The Criterion Collection

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Really? I thought it was this:



Guess I've been reading too much Armond White

[BagheeraMcGee]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

The best pure actor of his generation.

...in the role of a lifetime.

That is truly the "GIF" that keeps on giving.

[BagheeraMcGee]

No love for this Pacino performance?



His takedown of Kevin Spacey at the end of this is something I would've liked to have told a few bosses in my lifetime.

"You never open your mouth, until you know what the shot is. You f**king child."

[mrjohnnyb]

Long story short, I was accidentally shipped and charged with the delivery of Artificial Eye's Region B blu-ray of Francois Truffaut's Shoot the Pianist (known in the United States as Shoot the Piano Player.)

I am basically out $14.48.

Is anybody here interested in a sealed copy of this product?

I am only asking for $14 and I will pay for the shipping. If you live in the southern part of New Jersey, I will even deliver it to you myself.

Please PM me if interested.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Really? I thought it was this:


Guess I've been reading too much Armond White

Some of Armond's best nuggets from his "Jack and Jill" review.

Sandler’s willingness to appear “dumb” is what makes his films so cathartic. He thrives on being unembarrassed–the key to classic comedy going back to the Greeks.

Sandler, of course, always goes back to Jewishness. He may be the least ethnically abashed Jewish film comic outside the Borscht Belt which is Jack and Jill’s natural strength. Jack’s self-consciousness about Jill is rooted in Jewish comics’ proverbial self-deprecation (that’s why the twinship premise). Jill’s large features, gaucheness, petulance and unsophisticated ways are not anti-Jewish traits but the qualities that insecure, social-climbing ethnic groups usually evade.

Credit Sandler’s subtle feminine caricature–especially in dancing and athleticism–that avoids making Jill clownish like Tyler Perry’s grotesque Madea. Perry’s career is based in parodying ethnic shame then edging into pride. In Jack and Jill Sandler embraces rude, crude and earthy in ways that Tyler Perry wouldn’t dare. Or would he?

Sandler’s real dare is to defend ethnicity–not piously but through comedy that has social and political effect: When Jack’s WASP assistant (Nick Swardson) boasts that he’s almost Jewish because “I’m an atheist,” Jack looks nonplussed. Yet, Sandler isn’t. His comic introspection has a moral core. Appreciation of roots and background is what gives the film’s overlong but uproarious Al Pacino subplot its basis–it’s both crazily romantic and a professional salute. That’s because Sandler knows how our plumbing works.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by mja345

Some of Armond's best nuggets from his "Jack and Jill" review.

Sandler’s willingness to appear “dumb” is what makes his films so cathartic. He thrives on being unembarrassed–the key to classic comedy going back to the Greeks.

Sandler, of course, always goes back to Jewishness. He may be the least ethnically abashed Jewish film comic outside the Borscht Belt which is Jack and Jill’s natural strength. Jack’s self-consciousness about Jill is rooted in Jewish comics’ proverbial self-deprecation (that’s why the twinship premise). Jill’s large features, gaucheness, petulance and unsophisticated ways are not anti-Jewish traits but the qualities that insecure, social-climbing ethnic groups usually evade.

Credit Sandler’s subtle feminine caricature–especially in dancing and athleticism–that avoids making Jill clownish like Tyler Perry’s grotesque Madea. Perry’s career is based in parodying ethnic shame then edging into pride. In Jack and Jill Sandler embraces rude, crude and earthy in ways that Tyler Perry wouldn’t dare. Or would he?

Sandler’s real dare is to defend ethnicity–not piously but through comedy that has social and political effect: When Jack’s WASP assistant (Nick Swardson) boasts that he’s almost Jewish because “I’m an atheist,” Jack looks nonplussed. Yet, Sandler isn’t. His comic introspection has a moral core. Appreciation of roots and background is what gives the film’s overlong but uproarious Al Pacino subplot its basis–it’s both crazily romantic and a professional salute. That’s because Sandler knows how our plumbing works.

Look, I like some Sandler movies, I will admit it. I laugh out loud every time I watch The Waterboy, for instance. Yes, it's idiotic and it probably makes me a horrible person for liking it. But dammit it makes me laugh.

But this review? Jesus. This is epic Armond. I can't ... I can't do anything but shake my head. I mean when I like something like The Waterboy I know it's utterly stupid and still makes me laugh. I don't attempt to make some huge social issue out of it. It's just a dumb movie that's funny. But what the hell is Armond doing here?!

Like I said, all I can do is shake my head.

