The Criterion Collection

[hustlermane]

Related to that ^ and also as the Dassin films have been talked about here recently, just watched Brute Force. What a great film! Aside from the corny public service final shot lol. The only other Dassin films I'd seen were The Naked City and Night and the City, and I didn't love either, but they were solid. But this was a notch above. Lancaster is my favourite actor ever and is great but Hume Cronyn's villain is marvellous. What a cool title in the CC. And the transfer is pretty top notch already (not that I'd turn down an upgrade).

[sycro]

Any word on the flash sale? Will it be before or after Blue Is The Warmest Color release?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by kuro_sawa

I think my feelings and possibly projections on this film have a lot to do with the scene where the man has to go out and tell the jokers to buzz off for his wife. I see humanity and soul all over this film but it is truly drenched in coldness and I love that about it. It strips all the events down completely. I think that the word nihilism has a connotation that there is no empathy at all or not a care in the world. To me, and in my opinion the film exemplifies this, it is just a certain understanding of things, and does not mean you are malicious or feel for nothing etc. The film shows the same plights as a "normal" citizen of the time but obviously these people are way less "fun". That scene is crucial; wish I were better with words.

Isn't the woman his daughter and not his wife? I guess its not clearly explained. There is a huge amount of "coldness" in the movie indeed, but wow, that is an absolute understatement. I can't even find the word to describe just how "cold" The Turin Horse is! By the way, as cold as the movie is, I think it could have fit in nicely in the Criterion Collection. But anyway, it was a solid release overall. Back on the movie though.... As little as anything happened in the story, and as monotonous and repetitive as it was, I still was very engaged watching this film. It's quite miraculous how so little happens and yet its so damn realistic. It was like watching real people going about their everyday, miserable lives. I mean, is that all people could eat every day? Potatoes? Was this the reality for people hundreds of years ago? And did people not talk so much back then? I felt like I was watching a documentary shot in Russia in the 19th century. That's the best description I could give. I feel like this was all palpable! There indeed was no such thing as "fun". My god, I would see such a lifestyle as a real nightmare actually. No conversations, no laughter, no creativity, no friends, little to no food, little to no books, no family, no civilization, no life, no purpose! Honestly, there really are no words to describe this film.

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by hustlermane

Related to that ^ and also as the Dassin films have been talked about here recently, just watched Brute Force. What a great film! Aside from the corny public service final shot lol. The only other Dassin films I'd seen were The Naked City and Night and the City, and I didn't love either, but they were solid. But this was a notch above. Lancaster is my favourite actor ever and is great but Hume Cronyn's villain is marvellous. What a cool title in the CC. And the transfer is pretty top notch already (not that I'd turn down an upgrade).

Another Burt Lancaster fan . I completely agree with you on the Dassin films you mentioned above. Hopefully, you will get to check out Rififi soon. Also, it would make a great double feature with another Dassin heist film, Topkapi. I don't know if Topkapi has been mentioned on this forum before, but it would be a good Criterion title.

Slightly off topic: I'm glad that The Swimmer will be released on blu soon. One of the many multi-layered performances by Lancaster. Lancaster's films with Kirk Douglas are favorites of mine. Apparently they made 7 films together, but I have only seen Seven Days in May and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. I think that Lancaster and Douglas might be the two most dynamic actors ever.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by sycro

Any word on the flash sale? Will it be before or after Blue Is The Warmest Color release?

Blue is the warmest color is already available to purchase on their official site, but if the sale happens it probably will be until next Tuesday like most of the previous ones.

[Quinni]

How long do flash sales usually last? A day or so?

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by Quinni

How long do flash sales usually last? A day or so?

24 hours but once a title goes on back order it's no longer part of the sale. Usually happens with new releases within the first five-seven hours or so possibly sooner (you never know).

[funtom]

What's the next time for a 50% Criterion sale? The last was in november...

[mdonovan]

Originally Posted by funtom

What's the next time for a 50% Criterion sale? The last was in november...

Usually the summer .. May or June

[hustlermane]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Another Burt Lancaster fan . I completely agree with you on the Dassin films you mentioned above. Hopefully, you will get to check out Rififi soon. Also, it would make a great double feature with another Dassin heist film, Topkapi. I don't know if Topkapi has been mentioned on this forum before, but it would be a good Criterion title.

Slightly off topic: I'm glad that The Swimmer will be released on blu soon. One of the many multi-layered performances by Lancaster. Lancaster's films with Kirk Douglas are favorites of mine. Apparently they made 7 films together, but I have only seen Seven Days in May and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. I think that Lancaster and Douglas might be the two most dynamic actors ever.

