The Criterion Collection

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Button up your shirt.

My shirt is fine where it's at, thanks.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bsweetness

Even the greatest actors have to take a few paycheck roles now and then I suppose.

This will be the last time that I post about this in the Criterion forum today, but I'm happy to say, without any guilt or irony, that I enjoy The Hunger Games movies. These are well-made films that effectively capture the spirit of late 1960s/early 1970s dystopian sci-fi films, like The Omega Man, Soylent Green, or Logan's Run. I actually prefer the movies to the books, because the movies eschew the heavy-handed teenage girl point-of-view for solidly engaging storytelling. Philip Seymour Hoffman was quite good in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and it's not a "phoned-in" role from him.

Originally Posted by ianungstad

The dvd of The Killers was discontinued a month or two back. I assume it's getting a dual format release at some point in the not too distant future.

If The Killers gets a Dual Format release soon, then I guess that I'm taking one for the team by ordering the DVD. It's all good. I've wasted $32 in worse ways during my life.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by bsweetness

Even the greatest actors have to take a few paycheck roles now and then I suppose.

Just because it's a massively popular book and film series doesn't automatically mean it's a paycheck role. Whether you like the films or not, Hoffman was very good in Catching Fire.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Wow ... this is the first I've heard of this. R.I.P.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

This will be the last time that I post about this in the Criterion forum today, but I'm happy to say, without any guilt or irony, that I enjoy The Hunger Games movies. These are well-made films that effectively capture the spirit of late 1960s/early 1970s dystopian sci-fi films, like The Omega Man, Soylent Green, or Logan's Run.

I'm actually right there with you, Owl. I had avoided the first one like the plague, but back last summer it was available for streaming from Netflix, and they predicted that I'd give it a good rating. I was in the mood for an sf/action film, so I said what the hell. While I didn't like it quite as much as they predicted (I gave it 3/5 -- if I recall correctly, they predicted roughly a 3.5/5), I found it surprisingly entertaining. I haven't seen Catching Fire yet, but I expect that I'll like it (hell, it got an 89% Tomatometer reading).

Regarding Hoffman films, my quirky favorite of his is Sidney Lumet's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Regarding Hoffman films, my quirky favorite of his is Sidney Lumet's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.

That's a good neo-noir flick. It's bleak, even by the standards of the genre, but it's also captivating and excellently paced. I need to watch it again soon.

[frittscs]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

That's a good neo-noir flick. It's bleak, even by the standards of the genre, but it's also captivating and excellently paced. I need to watch it again soon.

Oddly enough, PSH uses a lot of heroin in that movie. I thought it was a great performance and film. It's terrible to lose someone who has been such a fixture in the movies you love. Remember his character from The Big Lebowski? Perfect.

[Blu Titan]

Not Criterion Blu-ray related but I do recommend Raro's release of Il Generalle Della Rovere. What a wonderful Italian film . As we know the Criterion DVD went OOP a while back, and IMO Raro's release is a great addition to a serious collector's library.

[frittscs]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Not Criterion Blu-ray related but I do recommend Raro's release of Il Generalle Della Rovere. What a wonderful Italian film . As we know the Criterion DVD went OOP a while back, and IMO Raro's release is a great addition to a serious collector's library.

Looks interesting, I'm gonna check that out...

[Iamspartacus]

Anyone heard anything more on the rerelease of Night of the Hunter?

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Philip Seymour Hoffman has one of my all-time favorite movie quotes...

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we're uncool."

(from Almost Famous)

I watched this earlier today when I heard the news. It's a sad, sad day.

[Mansinthe]

went in the last few days through some french criterions and moc blurays...
... i think they are just not my thing at all...


Breathless <-- never gonna watch that one again. annoying boring movie.
Le beau serge <-- felt like it was never gonna end, but the story was at least "ok"
Les cousins <-- did fall asleep after 3/4 of the movie..
Une femme mariee <-- bored me to tears


but i liked..

Au revoir les enfants and eyes without a face was pretty good as well. and i liked La Jetée / Sans Soleil alot. (sans soleil the most of these)

at least i can resell the ones i didnt like for good money on ebay (people in the EU pay crazy prices for criterions), i still have to check out the 400 blows...

but i think for future criterion purchases im gonna stay away from the old french stuff..

looks like bergman / kurosawa (asia stuff in general) , fritz lang etc is more my thing..

[smoss469]

I can't even make myself revisit Breathless, I thought it was that bad. But I do have a few CC French releases that I really enjoyed.

A Man Escaped - Just an awesome all around movie.
Rules of the Game - A really good movie. A lot going on in this one but still enjoyable.
Army of Shadows - Just great all around. In your face, bleak and honest, really entertaining and eye opening.

There are a few more that I've picked up that I'd recommend but not as highly as the 3 above.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

Breathless <-- never gonna watch that one again. annoying boring movie.

Originally Posted by smoss469

I can't even make myself revisit Breathless, I thought it was that bad.

In early March, I will be attending a 35mm theatrical showing of Breathless, and I cannot wait.

"They see me rollin', they hatin'."

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by the great owl

in early march, i will be attending a 35mm theatrical showing of breathless, and i cannot wait.

"they see me rollin', they hatin'."

lol

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by smoss469

And the Farrow clan now looks more petty and vindictive, akin to the classiest dirt bags in society.

Thanks for the interesting read.

I read that recently Moses Farrow had reconnected with Woody and Soon-Yi and things were going well. Moses Farrow mentioned "brainwashing" in regards to Mia.

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

In early March, I will be attending a 35mm theatrical showing of Breathless, and I cannot wait.

"They see me rollin', they hatin'."

I have a question, for Godard's 35mm showings does your theater use all speakers for sound? Or do they just use the speakers by the screen.

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by 14728

I just saw that TCM is playing Tess and Babette's Feast tomorrow. I might check them out

TCM will also play Gate of Hell, The Burmese Harp, and The Battle of Algiers on Monday/Tuesday. Since TCM is celebrating the Oscars this month, quite a few Criterion titles will be featured.

Also, RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman. I will be watching The Master for the first time later this week.

[ShellOilJunior]

I need to get around to seeing Babette's Feast on blu-ray. I'm going to put it on as the first film in a double bill with Seconds.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I have a question, for Godard's 35mm showings does your theater use all speakers for sound? Or do they just use the speakers by the screen.

I'm not sure what the speaker setup will be for this showing, but the Midtown Art Cinema here in Atlanta has pretty good sound systems for all of their screens. It's an old-school movie theater without stadium seating, but they do not short-change with the sights and sounds.