The Criterion Collection

[GasmaskAvenger]

Since I really dig the hell out of Le Cercle Rouge, is it a possibility I might also enjoy Army of Shadows?

While its also OOP, I can actually get it for a much more reasonable price than Le Cercle Rouge (which I did manage to get a hold of as of now), so I just like to hear some thoughts on those who've seen it.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

Since I really dig the hell out of Le Cercle Rouge, is it a possibility I might also enjoy Army of Shadows?

While its also OOP, I can actually get it for a much more reasonable price than Le Cercle Rouge (which I did manage to get a hold of as of now), so I just like to hear some thoughts on those who've seen it.

Army of Shadows is an excellent film. I much prefer it to most of Melville's work, including Le Cercle Rouge.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Army of Shadows is an excellent film. I much prefer it to most of Melville's work, including Le Cercle Rouge.

Agreed. It's his best by a mile.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

Since I really dig the hell out of Le Cercle Rouge, is it a possibility I might also enjoy Army of Shadows?

While its also OOP, I can actually get it for a much more reasonable price than Le Cercle Rouge (which I did manage to get a hold of as of now), so I just like to hear some thoughts on those who've seen it.

FYI, Studio Canal put out a Melville collection in the UK that contains all of his OOP Criterion titles. Just quickly perusing your collection, it appears you're region free, so that may be the cheapest option.

FWIW, my favorite Melville films are "Le Cercle Rouge", "Le Samourai", "Army of Shadows", "Le Deuxieme Souffle" and "Le Doulos". I'd say "Leon Morin, Priest", "Bob le Flambeur" and "La Silence de la Mer" are a notch below those. And below that tier would be "Les Enfants Terribles", "Un Flic", and "Two Men in Manhattan". I haven't seen "Magnet of Doom" or "When You Read This Letter".

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

Since I really dig the hell out of Le Cercle Rouge, is it a possibility I might also enjoy Army of Shadows?

Yea, AoS is an excellent movie. If you're region free get the Studio Canal release, their transfer seems to better replicate Melville's intentions for the film's look, going by the remarks made in the extensive making of included on the disc.

[GasmaskAvenger]

Thanks guys.

Just watched the trailer. It has a similar vibe to Le Cercle Rouge but looks far more sinister and plot heavy. I'll definitely look into getting a copy if possible.

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I hope, not because of those three, i only want Mean Streets.

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is particularly terrible.

It's an amazing film. One of his best IMO

[demonknight]

Just rewatched Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. I get more from it with each viewing. First time I saw it, I despised it, but as of my most recent viewing, I think it's safe to say it cracks my Top 5 Lynch films (along with Wild at Heart, Mulholland Dr., Lost Highway, & Eraserhead).

The character moments are particularly strong, though I do feel like it would be a better film if some of the deleted scenes were kept in the final cut. I totally wouldn't have minded a 3 hr cut at this point.

[joy-division]

I watched Ingmar Bergman's The Magic Flute yesterday (BFI Release) which has had a Criterion release (DVD only) & was wondering what other people's thoughts were on it.

It was not what I expected (a film version of the opera) but instead shot as a stage play. Would have liked to have seen Papageno in his regular attire & the english subtitles were a bit strange. but apart from that, thought it was great. Never knew it was shot for Television

[Alex82]

Originally Posted by joy-division

I watched Ingmar Bergman's The Magic Flute yesterday (BFI Release) which has had a Criterion release (DVD only) & was wondering what other people's thoughts were on it.

It was not what I expected (a film version of the opera) but instead shot as a stage play. Would have liked to have seen Papageno in his regular attire & the english subtitles were a bit strange. but apart from that, thought it was great. Never knew it was shot for Television

I was prepared to be bored out of my mind, but I think it's a surprisingly entertaining movie. I really liked the performances and the music, of course.

I also wonder how many people pickup the masonic references in the story ("enlightment", seeking knowledge, occult societies, rituals...) .

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by Alex82

I was prepared to be bored out of my mind, but I think it's a surprisingly entertaining movie. I really liked the performances and the music, of course.

I also wonder how many people pickup the masonic references in the story ("enlightment", seeking knowledge, occult societies, rituals...) .

Both Mozart & Emanuel Schikaneder - who wrote The Magic Flute & first played Papageno (played by Simon Callow in the film Amadeus) were Freemasons so it makes sense

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Mishima comes in a DigiPack. Images courtesy of CriterionForum.

