The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

Just finished The Lady Vanishes - wowowowowowowow! Sooooooo good!

This is simply one of the best eras of film. They had the right blend of comedy, mystery, suspense, and many other things. The films nowadays are just lacking and can't live up to the hype these films did.

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Thank you for the correction. How about your top ten iScottie. I don't know if you can include Audrey Tautou (no criterion film released with her in it). I would love to see a criterion release of A Very Long Engagement. Then I would have to rethink my top ten.

While I haven't seen many of the films, I can attest to the following actresses being beautiful:

Anna Karina - Vivre Sa Vie
Audrey Hepburn - Charade
Bibi Andersson - The Seventh Seal
Brigitte Bardot - Contempt
Catherine Deneuve - Belle De Jour
Deborah Harry - Videodrome
Harriet Andersson - Through A Glass Darkly
Irene Jacob - The Double Life Of Veronique / Red
Juliette Binoche - Blue
Milla Jovovich - Dazed And Confused

[Akijama]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

or To the Devil a Daughter and then have Nastassja Kinski on Criterion or even Cat People.

or Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now

Tho, I suspect it will be Scanners.

[The Great Owl]

My copy of Melville's Le Silence de la Mer arrived in the mail today, and I watched it as soon as I arrived home.

I'm speechless. This film further confirms my ranking of Melville next to Hitchcock as my two all-time favorite film directors.

For me, Jean-Pierre Melville's films illustrate the truth of an old quote, "The only necessity for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." In Melville's films, hope for the triumph of good over evil in a slow never-ending war of attrition is always salvaged out of the ruins, whether it is Jef Costello's final decision in Le Samourai, Jansen's triumph over alcohol in Le Cercle Rouge, or the unshakeable resilience of the Resistance in Army of Shadows, and von Ebrennac's struggles in Le Silence de la Mer paint an earlier cinematic picture of how revolution starts as a personal decision with one's private soul-searching.

It's an amazing film from a historical perspective, but also for its visual splendor, which is brought forth well in Blu-ray. The beauty of the French countryside in winter and spring alike, Nicole Stéphane's quiet beauty, and even the universal appeal of a close-up of book spines on a shelf.

The Blu-ray comes with an extensive booklet that makes Criterion's in-depth essays look diminished by comparison, and a documentary which I'll watch later on after my next viewing of the film. (...and I'll be watching this one again soon!)

[SimBelm]

For leading ladies on criterion, I'm particularly fond of Mariko Kaga.

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My copy of Melville's Le Silence de la Mer arrived in the mail today, and I watched it as soon as I arrived home.

I'm speechless. This film further confirms my ranking of Melville next to Hitchcock as my two all-time favorite film directors.

For me, Jean-Pierre Melville's films illustrate the truth of an old quote, "The only necessity for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." In Melville's films, hope for the triumph of good over evil in a slow never-ending war of attrition is always salvaged out of the ruins, whether it is Jef Costello's final decision in Le Samourai, Jansen's triumph over alcohol in Le Cercle Rouge, or the unshakeable resilience of the Resistance in Army of Shadows, and von Ebrennac's struggles in Le Silence de la Mer paint an earlier cinematic picture of how revolution starts as a personal decision with one's private soul-searching.

It's an amazing film from a historical perspective, but also for its visual splendor, which is brought forth well in Blu-ray. The beauty of the French countryside in winter and spring alike, Nicole Stéphane's quiet beauty, and even the universal appeal of a close-up of book spines on a shelf.

The Blu-ray comes with an extensive booklet that makes Criterion's in-depth essays look diminished by comparison, and a documentary which I'll watch later on after my next viewing of the film. (...and I'll be watching this one again soon!)

May import from MOC...unless there is word that it's coming from Criterion soon...I need to watch this!!! I should check Hulu...me thinks!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

While I haven't seen many of the films, I can attest to the following actresses being beautiful:

Deborah Harry - Videodrome
Milla Jovovich - Dazed And Confused

The 1980s kid and eternal post-punk fan inside of me agrees 100% with the listing of Deborah Harry. One of my first crushes from youth.

