The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I know



I always liked Tom Cruise. Sure, he's not the best actor, but he really surprised me with Eyes Wide Shut.

I really liked the whole plot of the film. His wife tells him that she contemplated having an affair once in the past, he loses his mind - literally. From that point on, he goes onto a sexual odyssey leading him to some of the weirdest places ever.

Look no further than Magnolia (a personal favorite, if not THE favorite) and Born on the Fourth of July to witness a powerhouse Cruise performance.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Oh, not a problem. My first was Elevator to the Gallows.

Elevator to the Gallows for the win, as far as Louis Malle films in my collection go.

Others in order of preference...

Au Revoir Les Enfants
The Fire Within
The Lovers

Black Moon is...interesting. It's a good movie to play late night when you are hosting a party, but are ready for the guests to leave and go home, and do not blatantly want to tell them outright to leave. Throw that movie in the player, and guests will start steadily clearing out.
I like the movie in an offbeat way. Sort of like when you want to revisit a film just to marvel that there actually are people in the world that think like Malle does.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

Le Samourai
Le Cercle Rouge
Le Doulos
Army of Shadows
Bob Le Flambeur
Leon Morin, Priest
Le Deuxième Souffle
Un Flic
Le Silence de la Mer
Les Enfants terribles

Thanks for posting your list, zootv. I am starting to see a consensus with Le Samourai being the favorite and Les Enfants Terrible being the least. It is also great to see Le Cercle Rouge in the top three.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Yeah, there are quite a lot of sacred cow movies that I haven't responded well to at all.

I'll sprinkle them in here and there so that I don't get lynched. (Can't stand David Lynch)

That's a great topic for a thread...no never mind there's gonna be a lot of people saying "______ (Godfather, Citizen Kane, L'Avventura, Breathless, etc.) was boring." I hate how people feel the need to bash something without backing it up.

I don't have my reading glasses, what was that last bit. Oh well, I guess I'll never know, so no need to get defensive

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

They will. We're definitely getting a Ray title this year and it may not be Apu, but the trilogy is coming.

Great news, thank you. My interest in him was sparked by The Music Room. I knew about him 10 years ago but never got around in viewing his films until criterion's blu ray release.

[Abdrewes]

Just for fun: Melville ranked (from masterpiece to excellent)

Le Samorai
Bob Le Flambour
Le Cercle Rouge
Leon Morin Priest
Army Of Shadows

I can't wait to check out more of his films. Maybe Olive or Cohen can release a couple.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Oh, not a problem. My first was Elevator to the Gallows.

One of the top three greatest film scores ever by the protean genius Miles Davis.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

That's a great topic for a thread...no never mind there's gonna be a lot of people saying "______ (Godfather, Citizen Kane, L'Avventura, Breathless, etc.) was boring." I hate how people feel the need to bash something without backing it up.

I don't have my reading glasses, what was that last bit. Oh well, I guess I'll never know, so no need to get defensive

I never get why people are so defensive of someone not enjoying a thing they enjoy. There are plenty of movies I like that were received badly and that people badmouth - It doesn't matter to me. (which is not to say we shouldn't discuss things, I just don't get why people take it personally)

On the other hand, I am a bit of a smartass and usually can't resist a good 'snap.'

Frankly, the thread would be pretty boring if we all agreed.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Great news, thank you. My interest in him was sparked by The Music Room. I knew about him 10 years ago but never got around in viewing his films until criterion's blu ray release.

Thank you! The Music Room deserves to be in the same sentence as Citizen Kane.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Look no further than Magnolia (a personal favorite, if not THE favorite) and Born on the Fourth of July to witness a powerhouse Cruise performance.

Being the 1980s kid that I am, I have always been a staunch defender of Tom Cruise. When one watches his earliest films (Risky Business, The Outsiders, All the Right Moves, etc.), it's apparent that he always had an undeniable charisma. I love Top Gun without shame or irony, and it was a pleasure to revisit on Blu-ray recently. I even like the throwaway 1980s Cruise films, like Cocktail.

Tom Cruise has a knack for playing a cocky character who is forced by circumstances to mature and step up to the plate for a challenge, but he has successfully pushed the envelope a few times.

I consider War of the Worlds to be one of Steven Spielberg's most underrated films, since the image of the alien tripods laying waste to the countryside fit my mental images that I had when reading the novel during childhood. Cruise played the cocky-brat-who-matures role there, but he played it well for the demands of the story.

