The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by piebot56

Went into FYE and expected to see the same old copy of Ace in the Hole on DVD, but there was also a used Blu-ray copy of Mystery Train for $20. Worth it?

If you are familiar with Jarmusch and like his typical style, then yes, it is worth owning. The underlined disclaimer because you can get a brand new copy from B&N right now for $20.

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

If you are familiar with Jarmusch and like his typical style, then yes, it is worth owning. The underlined disclaimer because you can get a brand new copy from B&N right now for $20.

I have not seen any Jarmusch film, what is his typical style? I ordered Mystery Train in-store for delivery at home, will receive it tomorrow. So want to know what it will be like...

[jw007]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I have not seen any Jarmusch film, what is his typical style? I ordered Mystery Train in-store for delivery at home, will receive it tomorrow. So want to know what it will be like...

Jim Jarmusch's films are some of my favorite in all of cinema. His films are all about deadpan humor. His films use this subtle, deadpan humor as a vehicle to leverage his many colorful characters, and yes, his films are also primarily character studies as opposed to stories too. If you want unconventional characters with a twist for punk-rock musicians as actors (think John Lurie, Tom Waits, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, etc.), you've got Jarmusch.

And by the way, Mystery Train, was one of my early favorite films of his, until I realized just how brilliant Down by Law was. In Mystery Train, you have an extremely high amount of deadpan acting and some perfectly meandering sequences that don't seem to go anywhere, until you watch til the end.

[joie]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I have not seen any Jarmusch film, what is his typical style? I ordered Mystery Train in-store for delivery at home, will receive it tomorrow. So want to know what it will be like...

Mystery Train and Night on Earth are portmanteaus. Stranger than Paradise isn't and his best movie available via Criterion, in my opinion.

[HitchcockLang]

One big online order and three trips to two different local B&Ns with the aid of a membership, two 20% off one item coupons, one $10 of $50 coupon, one $5 off $50 coupon, and one 25% off $100+ online coupon and now I believe I have finally reached the end of my haul for this sale (though I might go back for The New World).

My FINAL haul is...

[Show spoiler]

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by joie

Mystery Train and Night on Earth are portmanteaus. Stranger than Paradise isn't and his best movie available via Criterion, in my opinion.

they are hardly that... not at all, really.

MT and NoE have a sense of place that STP doesn't. Memphis is a character in MT and the night is a character in NoE.

I like all 3, but to say that they are portmanteaus is like.. objectively wrong.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I have not seen any Jarmusch film, what is his typical style? I ordered Mystery Train in-store for delivery at home, will receive it tomorrow. So want to know what it will be like...

like JW says, it is deadpan humor. I'll add 'stylized' to that - stylized deadpan humor. his films are very quiet. I see a heavy Jean-Luc Godard influence - not so much in his approach or style, but in the homages he seems to pay him.

edit: maybe in style, too, but not in an off-putting way. I wish I could give you an example, but its been a while since I've seen a film from either director.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Good Morning? Seriously? That is one of Ozu's most lightweight films. An Autumn Afternoon has a sense of finality about it. It's one of the great final films of cinema. I'd suggest revisiting it in the future.

I only mentioned Good Morning because it specifically addresses commercialism and changing attitudes of the generations. I would put it behind the other three as well. However, it's theme is well addressed vs. those same specific themes in Autumn.

I enjoyed Autumn Afternoon, but it didn't go as in as much depth as some of Ozu's other films. At the end of the film I didn't connect with the characters as much because it felt like a mash-up of multiple themes and characters. That was my point.

[diskspinner]

Halfway through 50% sale, this is my haul till now...only 6 blind buys out of 15

The Kid
Black Narcissus
Jimi Plays Monterary & Shake! Otis at Monterey , but already watched
Phoenix , but already watched
The Graduate
The Player
The Freshman , but already watched
Secret Sunshine
Breathless
Ikiru
Il Sorpasso
Safety Last!
Bicycle Thieves
Dressed to kill
Mystery Train , yet to receive

For those who like to see pictures instead...

