he (or she) is and women in peril at least once in the movie along with other fetishistic elements. The term you're looking for is "giallo". Dressed to Kill is an American giallo. And a good one at that, imo.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

Heightened sexuality/sleaze, a focus on bloody murders (ideally with a knife-wielding murderer and bright red gushing blood), amateur sleuths and dumb cops, intrusive characteristic scores, weak psychological explanations for why the killer is the way he (or she) is and women in peril at least once in the movie along with other fetishistic elements. The term you're looking for is "giallo". Dressed to Kill is an American giallo. And a good one at that, imo.

I've heard the term and all before, but this is a seriously under-seen subgenre for me, just quickly searched for a list of top 30 and had only seen Dressed to Kill, that is what happens for focusing too much on watching most of the Criterion collection, will have to take a look at this.

So probably out of topic but does anyone cares to recommend where to start? if possible released on blu or streaming somewhere?

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

So probably out of topic but does anyone cares to recommend where to start? if possible released on blu or streaming somewhere?

These are good starters, there are other famous films, but many are polarizing in terms of throwing plot and logic out of the window in favour of stylish/gory set-pieces.
Mario Bava - The Girl Who Knew Too Much (Hitchcockian proto-giallo) - Kino/Arrow blu + Blood & Black Lace (Arrow blu, region A friendly import from UK)
Dario Argento - The Bird with The Crystal Plumage - VCI blu (or OOP BU blu, if you have crazy money)

[jw007]

Greetings people...

Question. Does anyone else besides me go through Criterion phases?

For instance, I'm currently not watching any films at all (for the past few weeks), and instead have been totally absorbed with LOST, the legendary TV series that I've finally gotten around to watching. During which time, I stopped watching all films on my blu-ray player completely and spend a few hours every night watching 2 or 3 episodes of LOST. For years, I put off watching this popular show, but I finally caved in and now I go into withdrawal if I can't get at least a few episodes in every night. I'm currently just in the first half of season 3, so there is still a lot left to go.

After I get through this show, I plan on resuming on opening up some sealed Criterions I need to get around to watching. Apologies to anyone who have missed me in this forum.

[ThatOneGuy]

Originally Posted by jw007

[Show spoiler]Greetings people...

Question. Does anyone else besides me go through Criterion phases?

For instance, I'm currently not watching any films at all (for the past few weeks), and instead have been totally absorbed with LOST, the legendary TV series that I've finally gotten around to watching. During which time, I stopped watching all films on my blu-ray player completely and spend a few hours every night watching 2 or 3 episodes of LOST. For years, I put off watching this popular show, but I finally caved in and now I go into withdrawal if I can't get at least a few episodes in every night. I'm currently just in the first half of season 3, so there is still a lot left to go.

After I get through this show, I plan on resuming on opening up some sealed Criterions I need to get around to watching. Apologies to anyone who have missed me in this forum.

I go through entertainment phases. Sometimes all I do is play video games, sometimes all I do is watch films/TV shows, and sometimes all I do is watch YouTube videos. They all tend to cycle around.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by jw007

Greetings people...

Question. Does anyone else besides me go through Criterion phases?

For instance, I'm currently not watching any films at all (for the past few weeks), and instead have been totally absorbed with LOST, the legendary TV series that I've finally gotten around to watching. During which time, I stopped watching all films on my blu-ray player completely and spend a few hours every night watching 2 or 3 episodes of LOST. For years, I put off watching this popular show, but I finally caved in and now I go into withdrawal if I can't get at least a few episodes in every night. I'm currently just in the first half of season 3, so there is still a lot left to go.

After I get through this show, I plan on resuming on opening up some sealed Criterions I need to get around to watching. Apologies to anyone who have missed me in this forum.

Oh for sure. I have what my girlfriend refers to as high-brow/low-brow phases. I've been watching a bunch of Criterions and Twilight Times (high-brow) and newer releases the last couple weeks, so she's been watching some of them with me. But in October/November, for example, I was trying to make big dents in my Scream Factory and other cult labels collection, so I was watching a bunch of horror and exploitation movies, which my girlfriend isn't too keen to watch. Kind of the ebb and flow of things I guess.

I definitely get into binge watching TV shows too. Recently, I've watched most of "The Wire" after getting the box set for Christmas. And I also watched most of the "Larry Sanders Show" over the last couple months. "The Larry Sanders Show" is so damn hilarious, right up there with "Arrested Development" for me.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by ravenus

These are good starters, there are other famous films, but many are polarizing in terms of throwing plot and logic out of the window in favour of stylish/gory set-pieces.
Mario Bava - The Girl Who Knew Too Much (Hitchcockian proto-giallo) - Kino/Arrow blu + Blood & Black Lace (Arrow blu, region A friendly import from UK)
Dario Argento - The Bird with The Crystal Plumage - VCI blu (or OOP BU blu, if you have crazy money)

I agree with these. Blood & Black Lace is probably the "archetypal" giallo and the Arrow release is remarkable (there are some quibbles about the framing here on the forum, but they are just that, quibbles). If you can wait a few months, it'll likely be on sale for around $12 (+shipping) directly from Arrow (UK).

