The Criterion Collection

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

I've been championing this title for ages but Criterion is too busy releasing gems such as Female Trouble, Multiple Maniacs, Shampoo, Beyond the Valley of Dolls, Tootsie, etc.

#1, those are gems

#2, stuff they release is usually locked in the pipeline and gets released when ready

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

I've been championing this title for ages but Criterion is too busy releasing gems such as Female Trouble, Multiple Maniacs, Shampoo, Beyond the Valley of Dolls, Tootsie, etc.

Dismissive much geez I always hate when people incorrectly seem to assume that a release of a certain film somehow prevents another. At the end of the day it simply has to do with what is avalaible to them in terms of rights. Unfortunately, Paramount has some great titles including this one but the don't seem to care or want to upgrade much of the catalog. They're just sitting on great titles like Roman Holidays or A Place in the sun with no foreseeable release. Criterion would probably have to do the restoration which means more money involved. Basically a lot of hassle considering they can avoid a all of that with Sony or the other studios.
Besides, what's wrong with them releasing those films? Whether you like or not they have clearly had some sort of impact and are influential. We're talking about directors like Pollack, Ashby and Johnn Waters that represent and define different eras and themes.

[theEXORCIST]

My last trip to b&n will be tomorrow and im heavily contemplating getting the Qatsi trilogy would anyone please talk me into pulling the trigger on that. Its either that or silence of the lambs and a matter of life and death

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by belcherman

Although I would hope that Kim Hunter would be most remembered for her Academy Award-winning perform as Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, you're probably right.

Her first film, The 7th Victim, is pretty good too.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by theEXORCIST

My last trip to b&n will be tomorrow and im heavily contemplating getting the Qatsi trilogy would anyone please talk me into pulling the trigger on that. Its either that or silence of the lambs and a matter of life and death

Honestly, I'd pick the latter two over the Qatsi trilogy, but I know that there are a lot of fans of the trilogy, so I may be in the minority. For some reason (and I don't fault the movies for this) I almost always struggle to stay awake and focused on this type of movie. They're beautiful, but it's almost like a sensory overload that makes my brain shut down. Too much to process, bluescreen, snore.

[castor]

Originally Posted by theEXORCIST

My last trip to b&n will be tomorrow and im heavily contemplating getting the Qatsi trilogy would anyone please talk me into pulling the trigger on that. Its either that or silence of the lambs and a matter of life and death

I advise you to get the Qatsi trilogy. Naqoyqatsi isn't very good, but Koyaanisqatsi is one of my top all-time favorites, and it has great replay value. I think I have seen it at least 50 times. I didn't think Powaqqatsi was all that great the first time I saw it, but after a few more viewings it grew on me and now I think it's fairly close to being as watchable as Koyaanisqatsi.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

I've been championing this title for ages but Criterion is too busy releasing gems such as Female Trouble, Multiple Maniacs, Shampoo, Beyond the Valley of Dolls, Tootsie, etc.

With the exception of Shampoo (which I haven’t seen), I can confirm how awesome and worthy everything on this list is.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

I've been championing this title for ages but Criterion is too busy releasing gems such as Female Trouble, Multiple Maniacs, Shampoo, Beyond the Valley of Dolls, Tootsie, etc.

Several of those ARE gems, and highly regarded films. More highly regarded than The Tenant, I'm afraid. And I would love to see The Tenant releases, FYI.

But you think it's just that easy to get the rights and release a movie, when in reality, it's much more complicated than that. And one title/release has nothing to do with not releasing something else.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

I've been championing this title for ages but Criterion is too busy releasing gems such as Female Trouble, Multiple Maniacs, Shampoo, Beyond the Valley of Dolls, Tootsie, etc.

Don't you find it difficult to type with such a huge chip on your shoulder?

[thebratpackwrangler]

Today I watched Mulholland Drive for the first time on Amazon Prime and I’m contemplating going back to Barnes and Noble for the third time to grab that one. It was excellent but I have already spent well over $100

[derpsnerf]

What are the chances of an Eyes Wide Shut release?

[hoytereden]

My most wanted Polanski would be an upgrade of Knife in the Water.

[WeeBey]

Originally Posted by derpsnerf

What are the chances of an Eyes Wide Shut release?

Nobody knows, except that there’s a chance seeing as how Criterion has a relationship with Warner and that they have already licensed and released Barry Lyndon.

IMO, Lolita and Eyes Wide Shut are the likeliest upcoming Kubrick Criterions.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by jw007

Seeing the recent talk of Polanski on here, has anyone else seen or enjoyed one of his lesser known films: Death and the Maiden? I think this film is worthy of a Criterion release.

