The Criterion Collection

[pikwik]

Got these for ~ $21.81 each on Amazon, which seemed like a good deal to me. "Tokyo Story" and "My Life As A Dog" are blind buys but I've heard good things about them.

**

[bsend]

Tokyo Story was engrossing just watching generational differences and how relationship priorities change over time.

[cheez avenger]

Willem Dafoe’s Closet Picks - YouTube

[MifuneFan]

That was fun. Him getting the rights to, and planning a remake of Onibaba at one point is pretty wild.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Willem Dafoe’s Closet Picks - YouTube

At least it's an artist I recognize. I have to admit that at times I have no idea who the person is that's in the closet or why I should care about what movies they are choosing.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by bsend

Tokyo Story was engrossing just watching generational differences and how relationship priorities change over time.

Beautiful, but so powerfully sad too.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

At least it's an artist I recognize. I have to admit that at times I have no idea who the person is that's in the closet or why I should care about what movies they are choosing.

Some say the same exact thing about films they've never heard of too. I've made some really great discoveries inquiring about films I'd never heard of before. Just yesterday I watched a film called The Strange Mister Victor (1938), a film I'd never heard of a week ago, but it was great, and I now want to explore more of that director's (Jean Grémillon) films. You can certainly approach the people that visit the closet in the same way if you wanted to. I know I have, and that's also led me down paths to watching their work.

[llj]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

At least it's an artist I recognize. I have to admit that at times I have no idea who the person is that's in the closet or why I should care about what movies they are choosing.

I usually know about half of the people they invite to the closet. Usually it's the fresh new faces who are the ones I'm unfamiliar with at first. They get a lot of people who may have just started out recently, or only have a few films under their belts.

Still think the weirdest guest they've had is Hideo Kojima though

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Orson Welles famously said the movie "could make a stoned cry".

Is it sad?

...because I don't like to watch sad movies when I'm in an altered state.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Some say the same exact thing about films they've never heard of too. I've made some really great discoveries inquiring about films I'd never heard of before. Just yesterday I watched a film called The Strange Mister Victor (1938), a film I'd never heard of a week ago, but it was great, and I now want to explore more of that director's (Jean Grémillon) films. You can certainly approach the people that visit the closet in the same way if you wanted to. I know I have, and that's also led me down paths to watching their work.

No, I have never said the same about a movie, any movie, nor would I. There are far too many films I am unaware of to ever make that statement about. I think it's different than saying the same about a person whose film choices we are supposed to understand and appreciate or find worthy of recommendation. I see nothing wrong with Criterion identifying the closet person with a capsule summary before the video or just a label such as "Director" or "Writer" or "Editor" or "Composer." That at least would contribute to the significance of their choices and would certainly increase my interest and investment than having to go to Google for context.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Is it sad?

...because I don't like to watch sad movies when I'm in an altered state.

If you're talking about MADE FOR EACH OTHER or TOKYO STORY, which are both related in a way, they are each profoundly sad, so I do not recommend them as stoner movies if such things trip you up while under the influence.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

No, I have never said the same about a movie, any movie, nor would I. There are far too many films I am unaware of to ever make that statement about. I think it's different than saying the same about a person whose film choices we are supposed to understand and appreciate or find worthy of recommendation. I see nothing wrong with Criterion identifying the closet person with a capsule summary before the video or just a label such as "Director" or "Writer" or "Editor" or "Composer." That at least would contribute to the significance of their choices and would certainly increase my interest and investment than having to go to Google for context.

I don't see how it's all that different. Didn't you praise the Hideo Kojima video as being one of the best in a long time? What if I'd never heard of him? A video game person talking about movies? Why should I care?? Every video has a description, both on YT, and on their social media, which mentions who that person is, and what they may be known for, or promoting. For instance, Hari Nef, who recently did a closet vid, has this for their description:

"The actor, whose work includes BARBIE and BAD THINGS, praises Luis Buñuel’s thorny explorations of desire, shares her Powell and Pressburger favorites, and shouts out the visionary costume and production design of Eiko Ishioka."

