The Criterion Collection

[spanky87]

Just saw Sweet Smell of Success tonight. Enjoyed it a lot. Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis were both great. The dialogue was so fast with nonstop memorable one liners. "I'd hate to take a bite outta you. You're a cookie full of arsenic."

Have to give it a re-watch sometime soon. Anything else in the Criterion Collection like this?

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Nah, that scene looks okay - I'm thinking of other scenes.
Part of me thinks I shouldn't even say anything, because once you start thinking about or looking for edge-enhancement or you notice it, it takes over your viewing experience.
Here's a couple of (minor) examples taken from blu-ray.com's review:
Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2
Screenshot 3
If you look at things like heads and shoulders it becomes quite noticeable.
I feel like a nit-picker and usually don't like this kind of complaint, but here I am doing the same thing

Okay, now I kinda...sorta...mayyyybeee...see what you're talking about Dr. But so many other aspects of those frames are solid, how could something like that possibly stand out for you? Especially in motion?

If I still notice this next time I watch Anatomy of a Murder though, you're getting a bill.

[stobbart]

I could care less about Anger or Lynch, you can like whoever you want. But you always come across as if what you watch is the best thing ever and if people have not heard of them or the movie then they are stupid. You blew a load over "People On Sunday" and harped on those that questioned your wisdom.

You don't need to jump down peoples throats because they like things that are different then your tastes. I have a feeling I could list 5 directors that are good and you will come back with a list of people that are far superior then them.

And I know how to spell Godard. That was trolling you.

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Kenneth Anger is obscure? Godard is obscure? Is Rob Zombie obscure?

Is it maybe I just don't like some things and like others?

How is saying Kenneth Anger is the most important American filmmaker trolling when I believe he is, and it isn't a stretch to believe that over a David Lynch? And when you troll someone, please spell Godard right.


Oh and if your "joking", I'm sorry, but it's very hard to pick up sarcasm on the internet, unless it is from someone that does it all the time (CCFixx).

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by stobbart

I have a feeling I could list 5 directors that are good and you will come back with a list of people that are far superior then them.

Well, that's the whole point of snobbery, isn't it?

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by stobbart

I could care less about Anger or Lynch, you can like whoever you want. But you always come across as if what you watch is the best thing ever and if people have not heard of them or the movie then they are stupid. You blew a load over "People On Sunday" and harped on those that questioned your wisdom.

You don't need to jump down peoples throats because they like things that are different then your tastes. I have a feeling I could list 5 directors that are good and you will come back with a list of people that are far superior then them.

And I know how to spell Godard. That was trolling you.

Well aren't you acting just as pompous and are essentially jumping down SB's throat now because he has a different opinion than you?

I don't always agree with SB, but Jesus Christ, if you think SB is one of the worst posters on this forum, you're sorely mistaken. There are a lot worse posters in this entire forum, let alone this thread. This whole forum, whether it's about obscure film makers, the price of a Blu-ray, how many of the damn things they own, or even a goddamn slipcover is always about one-upmanship, and people hiding behind a virtual avatar, so they can make themselves feel better about their sad lives by calling people trolls and *******s if they hate a slipcover, don't have 1000 BDs, and/or hate Salo, because they want to appear to be so much smarter and better on the internet.

Also, SB isn't the only one who "blows their load on X film, and then questions people's wisdom if they don't like it," everyone in this forum does it. Look at all those who can't believe people actually like Tiny Furniture, or Blow Out, or people who dislike Salo, or dislike anything by Kurosawa, etc. This entire thread is fill with far too many "experts" who think that they know everything about films, and often treat others like they're idiots because they don't like what they like, and those supposed uncultured idiots are thus causing the ruination of a company like Criterion by demanding crap films, and taking away from the precious experts films.


I should have known things in here were too quiet, you guys were saving up to be extra assholish once the announcements hit.

Edit: I hadn't had my coffee yet when I posted my rant. My apologies.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Cassavetes Goddard just likes to troll people with obscure filmmakers and movies. Obviously if the movies he watches have been seen by more then 10 people he stops liking them. Why do people always prod this troll?

I am sorry but what does it matter if he think Lynch is not the greatest American director of our time? After that why do people get their panties in a twist because he think so? Is Lynch their father? He enjoy what he enjoy and others enjoy what they enjoy. At least he is talking about movies and directors and not about cover arts or slipcovers.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by stobbart

You blew a load over "People On Sunday" and harped on those that questioned your wisdom.