Milla Jovovich is a true beauty in Dazed and Confused, although I also have a soft spot for Parker Posey, despite her villainous self in that movie. "Wipe that face off your head!"

Speaking of Milla Jovovich, one of my first Blu-ray purchases was for the new box set of the five Resident Evil movies that I bought because the first three films appeal to my popcorn movie sensibilities and I've been wanting to see the last two films for a while now. I have not yet watched these, because I want to dedicate an entire weekend to watching all five of the Blu-rays back to back. Soon.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Akijama

or Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now

I will be in heaven if this happens. I've professed my love for my current DVD copy of Don't Look Now quite a few times here, and I look forward to upgrading it to Blu-ray one day.

Casino Royale (2006) has a rather elegant homage to Don't Look Now in the final Venice scenes, but I will not spoil it for the uninitiated.

[Brad1963]

Leading Ladies....my choices in no particular order.

Jean Seberg (Breathless)
Beulah Bondi (Make Way for Tomorrow)
Juliette Binoche (Three Colors: Blue/Certified Copy)
Émilie Dequenne (Rosetta)
Maggie Cheung (In the Mood for Love)
Holly Hunter (Broadcast News)
Emmanuelle Riva (Hiroshima mon amour)
Irene Jacob (Three Colors:Red/The Double Life of Véronique)
Gena Rowlands (A Woman under the Influence)
Simone Signoret (Army of Shadows)

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

May import from MOC...unless there is word that it's coming from Criterion soon...I need to watch this!!! I should check Hulu...me thinks!

Le Silence de la Mer is well worth having, and the MOC package (region-free) is quite superb. It would be just my luck for Criterion to announce this movie for May, but I would gladly double-dip.

I was so excited about watching my newly-purchased copy of Paris, Texas as soon as I arrived home, with all this Nastassja Kinski discussion. When I saw Le Silence de la Mer in my mailbox, though, I knew that Melville had to take priority.

I'm about to watch Paris, Texas in a few minutes, though. After that, if I have enough cinematic endurance tonight, I will chase Le Silence de la Mer and Paris, Texas down with a viewing of the 2D edition of Top Gun that I also bought today. Good to follow up the cerebral greatness of those first two films with the popcorn fun of one of my 1980s favorites.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Simone Signoret (Army of Shadows)

What a glorious actress role! Simone Signoret's character in Army of Shadows is one of my favorite female characters of all-time. Such a great display of strength.

Simone Signoret was also superb (and beautiful) in Becker's Casque d'Or. I used to have that Criterion DVD, but it was one of a tragic few that was lost when my old apartment was flooded during the "great 500-year Atlanta flood" of 2009. A shame, but I hope that this one sees the light of day on Blu-ray at some point.

[Scottie]

Is there a chance of Criterion releasing Le Silence De La Mer?

There haven't been any Melville films in the CC since 2011.

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Le Silence de la Mer is well worth having, and the MOC package (region-free) is quite superb. It would be just my luck for Criterion to announce this movie for May, but I would gladly double-dip.

I was so excited about watching my newly-purchased copy of Paris, Texas as soon as I arrived home, with all this Nastassja Kinski discussion. When I saw Le Silence de la Mer in my mailbox, though, I knew that Melville had to take priority.

I'm about to watch Paris, Texas in a few minutes, though. After that, if I have enough cinematic endurance tonight, I will chase Le Silence de la Mer and Paris, Texas down with a viewing of the 2D edition of Top Gun that I also bought today. Good to follow up the cerebral greatness of those first two films with the popcorn fun of one of my 1980s favorites.

Enjoy Paris, Texas, I swear you could throw Stanton into any film and it'd rock the socks!!! I swear you'd throw Harry Dean Stanton into the Twilight films and I'd probably be first in line like one of them screaming teenagers wanting him...and I'm a happily married man!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

Enjoy Paris, Texas, I swear you could throw Stanton into any film and it'd rock the socks!!! I swear you'd throw Harry Dean Stanton into the Twilight films and I'd probably be first in line like one of them screaming teenagers wanting him...and I'm a happily married man!