Lucio Fulci's Woman in a Lizard's Skin is coming next week from Mondo Macabro, Dario Argento's Deep Red is fresh out from Arrow (in a UK Ltd. Ed. that's already sold out, but also available from BU, both in a single release and in a triple pack that's pretty good value).

I don't know of any sites that stream gialli, I think it's too much of a niche subgenre to have attracted that kind of attention (Netflix doesn't really seem to have any at least). It's traditionally listed as a subgenre of horror, but really is more of a "bloody thriller" often focusing on atmosphere rather than plot, camerawork rather than acting and were often made on a fairly low budget. With these limitations in mind, it often produced fairly good and entertaining movies.

FWIW, Arrow will be releasing a number of gialli this year (including Your Vice is A Locked Room And Only I Have The Key, Death Walks on High Heels and Death Walks at Midnight). If you find you like the genre, those are worth keeping an eye on,

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by 812crew

I know this is a Criterion discussion, and I don't want to go off topic, but would anyone be willing to PM some recommendations of the best blu-ray purchases that are from a different company / distributor....but that might as well be Criterion releases (in terms of similar type of film, features, etc...). Thanks!

Top of the list for me would be the releases from Cohen.

The Cohen Film Collection imprint tends to be older, classic films. I would especially recommend the two silent films, Raoul Walsh's The Thief of Bagdad (with Douglas Fairbanks) and D.W. Griffith's Intolerance. Also Fritz Lang's Hangmen Also Die!, Costa-Gavras's Amen., Luis Buñuel's Tristana, and René Clément's The Damned. Jean-Pierre Melville's Two Men in Manhattan isn't one of his better films, but hey, it's a JPM film on Blu-ray, so beggars can't be choosers. There's also The Vivian Leigh Anniversary Collection (4 films).

The Cohen Media Group imprint tends to be more recent (2010 or later) foreign films. I don't have as many of these as CFC titles, but among the ones I have and like, I especially like Costa-Gavras's Capital, Abderrahmane Sissako's Timbuktu, and Pablo Berger's Blancanieves.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by mja345

I definitely get into binge watching TV shows too. Recently, I've watched most of "The Wire" after getting the box set for Christmas. And I also watched most of the "Larry Sanders Show" over the last couple months. "The Larry Sanders Show" is so damn hilarious, right up there with "Arrested Development" for me.

Good choices.

"I think it should be against the law for network executives to have the word 'creative' in their title." -- Rip Torn, on The Larry Sanders Show.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Top of the list for me would be the releases from Cohen.

The Cohen Film Collection imprint tends to be older, classic films. I would especially recommend the two silent films, Raoul Walsh's The Thief of Bagdad (with Douglas Fairbanks) and D.W. Griffith's Intolerance. Also Fritz Lang's Hangmen Also Die!, Costa-Gavras's Amen., Luis Buñuel's Tristana, and René Clément's The Damned. Jean-Pierre Melville's Two Men in Manhattan isn't one of his better films, but hey, it's a JPM film on Blu-ray, so beggars can't be choosers. There's also The Vivian Leigh Anniversary Collection (4 films).

The Cohen Media Group imprint tends to be more recent (2010 or later) foreign films. I don't have as many of these as CFC titles, but among the ones I have and like, I especially like Costa-Gavras's Capital, Abderrahmane Sissako's Timbuktu, and Pablo Berger's Blancanieves.

Don't forget That Man from Rio / Up to His Ears. Really fun early 60's movies.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Good choices.

"I think it should be against the law for network executives to have the word 'creative' in their title." -- Rip Torn, on The Larry Sanders Show.

Torn is brilliant on that show. Jeffrey Tambor is also tremendous as "Hey Now" Hank Kingsley.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Don't forget That Man from Rio / Up to His Ears. Really fun early 60's movies.

I have it, but haven't watched it (them) yet. I'm hoping they're in the vein of Michel Hazanavicius's OSS 117 films.

Or rather, that the OSS 117 films are in the same vein as these Philippe de Broca films -- since the OSS 117 films were made 40 years after the others.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

I don't know of any sites that stream gialli, I think it's too much of a niche subgenre to have attracted that kind of attention (Netflix doesn't really seem to have any at least). It's traditionally listed as a subgenre of horror, but really is more of a "bloody thriller" often focusing on atmosphere rather than plot, camerawork rather than acting and were often made on a fairly low budget. With these limitations in mind, it often produced fairly good and entertaining movies.

