The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless (À bout de souffle). Like Last Year at Marienbad, this is another Blu-ray that I purchased a couple months ago, and finally got around to revisiting to compare with my old DVD copy. My second Criterion review in one day...



I first saw Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless years ago, and my first reaction during that initial viewing was to think that this must have been quite the "too cool for school" movie back in 1960. I can imagine this movie redefining the limitations of cinema for 1960 audiences in the same way that Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction redefined the medium for my generation in 1994. Every still frame of Breathless exudes an air of coolness that leads me to believe that everything about the movie, from the dismissive dialogue to the extended camera takes to the close-ups to the jazz soundtrack to the breaking of the fourth wall by the actors to scenes that were intimate for the time, dropped on 1960 culture like a bomb.

Jean-Paul Belmondo's Michael may just be a thug with an excess of charm, but his wisecracks, his live-for-the-moment vibe, and his overall style are nonetheless endearing enough to command our attention. Jean Seberg's beautiful Patricia is looking for love, but possesses an undercurrent of self-preservation that makes us wonder what she is really thinking when we look into her entrancing eyes.

Breathless is a fast-paced and riveting film even by today's standards. The movie may not come across quite as shocking these days, but its style is still undeniable, just like the jazz that plays in the background of Patricia's small apartment while Michael's cigarette smoke lingers in front of the camera.

The Blu-ray picture quality is perfectly suited for the vibe of this particular film, with a stock newsreel look that somehow accentuates the beauty of Jean Seberg's face or the streetlight haze of Paris. The audio hits the mark with clarity of the dialogue and music.

Breathless remains one of my favorite offerings by The Criterion Collection, and even more so with this Blu-ray presentation.

[Mr. Movie Fan]

you have upset me.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Thanks for the info. Not to long ago, I bought two The Future Sound of London CDs. Amazon was asking 22 dollars each where importcds priced it 10 dollars.

Add to that, Olive releases are marked off year round from what I can tell.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

A couple days ago I ordered Le Cercle Rouge from Amazon and Leon Morin, Priest from Importcds to go with a few April pre-orders... but since I was able to get Leon Morin from that Amazon seller earlier I was going to cancel that other order (although I think I'll wait to see if this amazon one ships tomorrow to make sure I'll get it).

I also hope amazon will ship the 2 blu rays I just mentioned. I have their free two day shipping, I will let you know if they give me the go.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[Show spoiler]I just finished watching Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless (À bout de souffle). Like Last Year at Marienbad, this is another Blu-ray that I purchased a couple months ago, and finally got around to revisiting to compare with my old DVD copy. My second Criterion review in one day...



I first saw Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless years ago, and my first reaction during that initial viewing was to think that this must have been quite the "too cool for school" movie back in 1960. I can imagine this movie redefining the limitations of cinema for 1960 audiences in the same way that Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction redefined the medium for my generation in 1994. Every still frame of Breathless exudes an air of coolness that leads me to believe that everything about the movie, from the dismissive dialogue to the extended camera takes to the close-ups to the jazz soundtrack to the breaking of the fourth wall by the actors to scenes that were intimate for the time, dropped on 1960 culture like a bomb.

Jean-Paul Belmondo's Michael may just be a thug with an excess of charm, but his wisecracks, his life-for-the-moment vibe, and his overall style are nonetheless endearing enough to command our attention. Jean Seberg's beautiful Patricia is looking for love, but possesses an undercurrent of self-preservation that makes us wonder what she is really thinking when we look into her entrancing eyes.

Breathless is a fast-paced and riveting film even by today's standards. The movie may not come across quite as shocking these days, but its style is still undeniable, just like the jazz that plays in the background of Patricia's small apartment while Michael's cigarette smoke lingers for the camera.

The Blu-ray picture quality looks perfectly suited for the vibe of this particular film, with a stock newsreel look that somehow accentuates the beauty of Jean Seberg's face or the streetlight haze of Paris. The audio hits the mark with for clarity with the dialogue and music.

Breathless remains one of my favorite offerings by The Criterion Collection, and even more so with this Blu-ray presentation

.