Hi five! Honestly, it's looking very likely that The Swimmer will be my release of the year for 2014. Unless somehow the 4k transfer is botched in some way, this for me is the must-have package. One of my absolute favourite film and as you say, incredible performance by Lancaster, perhaps second only to The Leopard. I've seen some 15 films with Lancaster or so, but strangely never one with Douglas, should rectify that.

I have the Arrow blu of Rififi so I'll get on that soon, promise.

[funtom]

Originally Posted by mdonovan

Usually the summer .. May or June

That's too bad.... But I rather buy them at that time, when without the 50 % discount as the international shipping costs would make the normal priced discs to expensive. So waiting for the sale then....

[Carletty]

Originally Posted by funtom

That's too bad.... But I rather buy them at that time, when without the 50 % discount as the international shipping costs would make the normal priced discs to expensive. So waiting for the sale then....

Most Criterions are available on Amazon for $25, or even cheaper from 3rd party sellers or ebay. I wouldn't limit myself to the B&N sales alone - why wait for a couple of months when you only save a few bucks? Dollar goes up again too...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

I just watched this a couple of days ago. It's a dark comedy, not a "laugh out loud" comedy. Though I felt there were some almost slapstick like moments in it.

Obviously it treaded on some more serious ground as well. However I wouldn't call it a straight up drama either, nor was it a war film. It doesn't really fit into any one genre. I really enjoyed it though.

It's what's referred to in television terms today as a "dramedy".

[mdonovan]

Originally Posted by MasturB

Life aquatic !!

another WA flick taking up a slot ...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Isn't the woman his daughter and not his wife? I guess its not clearly explained.

Seemed fairly clear to me that she was his daughter. They were sleeping in different beds, for one.

It was like watching real people going about their everyday, miserable lives. I mean, is that all people could eat every day? Potatoes? Was this the reality for people hundreds of years ago?

Undoubtedly it was for people who were just getting by. You'd think they would at least try to come up with some variations on how to prepare them instead of just boiling, peeling, and eating them day after day.

There indeed was no such thing as "fun". My god, I would see such a lifestyle as a real nightmare actually. No conversations, no laughter, no creativity, no friends, little to no food, little to no books, no family, no civilization, no life, no purpose! Honestly, there really are no words to describe this film.

Well, there was the one friend. Or neighbor, at least. That was actually my favorite bit in the film, where the neighbor goes on this long, seemingly endless rant about acquisition and degradation. And when he finally finishes, the old man says, "What complete rubbish!", the neighbor smiles, and takes his leave.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by mdonovan

Usually the summer .. May or June

July, actually. July and November are when the two sales are scheduled. Seems to me that they should have at least one more, round about April, so people can spend their tax refunds.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by mdonovan

another WA flick taking up a slot ...

Sheesh. Let it go, already.

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Seemed fairly clear to me that she was his daughter. They were sleeping in different beds, for one.



Undoubtedly it was for people who were just getting by. You'd think they would at least try to come up with some variations on how to prepare them instead of just boiling, peeling, and eating them day after day.



Well, there was the one friend. Or neighbor, at least. That was actually my favorite bit in the film, where the neighbor goes on this long, seemingly endless rant about acquisition and degradation. And when he finally finishes, the old man says, "What complete rubbish!", the neighbor smiles, and takes his leave.

Yes I was mistaken, although that aspect doesn't matter much to me, this would've unfolded the same way I think. I like that these people don't give a damn about seasoning their potatoes. They are incredibly habitual. And he has "manners" and waits to tell the man he's full of it. I mean, going into this reading about how devoid of anything these lives are I would expect him to shoot the others and take their horses right off the bat. But there is something more to this

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

sheesh. Let it go, already.

+1

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Another Burt Lancaster fan . I completely agree with you on the Dassin films you mentioned above. Hopefully, you will get to check out Rififi soon. Also, it would make a great double feature with another Dassin heist film, Topkapi. I don't know if Topkapi has been mentioned on this forum before, but it would be a good Criterion title.

Slightly off topic: I'm glad that The Swimmer will be released on blu soon. One of the many multi-layered performances by Lancaster. Lancaster's films with Kirk Douglas are favorites of mine. Apparently they made 7 films together, but I have only seen Seven Days in May and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. I think that Lancaster and Douglas might be the two most dynamic actors ever.

Check out "I Walk Alone" if you can. It's not, to my knowledge, available on DVD or Blu, but some of the streaming sites (Amazon and TCM) have had it. Lancaster, Douglas, noir. It's not classic noir like "Brute Force" or "The Killers" but it has its moments. Oh, and Lizabeth Scott.