The Criterion Collection

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

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

[Show spoiler]
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...

That’s a beauty. Definitely one I’ve been waiting for too. That scene alone sells the movie.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

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

I would love to see David Lynch in there, smoking and swearing up a storm and grabbing everything.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Very, and 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 that's something, and just recently, God.

Wild.

Originally Posted by BenOswald

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.

Both work in genres that major award institutions, and because of that certain film aficionados, don’t usually take seriously. We are biased towards believing serious, somber, dramatic films are true art and don’t take weird, bonkers, comedic, etc. films seriously.

That is why I enjoy labels like Criterion. They have a great mix of all kinds of different genres of film under one label.

[DukeTogo84]

Really enjoyed the Willem Dafoe closet picks video. He seems to genuinely be one of the "good" ones out of Hollywood.

Pretty cool that he he picked two Japanese films, Onibaba and Gate of Flesh. Maybe Criterion will finally upgrade Gate of Flesh now that we know Mr. Dafoe loves it. Probably not, but either way, great video.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Really enjoyed the Willem Dafoe closet picks video. He seems to genuinely be one of the "good" ones out of Hollywood.

Yeah, haven't heard anything sleazy or high-handed about him...thus far. Also, he generally seems to have fun with whatever project he is working on, and doesn't just do projects of a certain scale (I can't imagine he made a lot of dough over The Florida Project). And for a 68 year old, he's seems to be in fine fiddle.

[Taylor3978]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Willem Dafoe’s Closet Picks - YouTube

"He's a little bit more than a man....or is he? Heh, heh."

This guy is Max Schreck.

[spacekitty]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I would love to see David Lynch in there, smoking and swearing up a storm and grabbing everything.

Oh cmon, they wouldn't allow him to smoke in there. A cup of coffee maybe.

[pikwik]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Really enjoyed the Willem Dafoe closet picks video. He seems to genuinely be one of the "good" ones out of Hollywood.

Agreed; like you could imagine him being Willem 'Dafriend'.

[Jaymole]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Willem Dafoe’s Closet Picks - YouTube

I love Dafoe!

I managed a video store years ago which was one block away from where he lives in Soho. He use to come in frequently but it was always to rent children's videos for his kids so it was nice to see his taste in films in this video.

And as you can tell from the video, he is a really nice & cool guy.

[MifuneFan]

Dafoe is one of the greatest actors of our time. He rarely is the star, but adds so much to the films he's in. For a film where he is the lead, I recommend seeing him in At Eternity's Gate (2018), where he portrays Vincent Van Gogh. Julian Schnabel's style may not be for everyone, and it's a tragic/somber kind of film, but it's beautifully shot, and Dafoe is perfect for the role.

AT ETERNITY'S GATE - Official Trailer - HD (Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, Mads Mikkelsen) - YouTube

[RCRochester]

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.

And what's wrong with just going to Google for context? It's what I do if I don't know who the person is.

The purpose of the Criterion Closet videos are just a fun bit of promotion by having a celebrity come in, pick out a few titles, offer a few comments or personal insights and that's it. Their choices aren't really meant to be significant.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

And what's wrong with just going to Google for context? It's what I do if I don't know who the person is.

The purpose of the Criterion Closet videos are just a fun bit of promotion by having a celebrity come in, pick out a few titles, offer a few comments or personal insights and that's it. Their choices aren't really meant to be significant.

Well, that's a personal quirk of mine as I try to avoid having to rely on Google for everything. It's turning our brains to mush, but that's a different debate altogether. So to answer your question, I guess there's nothing wrong with it, but since I watch the videos on the YT TV app and don't always have access to the internet when doing so as I am not on my phone 24/7, it's not always convenient to just Google who somebody is.

I agree that the closet videos are not significant in and of themselves, which is why I thought the entire discussion of it in this space yesterday was ridiculous, for which I bear some responsibility. But really all I did was make a simple comment about finally recognizing one of the participants in the promotion and because it had a negative connotation aimed at Criterion, it turned into a project among the label sycophants, which is always the way that goes. Since I don't want to put folks on Ignore, the best plan is probably for me to just simply not participate on this thread anymore unless it's to endlessly praise or excuse Criterion on every level.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by spacekitty

Oh cmon, they wouldn't allow him to smoke in there. A cup of coffee maybe.

I have a feeling Lynch wouldn't give a shit whether they "allowed" him to smoke in there or not and would just do it regardless.

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Well, that's a personal quirk of mine as I try to avoid having to rely on Google for everything.

Google isn't the only search engine.

[dwk]

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. Terry Gilliam took the Bergman set. I think Cate Blanchett also grabbed the Bergman set.

Todd Field took the Fellini set.

Jason Schwartzman took the Pasolini set.

I know someone has taken the Varda set, but I can't remember who.

[traths]

Originally Posted by Cecil B. DeMille

I would like to see any of the following in 2024 from Criterion:

• Scorsese's New York, New York (1977): I would love to see this receive a new scan (perhaps a UHD?) and get the deluxe Criterion treatment similar to the other Criterion Scorsese releases.
• Scorsese's early films that are still unreleased (Who's That Knocking at My Door?, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore) - and Boxcar Bertha also needs a new scan.
• Scorsese's Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
  
• UHD releases of Hitchcock's Selznick International films (Rebecca, Notorious, Spellbound)
• UHD releases of Hitchcock's Warner films (WAC won't do UHDs)
• Proper HD releases of Hitchcock's unreleased (in the US) British films

Yes to those.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Google isn't the only search engine.

Duh. But it's used more than any other and the point wasn't so much to criticize Google, but the internet with its instant answers and our dependence on it.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Really enjoyed the Willem Dafoe closet picks video. He seems to genuinely be one of the "good" ones out of Hollywood.

Pretty cool that he he picked two Japanese films, Onibaba and Gate of Flesh. Maybe Criterion will finally upgrade Gate of Flesh now that we know Mr. Dafoe loves it. Probably not, but either way, great video.

I think he's pretty humble as well and appreciates what he has been able to do in life, which is usually a good indicator of an overall solid person. Too many entitled celebs out there who haven't even earned their place in the spotlight, let alone exploiting it for personal gain.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Duh. But it's used more than any other and the point wasn't so much to criticize Google, but the internet with its instant answers and our dependence on it.

Kind of an odd stance to take. For all the shit that the internet rains upon modern society, its one major benefit is that is has a wealth of information at hand, often from a variety of sources so it can be verified and cross-referenced.

But what makes it particularly illogical in this instance, is that it started because you were suggesting there should be a blurb preceding some videos that have been posted to the internet providing you with an instant answer as to who the person in said videos are and what they are famous for.

[Basic Judy]

I think some of us are just confused since it's obvious you have knowledge and experience, but then you make these choices and complain about issues that are either incorrect or solvable.

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

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.

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Well, that's a personal quirk of mine as I try to avoid having to rely on Google for everything.

Google owns YouTube, so using a Google search can be even more helpful.

The Closet videos already include the info you say you want, but isn't there:
Screenshot 2024-01-11 at 2.37.33 PM.jpg

I also use the YT app from time to time on Apple TV and I think there's a spot to access the description using your remote.

You say you want these details, which are actually already provided, but then say you prefer not to look them up either. That was confusing too.