The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by johnvand

Nope! Blind buy.

Let me know how it was!

[Kakihara]

I have a question about The Leopard. I got it during the flash sale as a blind-buy. I've seen many of Visconti's films but somehow this, considered his masterpiece, has escaped me. Well, to be honest, I was always bothered by the lead in Lancaster (whom I am otherwise a fan of) not being Italian. I had that mindset in my early 20's. Now, after seeing several Italian genre movies that post-dubbed in both languages, that no longer bothers me so much. I do have a question though: did Lancaster actually speak in Italian for the part or was his role dubbed in Italian?

[Mike0284]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

I have a question about The Leopard. I got it during the flash sale as a blind-buy. I've seen many of Visconti's films but somehow this, considered his masterpiece, has escaped me. Well, to be honest, I was always bothered by the lead in Lancaster (whom I am otherwise a fan of) not being Italian. I had that mindset in my early 20's. Now, after seeing several Italian genre movies that post-dubbed in both languages, that no longer bothers me so much. I do have a question though: did Lancaster actually speak in Italian for the part or was his role dubbed in Italian?

He was dubbed,

Lancaster's lines are dubbed into Italian by Corrado Gaipa; while in the 161-minute U.S English dubbed version, Lancaster's original voice work is heard.

[theater dreamer]

Order already shipped. Dayum, they're on their game.

[battlechateau]

I picked up Silence of the Lambs and White Dog. Both blind purchases.

[LPMA]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Order already shipped. Dayum, they're on their game.

I’ve already received my Bergman set all the way up to Canada. Not sure how that happened!

[softunderbelly]

Originally Posted by LPMA

I’ve already received my Bergman set all the way up to Canada. Not sure how that happened!

If I might ask, did you get dinged by Customs? Only reason I ask is that up until last year I never had to worry about it but got "hit" with my last big order from the States.
Nervously expecting the same this time.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

I have a question about The Leopard. I got it during the flash sale as a blind-buy. I've seen many of Visconti's films but somehow this, considered his masterpiece, has escaped me. Well, to be honest, I was always bothered by the lead in Lancaster (whom I am otherwise a fan of) not being Italian. I had that mindset in my early 20's. Now, after seeing several Italian genre movies that post-dubbed in both languages, that no longer bothers me so much. I do have a question though: did Lancaster actually speak in Italian for the part or was his role dubbed in Italian?

I wish Criterion would release the Italian restoration. It looks leaps and bounds better than the US disc.

[dig311dug]

I too already received my ingmar Bergman set... ordered yesterday. How’s that possible?

[yoloswegmaster420]

Originally Posted by LPMA

I’ve already received my Bergman set all the way up to Canada. Not sure how that happened!

You already got your package? Did you instantly order it?

[LPMA]

Originally Posted by softunderbelly

If I might ask, did you get dinged by Customs? Only reason I ask is that up until last year I never had to worry about it but got "hit" with my last big order from the States.
Nervously expecting the same this time.

I usually get hit by customs when Criterion deals with DHL, which they only tend to do on bigger orders (not sure what the threshold is but the delivery option will have ‘World Mail’ when it’s a smaller order). This one was DHL but I didn’t get anything from customs. Might have to do with the fact that I used a $50 promo code which lowered the total amount of the order.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

I wish Criterion would release the Italian restoration. It looks leaps and bounds better than the US disc.

I like the Criterion, although I've not seen the Italian restoration so I can't compare them. Isn't the Italian framed differently (maybe incorrectly), at 2.55:1? I think there was also discussion a while back about an OOP Australian release that looked great.

[BamaDullard]

Originally Posted by Reddington

I like the Criterion, although I've not seen the Italian restoration so I can't compare them. Isn't the Italian framed differently (maybe incorrectly), at 2.55:1? I think there was also discussion a while back about an OOP Australian release that looked great.

The Italian blu-ray is 2.55:1. I don't think it's really been established what the correct aspect ratio for this film is because it varies according to the print.

[The Great Owl]

My Criterion Blu-ray of White Material had a freeze glitch earlier this week, preventing me from getting my full Isabelle Huppert fix during the week that I went to see Greta at the theater, so I backed up 10 yards, punted, and pulled this one from my Blu-ray stack...