I can't say I remember him harping on anybody who questioned his wisdom about People on Sunday. For that matter, I don't remember the questioning of wisdom either. There's been precious little People on Sunday conversation of any sort but what little there's been has been pretty uniformly positive.

As for raving about it, well yeah, he was right...it's freaking outstanding.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by spanky87

Just saw Sweet Smell of Success tonight. Enjoyed it a lot. Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis were both great. The dialogue was so fast with nonstop memorable one liners. "I'd hate to take a bite outta you. You're a cookie full of arsenic."

Have to give it a re-watch sometime soon. Anything else in the Criterion Collection like this?

The dialogue in 12 Angry Men and Anatomy of a Murder are kind of similar. Neither has that full-on 'noir patter' that I think you're looking for but the dialogue in both is very intelligent and has definite rythyms. The Third Man is worth a look too if you can track a copy down. The interplay between Joseph Cotton and Trevor Howard is classic.

Naked and Chungking Express are more of a stretch but also popped into my head. The protagonist in Naked is very dark and sarcastic and some his dialogue is very dry, very clever and very funny. Unless you speak Cantonese the dialogue in Chungking Express is all subtitled and yet it still has very unique, rythymic quality to it that's very appealing.

If you're not limiting yourself to BD you could check out House of Games too. Whatever else one thinks of David Mamet, when he's on his dialogue is about as noirish as it gets.

[Templar]

Has anyone heard if The Friends Of Eddie Coyle will be getting the blu treatment??

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by octagon

Naked and Chungking Express are more of a stretch but also popped into my head. The protagonist in Naked is very dark and sarcastic and some his dialogue is very dry, very clever and very funny. Unless you speak Cantonese the dialogue in Chungking Express is all subtitled and yet it still has very unique, rythymic quality to it that's very appealing.

I really enjoyed the dialogue in Chungking Express but like you said, it's quite possible that the subtitles don't translate to full effect.

[ShellOilJunior]

The only thing holding back Lynch in the collection is David Lynch.


Mulholland Drive is brilliant. If Lynch was easier to work with then the title would be a shoe-in for a spine.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The only thing holding back Lynch in the collection is David Lynch.


Mulholland Drive is brilliant. If Lynch was easier to work with then the title would be a shoe-in for a spine.

He probably make's along with the studios way more money having his movies release by a general wide release than with Criterion.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Cassavetes Goddard just likes to troll people with obscure filmmakers and movies. Obviously if the movies he watches have been seen by more then 10 people he stops liking them. Why do people always prod this troll?

For what little it is worth, the guy seems more mellow than he used to be. But why waste your time? Stick him on ignore and move on with your life.

Perpetuate message board pissing matches and the terrorists win.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by stobbart

I could care less about Anger or Lynch, you can like whoever you want. But you always come across as if what you watch is the best thing ever and if people have not heard of them or the movie then they are stupid. You blew a load over "People On Sunday" and harped on those that questioned your wisdom.

You don't need to jump down peoples throats because they like things that are different then your tastes. I have a feeling I could list 5 directors that are good and you will come back with a list of people that are far superior then them.

And I know how to spell Godard. That was trolling you.

The problem on this and most forums is, that people take themselves and others MUCH too seriously. If he is outspoken about his tastes, then so be it. I've probably learned more about the "obscure" directors and film genres from him, than anyone else who has posted here...and as far as seniority, I'm one of the old timers here. Fassbinder wasn't even on my radar until World on a Wire...another film that he praised and that/he got me to purchase Despair and NOW I will likely check out Berlin Alexanderplatz during the next B & N sale.

If I have anything to gripe about with Spidey...he's making me spend money!

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by rkish

The problem on this and most forums is, that people take themselves and others MUCH too seriously. If he is outspoken about his tastes, then so be it. I've probably learned more about the "obscure" directors and film genres, than anyone else who has posted here...and as far as seniority, I'm one of the old timers here. Fassbinder wasn't even on my radar until World on a Wire...another film that he praised and that/he got me to purchase Despair and NOW I will likely check out Berlin Alexanderplatz during the next B & N sale.

If I have anything to gripe about with Spidey...he's making me spend money!

I agree strongly with the bolded above and would add that anyone who purports to have more than a moderate overview or a narrow field of specialized knowledge can usually be counted on to be mostly full of garbage and ego.

