The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

He's not alone in that regard.

After reading this, I'm trying to brainstorm about whether or not I have anything that Sofia Coppola wants.
Sofia, if you're reading this, I have a DVD copy of Army of Shadows.

(I don't want to part with my Blu-ray copy. Sorry.)

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Jonathan Rosenbaum's capsule on L'Avventura. I'm so jealous of you guys that get to see it on the big screen.

Criterion needs to just use that poster that was posted a while back for the restoration and I'll be happy. That thing is beautiful.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

After reading this, I'm trying to brainstorm about whether or not I have anything that Sofia Coppola wants.

Heh.

The best one is this:

21. 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.”

The very definition of irony.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I forgive him for this reason, a great film that begs to be spined

agreed, i love that film . . . brown bunny is, er, interesting too (ending )

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Criterion needs to just use that poster that was posted a while back for the restoration and I'll be happy. That thing is beautiful.

Im a fan of each and every poster for the film. Hell, if the cover is brown paper bag themed, I'll still pay full price. L'Avventura is one of my favorite films of all time.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

Vincent Gallo crosses the line with his comments, especially with the Coppola comments.

My favorite anecdote involving Vincent Gallo is where Roger Ebert panned Gallo's film, The Brown Bunny.
Gallo then insulted Roger Ebert about being overweight.
Roger Ebert's response: "It is true that I am fat, but one day I will be thin, and he will still be the director of 'The Brown Bunny.'"

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

agreed, i love that film . . . brown bunny is, er, interesting too (ending )

Haven't seen the brown bunny yet. but I am fully aware of the hubbub it caused in Cannes.

[shortmartin]

8. Harmony Korine on Quentin Tarantino:
“Quentin Tarantino seems to be too concerned with other films. I mean, about appropriating other movies, like in a blender. I think it’s, like, really funny at the time I’m seeing it, but then, I don’t know, there’s a void there. Some of the references are flat, just pop culture.”

this kind of makes me like Korine (whom I love) less . . . not that I worship at Tarantino's altar, but the dude is awesome at blending homages, and I like his movies a lot. And the ironic thing is - "just pop culture" - my favorite scene in Korine's Spring Breakers is

[Show spoiler]where they sing the Spears song . . . awesome scene

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

L'Avventura is one of my favorite films of all time.

I'm hoping that Criterion follows up the La Notte release with upgrades of L'Avventura and L'Eclisse.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My favorite anecdote involving Vincent Gallo is where Roger Ebert panned Gallo's film, The Brown Bunny.
Gallo then insulted Roger Ebert about being overweight.
Roger Ebert's response: "It is true that I am fat, but one day I will be thin, and he will still be the director of 'The Brown Bunny.'"

That was a nice comeback, but he will also forever be the director of Buffalo 66

Ebert liked the US theatrical cut alot more (3/4)
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-brown-bunny-2004

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Heh.

The best one is this:

21. 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.”

The very definition of irony.

Most of his earlier films sound quite interesting but yeah... As soon as he made Pineapple Express, he's made nothing worth wiping your ass with. I like Kev. He's funny in his excessively long one man shows too.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

. . . another interesting write up and read, right on. I'm gonna have to go on an Owl marathon ( you run don't you?) in which I watch the movies you've reviewed because these essays only seem to be getting better. And I like the conversations they can generate.

However, akin to the aforementioned umbrage from others regarding Natural Born Killers, we've departing ideas regarding Spring Breakers . . . I think it's a gem - I love all of Korine's work - although I've yet to see Verdoux so I can't compare. Your review, though, makes me want to do so. Muchas gracias.

Thanks!

I posted my thoughts about Spring Breakers in the general forum thread. I had a 'meh' reaction to the film immediately after watching the rental disc, but I could not get the movie out of my head. I figure that, if I spent several days thinking about the movie after seeing it, then it must have been a better film than what I first gave it credit for.

I applaud Korine for not giving us the expected "after school special" ending and, instead, leaving us with an ending that does not let us off the hook. The movie leaves some mental scars when it comes to entitlement, media, and such.

I do not think that Spring Breakers is a great film, but it is quite good.

I made a double feature of Spring Breakers and Things to Come last week. That was a strange night.

[SammyJankis]

I might watch Spring Breakers sooner or later, just because I've heard from a few reliable people that there's an apparent Malick influence within the film. But man, does Korine rub me the wrong way. I loathe Kids (which I realize he didn't direct, but still.)

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I forgive him for this reason, a great film that begs to be spined:

I recently purchased the Japanese blu-ray of Buffalo 66 since I couldn't wait anymore for a U.S. release. I think I might have paid $25 for it and had it shipped from Japan (about $8 shipping)! I think it is a brilliant film and should definitely be on Criterion. Although I think Vincent Gallo has the biggest ego on the planet, so he probably doesn't deserve the Criterion treatment.

[RandyK]

Am I not supposed to understand The Double Life of Veronique? Just finished it and I get some of it but other parts make me go "huh?"

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

Harlan County and Salesman are also good Criterion docs (and work related)

Harlan County is fantastic. I would definitely love to see it get a blu release.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jw007

I recently purchased the Japanese blu-ray of Buffalo 66 since I couldn't wait anymore for a U.S. release. I think I might have paid $25 for it and had it shipped from Japan (about $8 shipping)! I think it is a brilliant film and should definitely be on Criterion. Although I think Vincent Gallo has the biggest ego on the planet, so he probably doesn't deserve the Criterion treatment.

Thanks for the heads up. $25 sounds reasonable enough.

By the way, all Gallo fans should check out Essential Killing. Great atmospheric thriller kind of like Le Samourai & The American.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Randyman94

Am I not supposed to understand The Double Life of Veronique? Just finished it and I get some of it but other parts make me go "huh?"

Basically, it brushes upon what fascinated Kieslowski most. It's a film about feeling, the human condition, and the vastness of everything.

The man himself sums it up best:

"It deals with things you can't name. If you do, they seem trivial and stupid." — Krzysztof Kieslowski (which is true, haha)

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Randyman94

Am I not supposed to understand The Double Life of Veronique? Just finished it and I get some of it but other parts make me go "huh?"

The Double Life of Veronique is almost like a poem to me, and, although I watched my old DVD copy several times, I always felt as though I was missing something. This film is similar to Last Year at Marienbad in this regard, although it's not quite that elusive. There are several things in the film (glass objects, a marionette play, etc.) that feel like clues, but the movie does not play out like that.

A 1998 film, Sliding Doors, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, shares a few loose similarities with The Double Life of Veronique, but to lesser results.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

By the way, all Gallo fans should check out Essential Killing. Great atmospheric thriller kind of like Le Samourai & The American.

I'm intrigued based on this comment alone. Thanks for the recommendation.