Owl, you never cease to remind me that several Criterion releases I own, haven't been watched in over a year, as a matter of fact, I've only seen Breathless on DVD.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by King Troll

Thank goodness the cinematic masterpiece is finally released under Criterion. Specs as follows

Disc 1:
Feature Film

Disc 2:
Supplemental Features

-Inside the GoodBurger.
Follow director Brian Robbins spiritual journey through making this film and the controversial consequences that followed.

-Welcome to the GoodBurger
Ken Mitchell gives you a behind the scenes tour

-GoodBurger: Declassified
The 1997 60 Minutes special with unseen cast interviews and a shocking reveal with actor Keenan Thompson

Artwork
Attachment 61911

[Show spoiler]april fool

If you're going to troll/prank the thread, at least get the actor's name right. Pretty sure it was KEL Mitchell, not Ken.

I was a fan of Kenan and Kel when I was 11. I'm not ashamed to admit that. However, Good Burger did kill than fandom. I enjoyed the sketch on All That, but the film was just bad, even as a 12 year old I could see that.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Owl, you never cease to remind me that several Criterion releases I own, haven't been watched in over a year, as a matter of fact, I've only seen Breathless on DVD.

Breathless is one of those movies that, when I revisited it today, made me wonder why in the world I let it sit for so long since the last viewing.

There are so many movies that I want to watch far more often than I do, and Breathless is one such film. It's one of the most endlessly rewatchable films in the Criterion queue, because nothing about the film feels "homeworky", and it never seems to belong on a high pedestal like many other classics. I always feel as though I'm getting away with something when I watch it, and I'm sure that this effect must have been ten times greater for 1960s audiences.

Later tonight, I shall give the Criterions a break and watch Futureworld (since I watched Westworld a couple weeks ago).

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Breathless is one of those movies that, when I revisited it today, made me wonder why in the world I let it sit for so long since the last viewing.

There are so many movies that I want to watch far more often than I do, and Breathless is one such film. It's one of the most endlessly rewatchable films in the Criterion queue, because nothing about the film feels "homeworky", and it never seems to belong on a high pedestal like many other classics. I always feel as though I'm getting away with something when I watch it, and I'm sure that this effect must have been ten times greater for 1960s audiences.

To be honest, I prefer "homeworky" Godard. Weekend and 2 or 3 things rank among my favorites.

I'm not too well acquainted with latter Godard, but I know I should be (Film Socialism, Histoire du Cinema...).

[WeeBey]

Can anyone verify whether this is a complete list of all OOP Criterion Blu-rays?

Playtime
Army of Shadows
Le Cercle Rouge
Chungking Express
Last Year At Marienbad
Leon Morin, Priest
The Man Who Fell To Earth
Pierrot Le Fou
The Third Man

Is anything missing?

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless (À bout de souffle). Like Last Year at Marienbad, this is another Blu-ray that I purchased a couple months ago, and finally got around to revisiting to compare with my old DVD copy. My second Criterion review in one day...



I first saw Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless years ago, and my first reaction during that initial viewing was to think that this must have been quite the "too cool for school" movie back in 1960. I can imagine this movie redefining the limitations of cinema for 1960 audiences in the same way that Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction redefined the medium for my generation in 1994. Every still frame of Breathless exudes an air of coolness that leads me to believe that everything about the movie, from the dismissive dialogue to the extended camera takes to the close-ups to the jazz soundtrack to the breaking of the fourth wall by the actors to scenes that were intimate for the time, dropped on 1960 culture like a bomb.

Jean-Paul Belmondo's Michael may just be a thug with an excess of charm, but his wisecracks, his live-for-the-moment vibe, and his overall style are nonetheless endearing enough to command our attention. Jean Seberg's beautiful Patricia is looking for love, but possesses an undercurrent of self-preservation that makes us wonder what she is really thinking when we look into her entrancing eyes.

Breathless is a fast-paced and riveting film even by today's standards. The movie may not come across quite as shocking these days, but its style is still undeniable, just like the jazz that plays in the background of Patricia's small apartment while Michael's cigarette smoke lingers in front of the camera.

The Blu-ray picture quality is perfectly suited for the vibe of this particular film, with a stock newsreel look that somehow accentuates the beauty of Jean Seberg's face or the streetlight haze of Paris. The audio hits the mark with clarity of the dialogue and music.

Breathless remains one of my favorite offerings by The Criterion Collection, and even more so with this Blu-ray presentation.