Erika Kohut, an esteemed piano professor and Schubert expert played by Isabelle Huppert, exudes an emotionless countenance while educating her students at the the Vienna Conservatory and presides over lessons with unyielding strictness, never hesitating to pierce the emotions of her virtuosos-in-training with cruel barbs. Her commanding facade of exactness and meticulous professionalism, however, belies her own inner wounds. Despite the fact that she is in her late forties, she lives with her intrusively doting mother, played by Annie Girardot, in an apartment, where the two of them even sleep in the same bedroom. Her sexual repression manifests itself in discreet ways as she visits seedy areas around the city, watches hardcore pornography, engages in voyeuristic behavior, and even practices self-mutilation.

Walter, a young engineering student and talented pianist played by Benoît Magimel, enters the scene, refusing to be intimidated by the older teacher's icy manner. When this handsome student begins to show an uncanny romantic interest in her, Erika's self-assured exterior begins to unravel into displays of sadomasochism and sociopathy.

I first became acquainted with the Austrian director, Michael Haneke, by way of his 2005 film, Caché, a Hitchcock-inspired outing with a pivotal scene that elicited the most visibly shocked reaction that I have ever seen from a theater audience. From there, I jumped headfirst into several of his other works, including the haunting post-apocalyptic tale, Time of the Wolf (2003), the visually spectacular black-and-white movie, The White Ribbon (2009), and even the intensely disturbing 1997 feature, Funny Games, and its 2007 American remake, which he also helmed.

Haneke's 2001 psychological thriller, The Piano Teacher, which is based on a 1983 novel by Elfriede Jelinek, remains one of the most uncomfortable films that I have ever seen in my life, although my only other viewing was over a decade ago, and it is a striking representation of the director's talent for creating the cinematic equivalent of a roadkill from which a passerby cannot avert his or her eyes. This is not a viscerally graphic movie, save for one early moment of videotape footage in a private room of an adult shop, but the sheer escalating unpleasantness of character interactions yields a more repulsed reception. There is one act of malice in this film during a music rehearsal where no overt violence is shown on the screen, but its aftertaste lingers in my psyche long after bloody images from countless zombie movies and slasher films have passed from memory. Haneke's coldly effective approach pulls us through the fold by way of long static camera shots that proceed without the flourishes of music score manipulation or flashy cinematography to buffer us from what we are seeing.

Fortunately, a spectacular beauty perseveres amidst the unpleasantness. Years ago, when I was walking out of the theater after the conclusion of Haneke's The White Ribbon, an elderly stranger who was exiting at the same time made eye contact with me, and said, “That was pure cinematic art.” The same can be said of this movie. Huppert is entrancing in one of the bravest performances that this longtime moviegoer has seen, and her two primary co-stars match her every step of the way. I am also drawn to this film's unapologetically erudite focus on the piano lessons themselves, and I wish that I had more of a natural music aptitude that might help me sense parallels between the sounds and the story that may be hidden from my attention right now.

A good movie does not necessarily have to be one that makes the viewer feel good. In fact, some of the best films that I have seen in my life are ones that make me want to curl into a fetal position in the corner of my living room for a month. The Piano Teacher is one such example, and, if you have never ventured into the world of Haneke, then it is a decently accessible entry point.

This Criterion Blu-ray excels with pitch-perfect video and audio presentations. The Haneke interview, where the director is not quite as maddeningly ambiguous as he sometimes can be, is my favorite supplement, but I also enjoyed the select-scene Huppert commentaries and the Huppert interview.

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

I wish Criterion would release the Italian restoration. It looks leaps and bounds better than the US disc.

All the online reviews I've seen regard Criterion's release as immaculate but on message boards, it's a different story. I hope it's hyperbole on both fronts and that it at least has good PQ.

[latehong]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

I wish Criterion would release the Italian restoration. It looks leaps and bounds better than the US disc.

Yeah, it's a misfortune that Criterion upgraded it too soon, before the new 4K restoration came.
https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&...=84932&i=6&l=0

By the way, the Italian Blu-ray (English-friendly) has severe black crush issue. French and Japanese releases (not English-friendly) used the same new restoration and provide more proper black.
https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&...=84891&i=0&l=0

Anyway, since Criterion has never done any Blu-ray to Blu-ray upgrade (except Playtime, which was possible because the new release was part of the complete Jacques Tati set and there was a special request from the Tati estate), I think there's no hope until Criterion goes 4K Blu-ray.

[thebratpackwrangler]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My Criterion Blu-ray of White Material had a freeze glitch earlier this week, preventing me from getting my full Isabelle Huppert fix during the week that I went to see Greta at the theater, so I backed up 10 yards, punted, and pulled this one from my Blu-ray stack...