[mja345]

I assume White's trolling, taking a wildly contrarian position to piss off his fellow critics. There's no way White wasn't snickering to himself as he was writing the review. If he wrote this review seriously, he's lost his mind. I mean, calling Sandler's films "cathartic". Saying Sandler's, "real dare is to defend ethnicity". And "his comic introspection has a moral core". Not even Adam Sandler himself would claim the comedy he's currently producing is introspective or has a moral core. I think Sandler at this point in his career sees fart jokes, genital jokes, and dollar signs.

[biglou114]

The trailer of Whit Stillman's new film Love & Friendship has just been released online:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi309...ttvi_vi_imdb_1

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Long story short, I was accidentally shipped and charged with the delivery of Artificial Eye's Region B blu-ray of Francois Truffaut's Shoot the Pianist (known in the United States as Shoot the Piano Player.)

I am basically out $14.48.

Is anybody here interested in a sealed copy of this product?

I am only asking for $14 and I will pay for the shipping. If you live in the southern part of New Jersey, I will even deliver it to you myself.

Please PM me if interested.

Aaron J, please e-mail me at:

johnfrancisbrown@yahoo.com

Thanks!

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

The package is a really great value. The fact that Criterion was willing to release a 2 blu-ray set with a 4 hour film, full 4 hour commentary, and a 2 hour documentary, and still have it at the usual single disc price seems to indicate that they really wanted to get this film in as many collections as possible.

Will be interesting to see if they give this a UK release.

It really is an amazing package. For anyone who likes Taiwanese films, that documentary is priceless for having input from Tsai, Yang and Hou. Amazing.

[BlackRob]

Anyone have any idea on the likelihood of getting Schizopolis, The Element of Crime, Europa, and Burdon of Dreams upgrades to blu? I've been wanting to grab these up for sometime, but knowing my luck the second I do there will be an announcement of Blu upgrades lol.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by BlackRob

Anyone have any idea on the likelihood of getting Schizopolis, The Element of Crime, Europa, and Burdon of Dreams upgrades to blu? I've been wanting to grab these up for sometime, but knowing my luck the second I do there will be an announcement of Blu upgrades lol.

I'm surprised Burden of Dreams has not been upgraded given the Blu-ray release of Les Blank: Always for Pleasure and the upcoming Blu-ray release of A Poem is a Naked Person.

However, if you are inclined to get these films released on Blu-ray, I'd recommend taking one for the team.

[BlackRob]

That's what I was afraid of lol

And my idiot self, not having enough sleep, spelled Burden wrong....very long day

[takeasneededforpain]

Does anyone know if there is any talk of Criterion releasing "Carnival Of Souls" on Blu-Ray??

I really don't wanna have to pay like $45 Canadian on Amazon.ca for their DVD edition.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by takeasneededforpain

Does anyone know if there is any talk of Criterion releasing "Carnival Of Souls" on Blu-Ray??

I really don't wanna have to pay like $45 Canadian on Amazon.ca for their DVD edition.

There hasn't been any talk about it. However, it's frequently been requested so I wouldn't be surprised if it was coming at some point in the future.

[WonderWeasel]

Ironically (and inadvertently), I bought myself this gift on Akira Kurosawa's birthday yesterday:



Is anyone else going to see the new restoration?

[theater dreamer]

/playful little punch at God's chin. On the night I get in To Be or Not to Be, Belle de jour, Kwaidan, Battleship Potemkin and Keaton's Sherlock Jr/Three Ages, I have to unplug the damned tv because we're having severe thunderstorms with marble-sized hail, and lightning strikes every two seconds.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'm surprised Burden of Dreams has not been upgraded given the Blu-ray release of Les Blank: Always for Pleasure and the upcoming Blu-ray release of A Poem is a Naked Person.

However, if you are inclined to get these films released on Blu-ray, I'd recommend taking one for the team.

I'm pretty sure Burden of Dreams is included in the BFI Herzog blu-ray set.

[easydreamer]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I'm pretty sure Burden of Dreams is included in the BFI Herzog blu-ray set.

Yes, but without supplements. Criterion DVD has audio commentary, interview with Herzog, and a book (not sure if the current DVD still comes with the book, though).

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

[Show spoiler]Ironically (and inadvertently), I bought myself this gift on Akira Kurosawa's birthday yesterday:

Is anyone else going to see the new restoration?

My local arthouse is showing it next month - annoyingly only early evening showings. This'll be the first time I've seen it since its original theatrical run