I saw Oblivion earlier today, and was happy with Cruise's work in that film. He hit the right notes for the demands of the movie, and I loved his wandering a during the film's first hour.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Thank you. He's one of those actors who, for whatever reason(s), seems to get overlooked when people name great actors from that era. Shadow of a Doubt and Portrait of Jennie are other films of his I particularly like.

Yes! I love Joseph Cotton in Shadow of a Doubt!
This scene is pretty famous and he completely sells the menace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEoTXa_52A0

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I never get why people are so defensive of someone not enjoying a thing they enjoy. There are plenty of movies I like that were received badly and that people badmouth - It doesn't matter to me. (which is not to say we shouldn't discuss things, I just don't get why people take it personally)

On the other hand, I am a bit of a smartass and usually can't resist a good 'snap.'

Frankly, the thread would be pretty boring if we all agreed.

I agree, but I also agree with Abdrewes by stating why you dislike the movie or the director. It brings more to the discussion.

[octagon]

Things are moving fast today

Melville
Bob Le Flambeur
Leon Morin, Priest
Le Samourai
Le Silence de la Mer
Army of Shadows
Le Cercle Rouge

Haven't seen Le Doulos, Le Deuxième Souffle, Un Flic or Les Enfants terribles yet.

Kubrick
Paths of Glory
Dr Strangelove
The Killing
Lolita
Full Metal Jacket
2001
A Clockwork Orange
Barry Lyndon
Eyes Wide Shut
The Shining
Killer's Kiss

Own but haven't yet watched Fear and Desire, haven't seen Spartacus in decades and even then I don't think I ever sat down and watched it from start to finish.

Joseph Cotton
Love the guy. Add me to the Shadow of a Doubt chorus and I'm always absolutely delighted when I stumble across one of his tv appearances (I really wish he could have done a Columbo and the fact that he was in the stage play Prescription: Murder is almost maddening...so close etc etc)

Elevator to the Gallows
Yes please. Day One. Gimme. +1

Eyes Wide Shut
I walked out of the theater really not liking this and it took a few more tries before I kind of made my peace with it. I originally thought the story was a mess and the casting/performances were really strong but over the years I've come to realize that was exactly backwards. Cruise and Kidman were just too pretty to sell the insecurity that was at the heart of everything and I don't think either of them ever really tried.

[Scottie]

I think we should do something fun each week Criterion related.

For example, we have a "Criterion" of the week or something and each member should make it a priority to watch and post their thoughts

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I think we should all do something fun each week Criterion related.

For example, we have a "Criterion" of the week or something and each member should make it a priority to watch

I'd be fun to have a film club. It couldn't be new releases if you want the rest of the world to participate. And really you'd probably want to try and announce the line-up fairly well in advance for folks who might want to pick up a copy to join in...

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I'd be fun to have a film club. It couldn't be new releases if you want the rest of the world to participate. And really you'd probably want to try and announce the line-up fairly well in advance for folks who might want to pick up a copy to join in...

And it would be nice to tie the film in with historical events from that time and / or the theatrical release.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by iScottie

And it would be nice to tie the film in with historical events from that time and / or the theatrical release.

Had a film club on another forum I'm a member on and it went great until people started picking obscure titles and it became hard work, so people dropped out.

At least in this group, and if you stuck to Criterion titles, you'd probably have a reasonable percentage of owners of each film among the group.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Had a film club on another forum I'm a member on and it went great until people started picking obscure titles and it became hard work, so people dropped out.

At least in this group, and if you stuck to Criterion titles, you'd probably have a reasonable percentage of owners of each film among the group.

And it would give people like me an incentive to watch my unseen films.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I'd be fun to have a film club. It couldn't be new releases if you want the rest of the world to participate. And really you'd probably want to try and announce the line-up fairly well in advance for folks who might want to pick up a copy to join in...

You should start one. The only catch: "Who picks the film?" It would be cool if there's a set rotation.
(I think it's obvious which CC I'd pick)

I'm in!

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

You should start one. The only catch: "Who picks the film?" It would be cool if there's a set rotation.

I'm in!

The way it worked on the other forum was participants all put their name in, and then they were drawn randomly. Each member got to pick a film, and they were watched in that order.

I have to admit, though, I avoid movies that involve rape, so I would likely skip certain films if they were the ones assigned.