That and The Pianist. I'm still miffed that the latter hasn't come out in the States. It's every bit as good as Spielberg's Schindler's List.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by thebratpackwrangler

Today I watched Mulholland Drive for the first time on Amazon Prime and I’m contemplating going back to Barnes and Noble for the third time to grab that one. It was excellent but I have already spent well over $100

Get it! Mulholland Drive is infinitely re-watchable.

[ravenus]

From the director of the political thriller Z (which was also adapted by Indian director Dibakar Banerjee in 2012 as the very watchable Shanghai), The Confession is another film which looks at corruption endemic to power. It is based on the book written by Czech communist politician Arthur London. Played by French star Yves Montand, the film looks at how London, appointed as a deputy minister of foreign affairs just 2 years prior, is suddenly brought in for questioning about his past dealings and accused of being a traitor to the ideals of the ruling communist party. The interrogation, dealt with in great detail, is really more a process of extended torture. Made to keep walking inside his cell, barely allowed to sleep or eat, an increasingly disoriented London is alternately yelled at or coaxed by his tormentors to confess to deliberate treason against the state. Initially London denies the charges vehemently, confident that his basic innocence and his political connections will soon lead to his release. But they are relentless, breaking down his emotional defences, chopping up his testimony to individual sentences and then rearranging them to suit their purposes. London and several of his colleagues are put up for what is called a "show trial", one where the guilt of the accused has already been decided and the court proceedings are merely to make a strong example of them. As part of the notorious Stalinist purges, of the 14 people accused at the trial, 11 were executed and 3 including London sentenced for life. He was released 2 years after Stalin's demise.

Inherent to the nature of the film, there is a lot of repetition: we see day after day London undergoes repeated cycles of torture. He is held for months without official charges under emergency law where his persecutors have extraordinary powers. When London's wife protests about her husband's abduction in the ministry, their house is seized and she has to take employment in a factory. By the time they have compelled him to sign on practically fabricated confession he has been reduced to a pale thin shadow of his former self (Montand lost 23 pounds over the course of shooting). Then in the period towards the trial they reverse the process, feeding and medically administering to him ("preparing the goose" London remarks), even using a lamp to give him an artificial tan, masking his continuous isolation. The film is powered by Montand's performance, but it's a performance wholly in service to the strong statement the director wants to make.

Gavras sometimes uses a non-linear style going back and forth in London's life. It is suggested that some of the trials he presided over may have obtained confessions of guilt using the same methods he is now subject to. Regardless of ideology, the people in power are invariably corrupt and hostile paranoia increases the more one climbs the ladder of political rule.

Criterion's blu-ray gives an excellent presentation of the film, with a filmic look. There is some bias towards blue-green tint, which is also seen in other Gallic productions of the period, most notably Army of Shadows by Jean-Pierre Melville. The mono audio is clear, and the film is mostly dialog-based so easily handled. I saw a couple of the shorter extras (Montand interview, critic's video essay) but am yet to sample the more comprehensive featurettes including Chris Marker's on-set behind-the-scenes (he was stills photographer on this movie). I may report back once I have watched those.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

My most wanted Polanski would be an upgrade of Knife in the Water.

The UK blu-ray is region free and quite good in terms of A/V (The jazzy score is a revelation in lossless). The only hitch might be that the extras (short films and featurettes) are in PAL, so you need a TV/player that supports PAL.



My opinion of the UK blu-ray A/V:

Screenbound's blu-ray looks quite good in terms of a relatively clean print (although there are some damage marks and hair). In most scenes the film looks more gray than black but perhaps it was not intended to be high-contrast B&W. The mono audio is quite decent with presence for the sound effects and Komeda's score. The subtitles are a little weird in that several lines go unsubtitled. The film is more about mood than plot so you don't lose anything critical but it's distracting. I have read somewhere that Polanski was responsible for the more minimal subs as he wanted extraneous dialog to go by but I really would have appreciated a choice between full subs and this minimalist offering.

[Tns49]

Originally Posted by JezelleGHartman

Can someone help me out here? I saw the virgin spring bc I’m a big fan of last house on the left and immediately fell in love with it.

I decided to pick up more from the director Ingmar Bergman so I picked up Persona, The Seveth Seal, Wild Strawberries, and cries and whispers. Are there any other I need to get ?

Several, or you might want to get the new set later this year.

[kingdoxie]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

My most wanted Polanski would be an upgrade of Knife in the Water.

I second this statement, excellent movie! Agree with the above about some of the missing subs, it needs a new translation with all the dialogue.

[GasmaskAvenger]

When I saw The Confession at Barnes & Noble, I thought it was that Francis Ford Coppla film "The Conversation" but alas it wasn't so I passed on it.

Yeah, its OOP now but honestly its not a movie i'm all that interested in picking up, though.