Thanks, I once saw there were several Mario Bava films on Netflix and caught Rabid Dogs, Black Sabbath and Hatchet for the Honeymoon, I don't think the first fits the description but was the best of the bunch.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Don't forget That Man from Rio / Up to His Ears. Really fun early 60's movies.

I thought "That Man from Rio" was excellent. Cohen's releases are first-rate. I only have two, "Queen Margot" and "That Man from Rio/Up to His Ears". But I definitely plan on picking up a few more at some point.

[Polaroid]

Saw Youth last night. God damn I wish Criterion was releasing this... Had a few scenes that were not really done well and came across a bit poor but the overall films is majestic. I wouldn't say it's better than The Great Beauty but I left cinema very emotional, it has some very memorable and powerful moments, Rachel Weisz in particular had some very memorable moments. I wasn't too keen on the comedy elements of the film but I guess it did lighten the mood.

Also some moments did feel a bit forced but it kinda worked with the themes so wasn't too bad. Sublime music and imagery though.

Can't wait to watch again.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

I agree with these. Blood & Black Lace is probably the "archetypal" giallo and the Arrow release is remarkable (there are some quibbles about the framing here on the forum, but they are just that, quibbles). If you can wait a few months, it'll likely be on sale for around $12 (+shipping) directly from Arrow (UK).

[Show spoiler]Lucio Fulci's Woman in a Lizard's Skin is coming next week from Mondo Macabro, Dario Argento's Deep Red is fresh out from Arrow (in a UK Ltd. Ed. that's already sold out, but also available from BU, both in a single release and in a triple pack that's pretty good value).

I don't know of any sites that stream gialli, I think it's too much of a niche subgenre to have attracted that kind of attention (Netflix doesn't really seem to have any at least). It's traditionally listed as a subgenre of horror, but really is more of a "bloody thriller" often focusing on atmosphere rather than plot, camerawork rather than acting and were often made on a fairly low budget. With these limitations in mind, it often produced fairly good and entertaining movies.

FWIW, Arrow will be releasing a number of gialli this year (including Your Vice is A Locked Room And Only I Have The Key, Death Walks on High Heels and Death Walks at Midnight). If you find you like the genre, those are worth keeping an eye on,

Good reccos there. And if you're then willing to try more arty stuff in the genre, there's White of The Eye (Shout-A/Arrow-B) and that gorgeous head-scratcher Amer (Olive-A/Starz-B).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by 812crew

I know this is a Criterion discussion, and I don't want to go off topic, but would anyone be willing to PM some recommendations of the best blu-ray purchases that are from a different company / distributor....but that might as well be Criterion releases (in terms of similar type of film, features, etc...). Thanks!

Another label worth checking out is Cinema Guild. About a third of them are documentaries, the rest dramas.

I haven't seen any of the documentaries (I'm not a big fan of docs, unless they're about subjects I'm especially interested in), though a couple -- from their trailers -- look to have stunning cinematography.

Of the ten (so far) dramas, I have five, In descending order of how much I enjoyed them:

Bela Tarr's The Turin Horse can test one's patience, but I found it fascinating from beginning to end.

Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Once Upon a Time in Anatolia is another slow-moving, but rewarding film.

Aleksandr Sokurov's Early Masterworks has one film on BD and two others on DVD, plus a number of his short films (all in standard def).

Tsai Ming-liang's Stray Dogs

Manoel de Oliveira's The Strange Case of Angelica -- I just got this from Amazon today, and haven't watched it yet, but it looks fascinating.

I've also seen two other films from them on Netflix:

Robbie Pickering's Natural Selection is an odd little film, but turned out quite enjoyable.

Kleber Mendonça Filho's Neighboring Sounds is the only Cinema Guild title I've seen, and didn't get completely sucked in. It wasn't bad, just not exceptional, either. I may have to give it another try.

[NomadRunAmok]

I'm in the market for the Criterion Blu Ray The Man Who Fell To Earth (Factory Sealed/Brand New). Anyone know how much I should reasonably pay? Any way to gauge authenticity? Thanks!

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by NomadRunAmok

I'm in the market for the Criterion Blu Ray The Man Who Fell To Earth (Factory Sealed/Brand New). Anyone know how much I should reasonably pay? Any way to gauge authenticity? Thanks!

Ive never seen any fakes - and there are two versions, the digipack style and a plastic case one (I think plastic case is harder to find?).

I paid £100 for mine but I have seen different prices £50+ (bluray).