I just about wore out my DVD copy of Paris, Texas before I sold it in anticipation of buying this Blu-ray. I'll be mesmerized by it all over again, though.

Harry Dean Stanton lends a coolness credibility to any movie ( Red Dawn, Pretty in Pink, The Green Mile, and The Avengers are cases in point). His role in Alien is always ace, of course. I also have to chuckle, thinking about his role in Two-Lane Blacktop.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Is there a chance of Criterion releasing Le Silence De La Mer?

There haven't been any Melville films in the CC since 2011.

I hope so. Leon Morin, Priest was the most recent Melville offering on Criterion.

I'd be interested to see releases of the Melville flicks that I have not yet seen (When You Read This Letter, Two Men in Manhattan, Magnet of Doom), as well as Blu-ray upgrades of the others that have not yet been upgraded.

[JHas]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Is there a chance of Criterion releasing Le Silence De La Mer?

There haven't been any Melville films in the CC since 2011.

There is hope, it is on their streaming channel on Hulu, so they have the rights. I really respect the film, but would rather get Le Samourai out on blu first.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I will be in heaven if this happens. I've professed my love for my current DVD copy of Don't Look Now quite a few times here, and I look forward to upgrading it to Blu-ray one day.

Casino Royale (2006) has a rather elegant homage to Don't Look Now in the final Venice scenes, but I will not spoil it for the uninitiated.

The current blu-ray by Optimum is alright The picture quality is lacking a bit but it's better than the dvd, especially in colour. The sound is fantastic and the best part is that it comes with 4 hours and 18 minutes worth of special features (including audio commentary). Still, Criterion need to release it because I know the picture quality would be much better. My optimum disc will do until then.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by JHas

There is hope, it is on their streaming channel on Hulu, so they have the rights. I really respect the film, but would rather get Le Samourai out on blu first.

Oh so everything on the Hulu channel is game for the CC?

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by JHas

There is hope, it is on their streaming channel on Hulu, so they have the rights. I really respect the film, but would rather get Le Samourai out on blu first.

Answered my question...thanks!!!

[Scottie]

I wouldn't mind an upgrade of The Unbearable Lightness Of Being.

I've always wanted to see that film. With Daniel Day-Lewis loaded with Oscar nominations, it would be a great time for an announcement

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Snicket

I just finished up watching Week End...


Week End


If you were to take the 1960's notion of Art, Literature, Film, Music, Politics, Religion, Greed, and Sex, throw them in a blender, dip in your paint brush and throw them up on screen the end result would land you pretty close to Week End.

This chaos is not for the fait of heart.

I once heard Godard called a film terrorist, and if that is true his particular brand of terrorism has evolved past film to shake up everything from pop culture to politics. Week End is set is a fantasy world (although it may be more true than we would like). An almost post apocalyptic look at the dark side of humanity. Godard often deals a heavy handed critique, often in the form of long monologues, but he still manages to keep things from toppling over the edge of his own pretentious ambition. Almost as a parody of himself he plays a very tongue in cheek hand of cards. His characters complain about the film they are in because they only get to meet crazy people. Our protagonists themselves may just be the craziest and most sinister of them all.

Oh the color, Week End is simply beautiful. The first half of the film is drenched in a red and blue color palliate that is reminiscent to the LSD fueled fever dream Godard is aiming for. As we go deeper down the rabbit hole towards the end of the film the color shifts to yellow and blue.

If you are thinking about this film as your first Criterion or first visit to the films of Godard stay far away, this film is not for the causal viewer, however if you want to go a bit deeper with the themes of humanity's dark side then watch with confidence. But don't say you weren't warned about what you would find there.

Yep. It's still a revolutionary film even if some of it's edges have dulled: It's very much of it's time. However, Damn is it ever a confrontational film. In regards to it's content and cinematic flourish, you can't look away.

When I was watching DePalma's Body Double yesterday, I couldn't help but notice the influence of Godard (and obviously a whole lot of Hitchcock). It's as if DePalma directed a Godardian, cynical Rear Window/Vertigo Meta-remake.