Personally, I don't think you really have to know a thing about a person to appreciate what they say about a film, or references they provide. For instance, I'm not too familiar with Udo Kier's body of work, but his video was great, and had some wonderful anecdotes about his career, and now I want to watch some of his films.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I don't see how it's all that different. Didn't you praise the Hideo Kojima video as being one of the best in a long time? What if I'd never heard of him? A video game person talking about movies? Why should I care?? Every video has a description, both on YT, and on their social media, which mentions who that person is, and what they may be known for, or promoting. For instance, Hari Nef, who recently did a closet vid, has this for their description:

Personally, I don't think you really have to know a thing about a person to appreciate what they say about a film, or references they provide. For instance, I'm not too familiar with Udo Kier's body of work, but his video was great, and had some wonderful anecdotes about his career, and now I want to watch some of his films.

Since I watch most of my YT videos on the TV App, I don't get a lot of the descriptions upfront so many of the closet videos are just instant clicks for me without any context at all.

I do think if someone is elevated to a position of sharing knowledge on a subject that bestows upon them some level(s) of reputable or experiential knowledge, it may make their part of the discussion even more impactful and substantial and should be disclosed prior to it. Otherwise, why would Criteriion even produce these videos? Are you saying they could put a street taco vendor in the closet and it still wouldn't matter whether you knew or not as long as they were recommending titles with Criterion's blessing?

Since you and I never seem to agree about anything anymore, particularly anytime I dare to criticize Criterion for anything at all, I must once again say we should agree to disagree. Your relationship to this label bewilders me as you appear to take any negative statement toward them to heart as though someone was insulting your significant other or family. I mean, they are a good label and all and produce a nice product, but your immense loyalty to them never ceases to mystify me. I don't think I've ever liked ANY company so indiscriminately.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Since I watch most of my YT videos on the TV App, I don't get a lot of the descriptions upfront so many of the closet videos are just instant clicks for me without any context at all.

I do think if someone is elevated to a position of sharing knowledge on a subject that bestows upon them some level(s) of reputable or experiential knowledge, it may make their part of the discussion even more impactful and substantial and should be disclosed prior to it. Otherwise, why would Criteriion even produce these videos? Are you saying they could put a street taco vendor in the closet and it still wouldn't matter whether you knew or not as long as they were recommending titles with Criterion's blessing?

Since you and I never seem to agree about anything anymore, particularly anytime I dare to criticize Criterion for anything at all, I must once again say we should agree to disagree. Your relationship to this label bewilders me as you appear to take any negative statement toward them to heart as though someone was insulting your significant other or family. I mean, they are a good label and all and produce a nice product, but your immense loyalty to them never ceases to mystify me. I don't think I've ever liked ANY company so indiscriminately.

You seem to be reading a bit too much into these videos. Words like elevated, and bestowed have no place here. A lot of the times, people are simply in the closet as part of their press tour. Dan Levy was there as part of the promotion for his new Netflix film Good Grief for instance.

I also get the impression that you give more emphasis and weight to people that you recognize, rather than the content itself. You could have a completely famous individual who has horrible taste and insight into film, while at the same time have someone who's a complete unknown (to most) and give absolutely great recommendations, and anecdotes.

And yes, if that taco vendor gave great insight, and had amazing knowledge about film, then I'd appreciate his thoughts, and may explorer his picks further. Why would I discriminate against them simply based on their profession? On the other hand, if Scorsese came in the closet, and waxed and waned about Jellyfish Eyes, and Tiny Furniture, does that mean they're masterpieces that we all need to buy immediately?

I'll give an example in the middle of that. I am familiar with Patton Oswalt as a comedian and actor. Not knowing anything beyond that, would I expect him to give any substantial commentary on films in the closet? Not really. Yet, because of his recent closet video, I learned he is a huge film buff, and can probably run circles around most of us with his knowledge.