Erika Kohut, an esteemed piano professor and Schubert expert played by Isabelle Huppert, exudes an emotionless countenance while educating her students at the the Vienna Conservatory and presides over lessons with unyielding strictness, never hesitating to pierce the emotions of her virtuosos-in-training with cruel barbs. Her commanding facade of exactness and meticulous professionalism, however, belies her own inner wounds. Despite the fact that she is in her late forties, she lives with her intrusively doting mother, played by Annie Girardot, in an apartment, where the two of them even sleep in the same bedroom. Her sexual repression manifests itself in discreet ways as she visits seedy areas around the city, watches hardcore pornography, engages in voyeuristic behavior, and even practices self-mutilation.

Walter, a young engineering student and talented pianist played by Benoît Magimel, enters the scene, refusing to be intimidated by the older teacher's icy manner. When this handsome student begins to show an uncanny romantic interest in her, Erika's self-assured exterior begins to unravel into displays of sadomasochism and sociopathy.

I first became acquainted with the Austrian director, Michael Haneke, by way of his 2005 film, Caché, a Hitchcock-inspired outing with a pivotal scene that elicited the most visibly shocked reaction that I have ever seen from a theater audience. From there, I jumped headfirst into several of his other works, including the haunting post-apocalyptic tale, Time of the Wolf (2003), the visually spectacular black-and-white movie, The White Ribbon (2009), and even the intensely disturbing 1997 feature, Funny Games, and its 2007 American remake, which he also helmed.

Haneke's 2001 psychological thriller, The Piano Teacher, which is based on a 1983 novel by Elfriede Jelinek, remains one of the most uncomfortable films that I have ever seen in my life, although my only other viewing was over a decade ago, and it is a striking representation of the director's talent for creating the cinematic equivalent of a roadkill from which a passerby cannot avert his or her eyes. This is not a viscerally graphic movie, save for one early moment of videotape footage in a private room of an adult shop, but the sheer escalating unpleasantness of character interactions yields a more repulsed reception. There is one act of malice in this film during a music rehearsal where no overt violence is shown on the screen, but its aftertaste lingers in my psyche long after bloody images from countless zombie movies and slasher films have passed from memory. Haneke's coldly effective approach pulls us through the fold by way of long static camera shots that proceed without the flourishes of music score manipulation or flashy cinematography to buffer us from what we are seeing.

Fortunately, a spectacular beauty perseveres amidst the unpleasantness. Years ago, when I was walking out of the theater after the conclusion of Haneke's The White Ribbon, an elderly stranger who was exiting at the same time made eye contact with me, and said, “That was pure cinematic art.” The same can be said of this movie. Huppert is entrancing in one of the bravest performances that this longtime moviegoer has seen, and her two primary co-stars match her every step of the way. I am also drawn to this film's unapologetically erudite focus on the piano lessons themselves, and I wish that I had more of a natural music aptitude that might help me sense parallels between the sounds and the story that may be hidden from my attention right now.

A good movie does not necessarily have to be one that makes the viewer feel good. In fact, some of the best films that I have seen in my life are ones that make me want to curl into a fetal position in the corner of my living room for a month. The Piano Teacher is one such example, and, if you have never ventured into the world of Haneke, then it is a decently accessible entry point.

This Criterion Blu-ray excels with pitch-perfect video and audio presentations. The Haneke interview, where the director is not quite as maddeningly ambiguous as he sometimes can be, is my favorite supplement, but I also enjoyed the select-scene Huppert commentaries and the Huppert interview.

I agree 100% with everything you have written. Amazing, haunting film with a phenomenal release.

[prkchopexpress]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My Criterion Blu-ray of White Material had a freeze glitch earlier this week, preventing me from getting my full Isabelle Huppert fix during the week that I went to see Greta at the theater, so I backed up 10 yards, punted, and pulled this one from my Blu-ray stack...

[Show spoiler]Erika Kohut, an esteemed piano professor and Schubert expert played by Isabelle Huppert, exudes an emotionless countenance while educating her students at the the Vienna Conservatory and presides over lessons with unyielding strictness, never hesitating to pierce the emotions of her virtuosos-in-training with cruel barbs. Her commanding facade of exactness and meticulous professionalism, however, belies her own inner wounds. Despite the fact that she is in her late forties, she lives with her intrusively doting mother, played by Annie Girardot, in an apartment, where the two of them even sleep in the same bedroom. Her sexual repression manifests itself in discreet ways as she visits seedy areas around the city, watches hardcore pornography, engages in voyeuristic behavior, and even practices self-mutilation.

