The Criterion Collection

[Iamspartacus]

Is tomorrow the flash sale?

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched Salesman the other night for the first time and really liked this documentary film by the Maysles brothers. Has anyone else watched this?

I liked how there was nothing irrelevant about this film even today. The social commentary and context was not outdated even though it took place in the mid to late 1960s. The grueling hustling of having to go from door to door to try and pitch a bible (from the Mid-American Bible Company) and even plead for a $1 a week payment plan was quite impressive. I enjoyed some of the main characters, esp. the Gipper, the Badger, the Bull and the Rabbit. What I really enjoyed the most was the downtime footage of these men hanging out in motel rooms talking about how their day went and how many bibles they sold. They all traveled together in packs without GPS technology. I particularly enjoyed the scene when the Badger (Paul Brennan) was driving around Opa Locka, FL, trying to find one particular owner who he had a lead with. You can see how it took a toll on this guy towards the end of the story. It takes a certain type of person to hustle like this, one with charm and resilience.

A job like this reminded me of some canvassing experiences I had a few times with the Sierra Club as well as this solar power company I was working for, for a week out of the summer, trying to make quota. The latter was just dropping off pamphlets at every front door, so I didn't have to confront any residents. The sheer repetition and exercise and dangers (scary barking dogs, suspicious neighbors with guns, slipping on steps or pavement, etc.) was not worth it for me in the end, esp. since it was basically a part-time job.

I definitely recommend this film if you're a fan of good documentaries. The Maysles bros. captured a time capsule with this film.

It looked like it was just parodied on Documentary Now! (Or that's the impression I got from what I saw) so I was planning to watch it this week.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Iamspartacus

Is tomorrow the flash sale?

Could be. If they're having one, this week seems like the week. Probably don't want to have a flash sale and lunch your new streaming service in the same week.

[Reeniop5]

My cart is ready!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pedromvu]

If the sale is tomorrow, does anyone consider any of this blind buy worthy?

Chimes at Midnight
The Immortal Story (Touch of Evil great, Citizen Kane good, F for Fake kind of hated it)
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (Sansho the Bailiff great, Life of Oharu good)
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (Haven't seen any Russ Meyer films)
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (Gosford Park, The Player and The Long Goodbye great, MASH, Nashville, 3 Women and A Prairie Home Companion good)

I added a bit of context of the other films I've seen by each director.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

If the sale is tomorrow, does anyone consider any of this blind buy worthy?

Chimes at Midnight
The Immortal Story (Touch of Evil great, Citizen Kane good, F for Fake kind of hated it)
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (Sansho the Bailiff great, Life of Oharu good)
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (Haven't seen any Russ Meyer films)
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (Gosford Park, The Player and The Long Goodbye great, MASH, Nashville, 3 Women and A Prairie Home Companion good)

I added a bit of context of the other films I've seen by each director.

McCabe is only one of the greatest films ever made.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

If the sale is tomorrow, does anyone consider any of this blind buy worthy?

Chimes at Midnight
The Immortal Story (Touch of Evil great, Citizen Kane good, F for Fake kind of hated it)
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (Sansho the Bailiff great, Life of Oharu good)
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (Haven't seen any Russ Meyer films)
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (Gosford Park, The Player and The Long Goodbye great, MASH, Nashville, 3 Women and A Prairie Home Companion good)

I added a bit of context of the other films I've seen by each director.

Based on your experience with Altman, I think you would find McCabe at least 'good' if not better. Probably the same with the Mizoguchi.

[castor]

Speaking of people dying, I just found out the other day that Jon Polito died on September 1.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by castor

Speaking of people dying, I just found out the other day that Jon Polito died on September 1.

Yep. Showed a friend Miller's Crossing the other day. (My personal favourite film)

[pedromvu]

More shots of Trilogia de Guillermo del Toro Packaging:

http://www.criterionforum.org/DVD-pa...ollection/1685

Seems Criterion went for a 4 disc plastic/Cardboard case instead of the usual for boxsets with Dekalog:

http://www.criterionforum.org/DVD-pa...ollection/1640

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by nitin

Based on your experience with Altman, I think you would find McCabe at least 'good' if not better. Probably the same with the Mizoguchi.

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

McCabe is only one of the greatest films ever made.

Thanks, that is my more likely candidate even before I asked, I am just wondering if it will be a digipak or not, has anyone seen the packaging yet?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I saw this film recently too. It wasn't a particularly entertaining experience, but it was an incredibly insightful one. Maysles really gets some audacious stuff on film...but it happens to be in small slice of life nuggets. People are flat out getting swindled. Buying shit they don't need and putting it all on credit no less.

It's just uncanny how this film predates the credit crisis of a few years ago.