This is a great review. I agree, the Criterion package looks and sounds amazing, and your comments about the film's smoky, jazzy coolness are right on and well put. Thanks.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

To be honest, I prefer "homeworky" Godard. Weekend and 2 or 3 things rank among my favorites.

I very much like 2 or 3 Things. It feels like a transition to that later style in some ways....and also one of the most 'essential' ones because of how it involves many of his commentaries all in one place.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by WeeBey

Can anyone verify whether this is a complete list of all OOP Criterion Blu-rays?

Playtime
Army of Shadows
Le Cercle Rouge
Chungking Express
Last Year At Marienbad
Leon Morin, Priest
The Man Who Fell To Earth
Pierrot Le Fou
The Third Man

Is anything missing?

Looks complete.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I know you'll love it

I've yet to see Talented Mr Ripley and Ripley's Game (though I own the DVDs), do they compare favorably to Purple Noon?

I honestly haven't seen those other two either. I'm assuming they're just modern adaptions of the novel, though.

Having just finished Purple Noon, I was very impressed. Not only was the scenery beautiful and we were taken on a trip through various parts of Italy, but the acting was superb. It was a phenomenal tale of jealousy, revenge, and passion, all wrapped together neatly into a less than two-hour film.

For those who HAVE seen the remakes, I'm sure that this one is still the best version. I will never know, though, until I see them for sure.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

To be honest, I prefer "homeworky" Godard. Weekend and 2 or 3 things rank among my favorites.

I'm not too well acquainted with latter Godard, but I know I should be (Film Socialism, Histoire du Cinema...).

The post-1965 Godard material places some heavy demands on my caveman intellect. Well, not really, but the Criterion offerings for the movies that came out after Pierrot Le Fou do not quite hit the mark with me like Breathless, Band of Outsiders, and Vivre Sa Vie do. Pierrot Le Fou is a fine movie just before Godard figuratively stepped off the Kurtz boat.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Having just finished Purple Noon, I was very impressed. Not only was the scenery beautiful and we were taken on a trip through various parts of Italy, but the acting was superb. It was a phenomenal tale of jealousy, revenge, and passion, all wrapped together neatly into a less than two-hour film.

Purple Noon is awesome. It's one of the most beautiful movies in my collection, and it's my favorite adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley as well. Glad that you enjoyed it!

[WeeBey]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Looks complete.

Thanks!

[Spire]

Originally Posted by King Troll

Thank goodness the cinematic masterpiece is finally released under Criterion. Specs as follows

Disc 1:
Feature Film

Disc 2:
Supplemental Features

-Inside the GoodBurger.
Follow director Brian Robbins spiritual journey through making this film and the controversial consequences that followed.

-Welcome to the GoodBurger
Ken Mitchell gives you a behind the scenes tour

-GoodBurger: Declassified
The 1997 60 Minutes special with unseen cast interviews and a shocking reveal with actor Keenan Thompson

Artwork
Attachment 61911

[Show spoiler]april fool

I would probably buy that I enjoyed it, its part of my childhood, lol.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by iScottie

For those who HAVE seen the remakes, I'm sure that this one is still the best version. I will never know, though, until I see them for sure.

Purple Noon is the better of it and Talented Mr. Ripley, I'd say (never seen Ripley's Game), but Talented is also a good flick, and well worth seeing imo.

[Tommy0807]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Purple Noon is awesome. It's one of the most beautiful movies in my collection, and it's my favorite adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley as well. Glad that you enjoyed it!

I'm a big Ripley fan. I've read the novel; I have the Anthony Minghella version on DVD--which I appreciate more now than when it first came out; I was in a stage production of it; and I just bought Purple Noon, which I'm eager to watch. I bought a used copy of Ripley's Game on DVD years ago, but I still haven't watched it. Maybe I'll read that novel first.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

[Show spoiler]This is a great review. I agree, the Criterion package looks and sounds amazing, and your comments about the film's smoky, jazzy coolness are right on and well put. Thanks.

Thanks! Breathless is just one of those movies that goes to the epitome of "cool." I would say that it's the cinematic equivalent of Miles Davis - Milestones, but Louis Malle's Elevator to the Gallows wins that award.

I made a double-feature night of Breathless and Elevator to the Gallows a couple years ago. They were a perfect fit together.