The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Breathless is undoubtably a great film, but just a heads up, there are plenty of people who only appreciate it on a formal/academic level.

That's a really good way of putting it. I'm glad I saw it, I'll see it again and like I said, I didn't regret buying it in the least.

But I didn't really connect to it either.

At least not yet.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

No one sold out like David Gordon Green.

David Gordon Green on Kevin Smith:

He kind of created a Special Olympics for film. They just kind of lowered the standard. I'm sure their parents are proud; it's just nothing I care to buy a ticket for.

Oh, the irony.

Ugh,

I hear his latest film is somewhat a return to form, though.

Even though his early films (well, I've only seen George Washington and Undertow) sometimes felt derivative of other filmmakers (especially Malick), there's no doubt that he had the potential for greatness (which he definitely more than touched in George Washington).

When he was at his best, there was no other film, there was no other filmmaker. He would craft scenes so potent, that you would be replaying them for hours afterwards.

I have yet to see Snow Angels (which i own) and All the Real girls, any good?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by octagon

That's a really good way of putting it. I'm glad I saw it, I'll see it again and like I said, I didn't regret buying it in the least.

But I didn't really connect to it either.

At least not yet.

Oof, I haven't seen it since my early cinephile days (on DVD no less). But I can say this with confidence: I think many will find Band of Outsiders to be easier to get into. It's the warmest and most playful of Godard's films.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by octagon

That's a really good way of putting it. I'm glad I saw it, I'll see it again and like I said, I didn't regret buying it in the least.

But I didn't really connect to it either.

At least not yet.

I saw Breathless on TCM last year, but haven't bought it yet, maybe for the reason you just gave. That doesn't mean I won't buy it eventually. I didn't dislike it. The more I learn about it, the more intrigued I am with it, and "feel" I should own it.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Ugh,

I hear his latest film is somewhat a return to form, though.

Even though his early films (well, I've only seen George Washington and Undertow) sometimes felt derivative of other filmmakers (especially Malick), there's no doubt that he had the potential for greatness (which he definitely more than touched in George Washington).

When he was at his best, there was no other film, there was no other filmmaker. He would craft scenes so potent, that you would be replaying them for hours afterwards.

I have yet to see Snow Angels (which i own) and All the Real girls, any good?

I've only seen George Washington and Snow Angels. I haven't seen either in years but I recall liking them, though I didn't think they were among the cream of the indie crop.

On a side note, I'm sure this has been posted for, but it's always worthy for a good discussion:

30 Harshest Filmmaker on Filmmaker insults.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Page14

I saw Breathless on TCM last year, but haven't bought it yet, maybe for the reason you just gave. That doesn't mean I won't buy it eventually. I didn't dislike it. The more I learn about it, the more intrigued I am with it, and "feel" I should own it.

The best reason to buy Breathless is to watch

Jean Seberg .

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I've only seen George Washington and Snow Angels. I haven't seen either in years but I recall liking them, though I didn't think they were among the cream of the indie crop.

On a side note, I'm sure this has been posted for, but it's always worthy for a good discussion:

30 Harshest Filmmaker on Filmmaker insults.

I've hear great things about All the Real Girls (it made Eberts top ten).

This has probably been suggested already, but Criterion should release George Washington on blu ray, it should push him back in the right direction.

As for the article...

#1 really makes me mad, now I feel like unjustly trashing Shoot the Piano Player

Edit: that should be shown to all who think all "art house" cinema looks the same, can't differentiate between Bergman, Antonioni or Herzog.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I've hear great things about All the Real Girls (it made Eberts top ten).

This has probably been suggested already, but Criterion should release George Washington on blu ray, it should push him back in the right direction.

As for the article...

#1 really makes me mad, now I feel like unjustly trashing Shoot the Piano Player

Heh, I know what you mean. I like Bergman more than anyone on that list, but I disagree with each statement he made.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Heh, I know what you mean. I like Bergman more than anyone on that list, but I disagree with each statement he made.

I like Antonioni more than anyone on that list, and you know what, he didn't trash anyone

[Page14]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

The best reason to buy Breathless is to watch

Jean Seberg .

Ah, yes!

[Show spoiler](making that little "Bogart gesture thing" that Belmondo and Seberg do in the movie. )

[metaridley]

It's no surprise to me that there's a circlejerk over the supposed "importance of film critics" in this particular thread.

And I have often found the essays accompanying Criterion releases to be generally worthless.