I don't think I'm saying anything out of left field here. I'm just trying to get people to keep an open mind, and not be so quick to dismiss one's opinion because you don't know who they are.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I also get the impression that you give more emphasis and weight to people that you recognize, rather than the content itself. You could have a completely famous individual who has horrible taste and insight into film, while at the same time have someone who's a complete unknown (to most) and give absolutely great recommendations, and anecdotes.

I don't think I'm saying anything out of left field here. I'm just trying to get people to keep an open mind, and not be so quick to dismiss one's opinion because you don't know who they are.

Wait a minute, I did not do that. This all started because I said at least I recognized who Willem Dafoe was compared to some people Criterion film in the closet videos. If you read that as me giving more weight to his opinion over anyone else's, that's your interpretation because it's not what I meant. In fact, I've often posted in discussions about commentaries how I prefer to hear from critics and historians and academics over the creative people involved in the productions and cite Dafoe himself on the commentary for THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST saying, "Why should anyone care what I have to say, I'm just an actor." Which I totally agreed with and can apply the same to this particular closet visit from him. My point had more to do with Criterion putting people upfront in these closet videos as if they ARE someone whose views should be regarded in elevated terms. That is the impression of those videos that Criterion themselves have fostered all these years so it's not just me applying the philosophy to them, Criterion is leading with that by virtue of posting these videos in the first place.

To be honest, without knowing who many of these folks are, there is no way I could prize their opinion above anyone else's and that's not what I'm necessarily seeking to do anyway. But I don't think it's wrong to request some context as to why Criterion themselves feels this person deserves to be filmed and shared with the world. Dafoe's choices are not anymore valued than anyone else's to me, but at least I know him and understand the context of where he's coming from. That helps in as much as offering me a head start. Unfortunately, the videos themselves are so short in duration that nobody really gets a chance to explain their picks with any substance attached, so in that sense having some background about the chooser could help.

I rely on posters on this site all the time for recommendations and without much context, so I agree with you about the street taco vendor, but even there you said if he proved himself to be knowledgeable on the subject, why not listen to him. My point is, how would you know how knowledgeable he is just by watching one of these videos? A few second preface of him being an film expert or something like that would indeed highlight him as a potential source worth considering.

(To be honest, I actually hesitated before making the first post on this subject today, because I completely anticipated your responses to it and knew it was going to get blown out of proportion as it always does in this thread whenever I say the slightest negative thing about Criterion. So I once more say let's agree to disagree and let everyone get back to the thread and the subject about best Criterion titles to get high with).

[Professor Echo]

Speaking of the Criterion closet, do they also offer the big box sets in there? Has anyone ever seen someone take the Bergman or Zatoichi collections?

[Rzzzz]

I'm still waiting for John Waters to get back in that closet for this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc3QsZHu5SI

The first Waters film I ever saw (in 1978) and my favorite. Hopefully my wait ends this year...

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Him getting the rights to, and planning a remake of Onibaba at one point is pretty wild.

Very.

His honest and heartfelt comment that he couldn't find a way to remake the film without diminishing the original speaks volumes about who he is as an artist.

Which reminds me Defoe has never won a major award. There are no Oscars, Globes, BAFTAs or SAG awards on his shelf.

Oh well, that's entertainment.

He played Jesus, as he noted in the closet, and just recently, God, so that's something.

Wild.

[BenOswald]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I'll give an example in the middle of that. I am familiar with Patton Oswalt as a comedian and actor. Not knowing anything beyond that, would I expect him to give any substantial commentary on films in the closet? Not really. Yet, because of his recent closet video, I learned he is a huge film buff, and can probably run circles around most of us with his knowledge.

Same happened to me with Bill Hader, sure I thought was funny and kind of knew who he was, but with his closet video and featurette on Palm Beach Story, I learned to value his opinion, tastes and perspective on film.

[Axl Rose]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Speaking of the Criterion closet, do they also offer the big box sets in there? Has anyone ever seen someone take the Bergman or Zatoichi collections?

Yes. Cate Blanchett and Todd Field basically pulled a heist, Cate got the Bergman set and Todd got the Fellini set.

[Show spoiler]