The world if full of posturing, and internet is that times a thousand. I can only take people seriously if they can say their peace without bating, hyperbole, or fishing for martyrdom.

[bizarre_eye]

Originally Posted by spanky87

Just saw Sweet Smell of Success tonight. Enjoyed it a lot. Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis were both great. The dialogue was so fast with nonstop memorable one liners. "I'd hate to take a bite outta you. You're a cookie full of arsenic."

Have to give it a re-watch sometime soon. Anything else in the Criterion Collection like this?

Already answered (to great effect) by octagon, but I'd also highly recommend Robert Aldrich's Kiss Me Deadly, which I personally prefer to Sweet Smell of Success.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Exactly. People can call me a "troll" because I named Anger, but in reality, we could even ask David Lynch himself this question and he would say Anger. So I don't see how I'm "going against" the norm when the filmmaker I'm going against (Lynch) would even agree on Anger.

But to each his own.

...allow me to complete that with "opinion".

Yours I always pay attention to even when I disagree with it, because you think, not merely parrot. You've added colour...and character...and knowledge...to this board, which makes it a lively interesting read even when verging on the "WTF?"

You were also the first person on Blu-ray.com to extend friendship to the noobie Canuck poster with the goofy nick and goofier avatar asking a lot of tourist-style questions when he first popped in last fall. In my experience, "trolls" do not do such things.

Sorry this flaming bag landed on your porch SB.

[scottpcusa]

In anticipation of future releases, I watched La Haine and Certified Copy over the weekend. Loved La Haine, and really appreciated the intro on the DVD by Jodi Foster. I almost spit out my drink during the "Taxi Driver" scene! But what a great ride this film is. Certified Copy was good, but mostly because I enjoyed the long shots of Juliette Binoche. I never really fully found myself invested in the story, but I'm glad I watched it. In the end, I don't plan to add either of these films to my library, but I'm glad Criterion brought them to my attention.

[IronWaffle]

Last night I went to the National Gallery of Art's double feature screening of Au Hasard Balthasar and Mouchette as part of its Bresson retrospective.

While some argue that blockbusters benefit more from theatrical runs, I find that these quiet films played much better on the big screen, where the tinier expressions are noticeable. The especially stoic performances in Bresson's films benefit from the larger screen. I've never seen Mouchette before last night, but both Balthasar and Pickpocket resonated more for me than on previous viewings. In the case of Balthasar it probably helped that the theater was packed to capacity with people who laughed at the film's nuanced (and occasionally broad) humor, much of which I expected to go unnoticed.

It's a shame the audience thinned for Mouchette, but wasn't a surprise on the tail end of a Sunday watching dour films. I'd say about 20% of the audience left before it started.

The experience is making me more strongly consider seeing Casablanca this week at a Regal/TCM screening, though something tells me they'll be digitally projecting the new Blu.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by rkish

The problem on this and most forums is, that people take themselves and others MUCH too seriously. If he is outspoken about his tastes, then so be it. I've probably learned more about the "obscure" directors and film genres from him, than anyone else who has posted here...and as far as seniority, I'm one of the old timers here. Fassbinder wasn't even on my radar until World on a Wire...another film that he praised and that/he got me to purchase Despair and NOW I will likely check out Berlin Alexanderplatz during the next B & N sale.

If I have anything to gripe about with Spidey...he's making me spend money!

Bingo. This forum is actually one of the more problematic ones I post on, as far as people taking themselves far too seriously and posturing on their so-called expert opinion. I just find that it tends to get too, too negative. As I said, I don't always agree with SB, but he does get me to look at stuff I wouldn't think twice about, and I don't see how that's such a bad thing.

Originally Posted by rock, stone

I agree strongly with the bolded above and would add that anyone who purports to have more than a moderate overview or a narrow field of specialized knowledge can usually be counted on to be mostly full of garbage and ego.

The world if full of posturing, and internet is that times a thousand. I can only take people seriously if they can say their peace without bating, hyperbole, or fishing for martyrdom.

I admit I sometimes get carried away, which helps perpetuate the egocentricism. For the record, I never try to take myself too seriously, but there are a couple posters in this thread who tend to know how to push my buttons.

Originally Posted by bizarre_eye

Already answered (to great effect) by octagon, but I'd also highly recommend Robert Aldrich's Kiss Me Deadly, which I personally prefer to Sweet Smell of Success.

Love Kiss Me Deadly. I'd also recommend Night of the Hunter, if anyone's hunting around for a good film noir.