[Show spoiler]

Still putting the opening on the wrong side of the slipbox, I see.

[dancerslegs]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

This is one of those films where I feel like my reaction contrasted with the consensus makes me feel like I'm in a Twilight Zone of sorts. What a mess. Scorsese is really trying hard to capture a naturalist New Wave feeling here but falls flat on his face. Tonally, this is all over the map. It almost feels as though the entire thing was filmed out of sequence, and even in the middle of scenes. Character's responses don't match the person they are talking to at times and the emotional timbers here seem placed at random. Ellen Burstyn is a total ham here, and delivers a clinic on how to over-act. Most of these scenes play out like she just got done memorizing her line, and then throws a blanket of "method acting" and ticks all over the lines, and spews it out. Kris Kristofferson is a zombie (he usually was) and the child actor Alfred Lutter III is the new king of annoying child acting (surpassing Bob from House By The Cemetary).

And now on to the thing that pissed me off the most. Why on earth couldn't they just drive straight through to Monterrey? It's about a day and half drive, and gas was 70 cents a gallon in 1974. She has all this money to pay for hotels, buy new dresses, and get a new hairdo, but she can't drive to California? Then the movie gets even dumber, when after stopping in Phoenix for no reason, they decide to drive SOUTH to Tucson on their way to Monterrey? While in Tucson, she continously mentions how she is going to "get Tommy to Monterrey". *****, you're not even trying. Scorsese probably should've put a couple seconds of thought into this logic hole. Bottom line: avoid this trash.

I disagree strongly that Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is trash. That said, it is rather an odd film. It almost seems to be two movies going on at the same time--the one Scorsese seems to be trying to film, and the one Ellen Burstyn more or less directed that exists between her character and her son (wonderfully-performed by Lutter, IMO). Dramatically-speaking, the camera movements and editing rhythms of the former do seem at odds with the latter. One suspects Scorsese's heart wasn't in this one.

Still, I enjoy it, quite a bit more than many of Scorsese's more-lauded works.

[Hoke Moseley]

The great Ermanno Olmi (Il Posto, The Tree of Wooden Clogs...) has passed away.

RIP.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by mja345

FYI, Studio Canal put out a Melville collection in the UK that contains all of his OOP Criterion titles. Just quickly perusing your collection, it appears you're region free, so that may be the cheapest option.

FWIW, my favorite Melville films are "Le Cercle Rouge", "Le Samourai", "Army of Shadows", "Le Deuxieme Souffle" and "Le Doulos". I'd say "Leon Morin, Priest", "Bob le Flambeur" and "La Silence de la Mer" are a notch below those. And below that tier would be "Les Enfants Terribles", "Un Flic", and "Two Men in Manhattan". I haven't seen "Magnet of Doom" or "When You Read This Letter".

You think Un Flic is third-tier Melville?

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

You think Un Flic is third-tier Melville?

I do. It's a good film, but not on the level of his best IMO. There are several great sequences, but it lacks the consistency of his better films. In terms of entertainment value, yes, I think "Un Flic" is probably more entertaining than, say, "Leon Morin, Priest", but I can't say that it's a better film. FWIW, it's definitely my favorite of the films in my third tier. I haven't disliked any of the Melville films I've seen, but I'd put "Un Flic" at #9 out of 11 in my personal rankings.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

You think Un Flic is third-tier Melville?

I think all Melville aside from Army of Shadows is third tier. La silence De La Mer wouldn't even be a blip on anyone's radar if it didn't have his name attached. Talk about hammering home a banal "we are all human beings" message for 90 minutes ripe with terribly obvious narration and droll characterizations. Seriously, Melville is one of the most overrated directors in history. Not trying to start a huge flame war, but it's just one man's opinion.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I think all Melville aside from Army of Shadows is third tier. La silence De La Mer wouldn't even be a blip on anyone's radar if it didn't have his name attached. Talk about hammering home a banal "we are all human beings" message for 90 minutes ripe with terribly obvious narration and droll characterizations. Seriously, Melville is one of the most overrated directors in history. Not trying to start a huge flame war, but it's just one man's opinion.

Yes, just one man's opinion...

[Show spoiler]

https://youtu.be/MwPyNI3oMsw

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

Yes, just one man's opinion...

[Show spoiler]https://youtu.be/MwPyNI3oMsw

If there were no opinions brought forth, this would be a pretty dull place...

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

If there were no opinions brought forth, this would be a pretty dull place...

agreed