[Show spoiler]

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Halfway through 50% sale, this is my haul till now...only 6 blind buys out of 15

The Kid
Black Narcicuss
Jimi Plays Monterary & Shake! Otis at Monterey , but already watched
Phoenix , but already watched
The Graduate
The Player
The Freshman , but already watched
Secret Sunshine
Breathless
Ikiru
Il Sorpasso
Safety Last!
Bicycle Thieves
Dressed to kill
Mystery Train , yet to receive

For those who like to see pictures instead...

[Show spoiler]

How'd you like Phoenix?

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

How'd you like Phoenix?

I expected something different but I liked it. Music + Acting --> Very Good

[joie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

they are hardly that... not at all, really.

MT and NoE have a sense of place that STP doesn't. Memphis is a character in MT and the night is a character in NoE.

I like all 3, but to say that they are portmanteaus is like.. objectively wrong.

huh? Night on Earth is a portmanteau because it's four short films tied together by each taking place in a cab. Mystery Train is because the short films are connected by the hotel, with at least two of them connected by a pilgrimage to Graceland and Elvis's appearance to one of the characters.

The "sense of place" you mention could be argued to be what makes them portmanteau's, too.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by joie

huh? Night on Earth is a portmanteau because it's four short films tied together by each taking place in a cab. Mystery Train is because the short films are connected by the hotel, with at least two of them connected by a pilgrimage to Graceland and Elvis's appearance to one of the characters.

The "sense of place" you mention could be argued to be what makes them portmanteau's, too.

I thought you were saying the two films were portmanteaus with each other. You phrased it as if it was a negative trait of the two films. "Stranger Than Paradise isn't..."

Admittedly, I did get a bit confused, but why use such a dumb big word that no one uses?

[jw007]

I just saw a glorious portmanteau last night at a local arthouse theater.

Todd Solondz's new film Wiener Dog.

It was a portmanteau of intertwining stories with the dachshund as the connector.

Perverse as can be, but also a bit forlorn... and damn, plenty of super dark comedy as well.

Does anyone else here enjoy Solondz's films? I need to brush the dust off Life During Wartime and see that one again.

Criterion needs to get more of his films in the collection!

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by jw007

I just saw a glorious portmanteau last night at a local arthouse theater.

Todd Solondz's new film Wiener Dog.

It was a portmanteau of intertwining stories with the dachshund as the connector.

Perverse as can be, but also a bit forlorn... and damn, plenty of super dark comedy as well.

Does anyone else here enjoy Solondz's films? I need to brush the dust off Life During Wartime and see that one again.

Criterion needs to get more of his films in the collection!

Strange a lot of his films are not on Blu-ray. Welcome to the Dollhouse is a cult classic... Poor Dawn Wiener.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

I just saw a glorious portmanteau last night at a local arthouse theater.

Todd Solondz's new film Wiener Dog.

It was a portmanteau of intertwining stories with the dachshund as the connector.

Perverse as can be, but also a bit forlorn... and damn, plenty of super dark comedy as well.

Does anyone else here enjoy Solondz's films? I need to brush the dust off Life During Wartime and see that one again.

Criterion needs to get more of his films in the collection!

Happiness.

[olivianewtonyawn]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Happiness.

I would be all in for Welcome to the Dollhouse (love that movie) and yeah... I would buy Happiness too if it were to be released. Such a disturbing, sad film. Brilliant in a lot of ways with a really amazing performance from Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Happiness.

Now there's a movie that made me laugh and then feel really bad about it. Brilliant!

[jw007]

My friend was mentioning how freaky Palindromes is too. I gotta check that one out.

[SkyAntoine]

I complete 15-20 minute online construction-related surveys all the time at work. Some marketing firm sends me $10-25 for each response about once a week. It's nice randomly getting a $10 bill every so often in the mail.

Today I received a $25 TangoCard and I just redeemed it for a $25 B&N giftcard. Boom!! Free Criterions!