Originally Posted by octagon

The whole 'well if you're so smart why aren't you making movies' gambit is lame enough in internet threads. Applying it to people who actually know what they're talking about and can express themselves in a coherent, entertaining manner is kinda silly.

How so?

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by metaridley

It's no surprise to me that there's a circlejerk over the supposed "importance of film critics" in this particular thread.

And I have often found the essays accompanying Criterion releases to be generally worthless.

You Sir...may exit the circle jerk...

[metaridley]

Originally Posted by Snicket

You Sir...may exit the circle jerk...

[Abdrewes]

Heres an entertaining quote metaridley,


"I had a colonoscopy once, and they let me watch it on TV. It was more entertaining than The Brown Bunny." -Roger Ebert

[vader4]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I've only seen George Washington and Snow Angels. I haven't seen either in years but I recall liking them, though I didn't think they were among the cream of the indie crop.

On a side note, I'm sure this has been posted for, but it's always worthy for a good discussion:

30 Harshest Filmmaker on Filmmaker insults.

Wow! I love many directors on that list. Bergman is a fantastic director, but what an a**hole and can't Godard just be proud that he's influenced a director enough to name a production company after him? Can't we all just get along? Sheesh.

On another note, might someone be able to tell me what a Godard film might be best to start on. I watched Breathless the other day and I didn't really like it. It was very well directed, but it sort of felt lifeless. Not to pull a "Herzog" here, but is there a more personal film of his that I could start on and revisit that later?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by vader4

Wow! I love many directors on that list. Bergman is a fantastic director, but what an a**hole and can't Godard just be proud that he's influenced a director enough to name a production company after him? Can't we all just get along? Sheesh.

On another note, might someone be able to tell me what a Godard film might be best to start on. I watched Breathless the other day and I didn't really like it. It was very well directed, but it sort of felt lifeless. Not to pull a "Herzog" here, but is there a more personal film of his that I could start on and revisit that later?

If you want a warmer Godard, see Band of Outsiders or Vivre Sa Vie.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by vader4

On another note, might someone be able to tell me what a Godard film might be best to start on. I watched Breathless the other day and I didn't really like it. It was very well directed, but it sort of felt lifeless. Not to pull a "Herzog" here, but is there a more personal film of his that I could start on and revisit that later?

I think Breathless was the best possible one to start on. It may not have all the ideas of his later films..but the style and feel is very much 'basic' Godard. My personal favorite one is Vivre Sa Vie, so I'd recommend that one next.

[vader4]

I got two votes for Vivre se vie so I suppose that will be my next of his. Thanks for the suggestions!

[brake]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

You're correct.

Thanks! Can't wait till july.. so many I want this time around.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I don't understand this whole stance. There are as many bad "critics" as there are good ones, if not more. Forget Stars, thumbs, scores and aggregates, what ultimately matters is the quality of writing. Like the great Jon Rosenbaum has said, "weigh your biases against mine."

Look at Ebert's review of Django Unchained. It was easily his most eliquently written review of last year (or even the last several years) and yet several commenters still asked for an arbitrary star grade. People are too antsy for the final word/bottom line/hyperbolic praise or damnation.

Critics bad or good full into the same category for me. Just people with opinions. They're doing their thing which is good for them, but most of the time they berate a film when they haven't done anything themselves and don't realise how much work goes into it and just how much certain politics can get in the way and alter the vision of the creators.

That said, even established filmmakers that I admire have different opinions to me. I've not liked films my favourite director, Michael Haneke, loves.

My pet peeve: When they say that the script was bad based on watching the movie. Unless they've read the actual shooting script, how can they say that?

Basically, people take their word for gospel too much, which is where the problem arises.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by MasturB

Hmmm.

Not sure what to buy:

Tree of Life at $14.99
Kiss Me Deadly $24.99
Blow Out $24.99
M $23.99
America Lost and Found for $63.99
Last Emperor for $25
Breathless for $23.33
or Island of Lost Souls to $23.99

They're all worth owning, and I've got them all except THE LAST EMPEROR (partly due to the aspect ratio controversy and partly because I just don't like it quite as much as the others or some other Bertolucci).

I'd go for AMERICA LOST AND FOUND first (FIVE EASY PIECES and LAST PICTURE SHOW are the standouts, but all the films are worth seeing and the documentary is great), then probably add TREE OF LIFE to stay in your budget, otherwise ISLAND OF THE LOST SOULS or KISS ME DEADLY, depending on whether you prefer classic operatic 1930s studio horror or classic but edgy 1950s film noir.