Oh so true! I nearly got extorted a few days ago on Airbnb from a host's apt. in Detroit I stayed at a couple of weeks ago. The guy tried to swindle me by offering to give me back my money in exchange for a positive review (even though my 2 friends and I got terribly sick from the toxic air in that apt.). I went ahead with his offer and posted a 4 star review and he had the nerve to write a scathing and terrible review full of lies on me, full of slander. Luckily, I reported him to Airbnb and they removed both reviews and gave me a $200 coupon for future stays. People are getting swindled more than ever these days and I was one of the latest to NEARLY get swindled. Honesty is always the best policy though.

Bottom line is, human nature is prob. never going to change. There will always be people out there trying to take advantage of others. We have to call them out and demand justice.

Originally Posted by Reddington

I have not seen this and really should make the effort. Coincidentally, I have Glengarry Glen Ross on order, which is released tomorrow. One of my favourite films, although depressing subject matter. Obviously quite different from Salesman, but I'd be interested in comparing the two.

Wow, I totally forgot to mention that in my posting. I kept thinking of Glengarry Glen Ross while I was watching this "insightful documentary" (as Abdrewes eloquently put it). There is definitely a lot of influence that this documentary film made and I'm sure David Mamet saw this film. I agree though with Abdrewes that it wasn't very entertaining. It was more of a "homework assignment" or educational experience seeing this documentary.

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

It looked like it was just parodied on Documentary Now! (Or that's the impression I got from what I saw) so I was planning to watch it this week.

Wow, Wow, Wow. Now it makes sense! My brother loves Documentary Now! and he prob. saw the most recent episode where it mentioned this film so he went ahead and bought it on his iTunes account and that's how I got to see this film, because I have access to his account and all the movies he bought. No wonder!!!

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by castor

Speaking of people dying, I just found out the other day that Jon Polito died on September 1.

Man, this thread is just one big ray of sunshine recently, huh?

Anyone know of any great directors or actors being born recently?

[ThisKid]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

Man, this thread is just one big ray of sunshine recently, huh?

Anyone know of any great directors or actors being born recently?

Uhh, well, over at America, there's going to be the new Steven Spielberg.

And not the good Spielberg.

[tisdivine]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

So yesterday I watched Valley of the Dolls, and not knowing much about it I must say I don't really get why it is so hated.

I mean it mostly plays like a typical big Hollywood movie which I wasn't expecting considering it seems to be a film with cult following, it reminded me a lot of A Star is Born with Judy Garland (haven't seen other versions).

And I am quite puzzled reading the IMDb boards, the movie seems quite serious and depressing yet it is regarded as having a lot of camp, I have seen a lot of campy films and I don't think this had any, sure the writing is not all that good specially noticeable with the character motivations and at the end, and some of the acting is not great, but I thought it was an OK movie still, not sure why it get picked by Criterion but that is a matter of personal opinion as I could name several others in the same situation.

Maybe I am just used to switch gears and see old movies differently but I even thought the music and songs were fine.

I would have to say Patty Duke is 200% the reason why Valley is considered camp. Don't get me wrong, personally I love the film and I generally like Patty Duke in films but come on Neely is one of the most over the top characters ever.

[Show spoiler]I mean snatching Susan Haywards wig and then flushing it down the toilet and the alley scene where she's having the final breakdown screaming to god that she's Neely O'Hara!

Yes, those are the most memorable scenes from the film but defiantly camp. Have you seen Mommy Dearest? In my opinion, Faye Dunaway's Joan Crawford is #2 to Patty's Neely O'Hara being the #1.

[bwdowiak]

so what will be the first title to sell out?

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I haven't watched either, but isn't it Beyond the Valley of the Dolls that's more known to be a campy satirical parody of the original?

Valley of the Dolls has always had a reputation for being "so good it's bad trash". Beyond is very camp but in a deliberate way.

[812crew]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

so what will be the first title to sell out?

Jellyfish Eyes?!

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

I would have to say Patty Duke is 200% the reason why Valley is considered camp. Don't get me wrong, personally I love the film and I generally like Patty Duke in films but come on Neely is one of the most over the top characters ever.

[Show spoiler]I mean snatching Susan Haywards wig and then flushing it down the toilet and the alley scene where she's having the final breakdown screaming to god that she's Neely O'Hara!

Yes, those are the most memorable scenes from the film but defiantly camp. Have you seen Mommy Dearest? In my opinion, Faye Dunaway's Joan Crawford is #2 to Patty's Neely O'Hara being the #1.

Haha yes the scenes you mention especially the latest was quite over the top,

[Show spoiler]considering she is drunk though, so is not completely out of nowhere, I liked here character even though her transition to becoming a nasty person was somehow abrupt, I found her duet song with Tony at the clinic one of the charming moments, even though I see many found that unintentionally funny.

, I guess when I hear camp first thing I think about is something like The Adventures of Robin Hood(One of my favorites though) which I think is quite different, more like it conserved some of the theatricality of silents.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

so what will be the first title to sell out?

Is this happening today? Was Criterion offline at all yesterday?