Walter, a young engineering student and talented pianist played by Benoît Magimel, enters the scene, refusing to be intimidated by the older teacher's icy manner. When this handsome student begins to show an uncanny romantic interest in her, Erika's self-assured exterior begins to unravel into displays of sadomasochism and sociopathy.

I first became acquainted with the Austrian director, Michael Haneke, by way of his 2005 film, Caché, a Hitchcock-inspired outing with a pivotal scene that elicited the most visibly shocked reaction that I have ever seen from a theater audience. From there, I jumped headfirst into several of his other works, including the haunting post-apocalyptic tale, Time of the Wolf (2003), the visually spectacular black-and-white movie, The White Ribbon (2009), and even the intensely disturbing 1997 feature, Funny Games, and its 2007 American remake, which he also helmed.

Haneke's 2001 psychological thriller, The Piano Teacher, which is based on a 1983 novel by Elfriede Jelinek, remains one of the most uncomfortable films that I have ever seen in my life, although my only other viewing was over a decade ago, and it is a striking representation of the director's talent for creating the cinematic equivalent of a roadkill from which a passerby cannot avert his or her eyes. This is not a viscerally graphic movie, save for one early moment of videotape footage in a private room of an adult shop, but the sheer escalating unpleasantness of character interactions yields a more repulsed reception. There is one act of malice in this film during a music rehearsal where no overt violence is shown on the screen, but its aftertaste lingers in my psyche long after bloody images from countless zombie movies and slasher films have passed from memory. Haneke's coldly effective approach pulls us through the fold by way of long static camera shots that proceed without the flourishes of music score manipulation or flashy cinematography to buffer us from what we are seeing.

Fortunately, a spectacular beauty perseveres amidst the unpleasantness. Years ago, when I was walking out of the theater after the conclusion of Haneke's The White Ribbon, an elderly stranger who was exiting at the same time made eye contact with me, and said, “That was pure cinematic art.” The same can be said of this movie. Huppert is entrancing in one of the bravest performances that this longtime moviegoer has seen, and her two primary co-stars match her every step of the way. I am also drawn to this film's unapologetically erudite focus on the piano lessons themselves, and I wish that I had more of a natural music aptitude that might help me sense parallels between the sounds and the story that may be hidden from my attention right now.

A good movie does not necessarily have to be one that makes the viewer feel good. In fact, some of the best films that I have seen in my life are ones that make me want to curl into a fetal position in the corner of my living room for a month. The Piano Teacher is one such example, and, if you have never ventured into the world of Haneke, then it is a decently accessible entry point.

This Criterion Blu-ray excels with pitch-perfect video and audio presentations. The Haneke interview, where the director is not quite as maddeningly ambiguous as he sometimes can be, is my favorite supplement, but I also enjoyed the select-scene Huppert commentaries and the Huppert interview.

it blows my mind that not only did she not get an oscar for this, but that she somehow didn't even get a nomination. this is a fantastic movie and everyone should watch this.

also, wish la ceremonie and the story of women would come out on blu. they were on filmstruck a couple years ago... is it a rights issues preventing a physical release?

[derpsnerf]

I picked up Eyes Without a Face, 12 Angry Men and Night of the Hunter. Night of the Hunter is a blind buy for me. Really looking forward to that one. Have only heard good things.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My Criterion Blu-ray of White Material had a freeze glitch earlier this week, preventing me from getting my full Isabelle Huppert fix during the week that I went to see Greta at the theater, so I backed up 10 yards, punted, and pulled this one from my Blu-ray stack...

Awesome review of The Piano Teacher.

I literally just got home 20 minutes ago from the theater where I JUST SAW Greta on the big screen. I gotta say, after reading all the mixed reviews, I almost didn't want to go, but I'm glad I did, because I was treated to a world class director named Neil Jordan (famous for The Crying Game, Mona Lisa, Interview with the Vampire, Michael Collins, The Good Thief, etc.). Though I wouldn't say Greta was up there with those aforementioned films, it did a good job of hearkening back to the 1990s with those psychological suspense thrillers, despite the formulaic plot. Did you find yourself entertained with this movie too? I liked it, it kept me wondering how the ending would turn out, and its always great seeing the wonderful Stephen Rea (one of my favorite actors) in a new film. Isabelle Huppert was mesmerizing though (and ridiculously psychotic) in her Greta character.

Greta definitely reminded me of a Roman Polanski film though!