The Criterion Collection

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Yami

Sergio Leone
Eli Wallach
Clint Eastwood
Lee Van Cleef

If you look at the numbers in the URL, you'll notice that they're consecutive

Interesting. I wonder when those pages showed up. They have phantom pages for a lot of people, but the sequential nature of those pages seems suggestive.

[alien2010]

My wishlist is

The Tenant
Le Samourai
Eraserhead
Thief
Mullholland Drive

However I keep thinking back to that video of Nicholas Winding Refn visiting the Criterion library. Do you think we'll be getting a Refn film in the near future?

[The Great Owl]

Stanley Kubrick's 1956 film noir, The Killing, may not be my favorite example of the genre, but it is still an uncanny masterpiece that benefits from unconventional storytelling choices and claustrophobic camerawork. As I watched The Killing for the first time this afternoon, I was initially taken aback by the narrative style that loops around to different flashbacks in a way that purposely undermines the riveting dramatic flow characteristic of most heist movies of this sort. There is a method to the madness, though, and this strange time-hopping scene sequence works brilliantly in conjunction with the film's thematic concept that unexpected minor disruptions can unravel even the most precise best laid plans. Kubrick's camera eye that takes us through tiny apartments and racetrack locker areas is an earlier and cruder version of the viewpoints that Kubrick would use decades later to take us through the corridors of the Overlook Hotel in his 1980 film, The Shining, and the limited space conveys the notion that characters are hopelessly trapped before they even begin to execute their strategies.

Sterling Hayden, generally remembered as the arrogant Captain McCluskey in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, is superb in The Killing as Johnny Clay, a confident frontman in the elaborate racetrack heist operation. Elisha Cook Jr., who rivals William H. Macy in masterful portrayals of world-weary forlorn characters who are born to lose, is wonderfully mismatched with the shapely and conniving Marie Windsor, and the two characters deserve one another with a poetic justice rarely depicted so well in movies. It's probably impossible for most viewers to watch the bald Kola Kwariani without thinking of Lawrence Tierney in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, which was undoubtedly inspired by this film.

Kubrick's second full-length movie, Killer's Kiss, which was released one year earlier, is included as a supplementary extra on this Criterion Blu-ray of The Killing, and I am of the opinion that, although this earlier film noir does not quite stand shoulder to shoulder with The Killing, the two movies should have been advertised on the cover as a Criterion double feature. Killer's Kiss is more conventional in its narrative structure, and quite obviously less reliant on clockwork rigidity, but it's a fun film that flies by at its 67-minute length. Irene Kane is one of the most luscious women of film noir, Frank Silvera is subtly menacing, and Jamie Smith is an earnest, but resourceful protagonist.

Killer's Kiss and The Killing both look astonishingly pristine on Blu-ray, and I cannot find any flaws whatsoever with the video or audio presentations. I would love to have seen commentary tracks available for both movies, but I'm more than content with the informative supplementary interviews with the likes of Sterling Hayden, producer James B. Harris, and critic Geoffrey O'Brien, who sheds light on the the early techniques in Killer's Kiss that would become Kubrick trademarks.

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by alien2010

However I keep thinking back to that video of Nicholas Winding Refn visiting the Criterion library. Do you think we'll be getting a Refn film in the near future?

My bet is that he was being interviewed as a subject matter expert for someone else's film. Also the timing is suspect as I bet he was in NYC promoting Only God Forgives at the same time he stopped by the office and likely did not have time to record an audio commentary, approve transfers etc. a short interview though is likely.

[Snicket]

So is Picninc at Hanging Rock going to be announced tomorrow? I sure hope so.

I have a sneaking suspicion Aint Them Bodies Saints will find its way to Criterion.

Oh and life aquatic something something.

[The Great Owl]

Th-th-th-th-that's all, folks!

I've watched and reviewed all three of my recent Criterion purchases, so it's time to move on. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, The Red Shoes, and The Killing were all five-star packages, so this was a beautiful haul.

Right now, I like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold best of the three, but The Red Shoes was majestic in visual terms, and The Killing really immersed me into its fold after I got used to the time-hopping narrative.

If you have any remote inclination whatsoever to see The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, then I cannot recommend it enough. It's one of the best black-and-white Blu-ray presentations in my collection.

Time to watch John Ford's Drums Along the Mohawk later tonight.

[blkhrt]

My wishlist is pretty much all the same, but it is worth mentioning again because it has been a while.

Picnic at Hanging Rock
Ghost World
Ghost Dog
In a Lonely Place
Passion of Joan of Arc
Bicycle Thieves

[soarinsteven]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

My wishlist is pretty much all the same, but it is worth mentioning again because it has been a while.

Picnic at Hanging Rock
Ghost World
Ghost Dog
In a Lonely Place
Passion of Joan of Arc
Bicycle Thieves

Also, forever wanting them to release Rocco and His Brothers.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

Be aware that the Lionsgate LA GRANDE ILLUSION is one of their very few Criterion-quality releases. Simply stunning picture quality and a wonderful selection of bonus features. If only their other releases were up to this standard, I wouldn't mind them taking the rights from Criterion so much.

Yeah, that's the impression I get. The only StudioCanal release I have so far is Ran, which was...less than desired. I have considered The Third Man, since it seems to have extras not on the Criterion release, but since I do have the Criterion, the StudioCanal release always has low priority for me.

Oh, and THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA looks gorgeous on Kino's Blu-ray.

That's what I've heard. It's one of those films where every single frame is worth having a print of to hang on your wall.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by joie

Does anyone know that Studio Canal took rights from Criterion? Perhaps Criterion gave up rights by failing to renew them.

For which film? If you're talking about Grand Illusion, I doubt that Criterion would fail to renew if they had the chance. They put a lot of work into the DVD edition, and I don't see it not doing well enough for them for them willing to pass on rights renewals.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Finally joined this morning and I did get the 1 free month. Pretty cool! No idea where to start though... sooo many choices. Didn't realize how overwhelming it would be.

That's kinda the reason I haven't done it yet. My wife and I already have Amazon Prime for the free shipping, so I use that for streaming as well. And I already had a Netflix subscription that I'd let lapse, but since getting a new "smart TV" I re-upped. And I already have literally hundreds of films in my watch list. At the moment, I can't see spending more money for Hulu+ for access to even more movies I'll have difficulty finding the time to watch, Criterion or no.

[C138]

Well, not sure if anyone has seen this (or posted about it) but, according to the link below, perhaps these are what will be announced tomorrow for December.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...oid=70&page=15

[Show spoiler]Punch-Drunk Love
Bicycle Thieves
The Kid
Ikiru
La Strada
The Coward

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I watched Stanley Kubrick's Killer's Kiss last night and loved it. It's a no-nonsense low-key work of film noir that makes me think of Blast of Silence or of the Jules Dassin American films.

Speaking of Dassin's American films, the other month I watched Naked City on Netflix. It's been the first time I've seen the film in decades. I just never got around to picking up the Criterion DVD, as much as I'd been loving the DVD sets of the TV series from the 60s (the series is my second favorite TV crime drama of all time, behind only The Wire).

Anyway, I was surprised at how underwhelmed I was by the film. Not that I didn't like it, but I expected to like it a lot more than I did. I love Barry Fitzgerald as a character actor, but his Lt. Muldoon didn't work for me. And the voice-over narration, a lot of it in the second person, felt too intrusive (and expository). There's voice-over narration in the TV series, too, but it's usually just the introduction.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by C138

Well, not sure if anyone has seen this (or posted about it) but, according to the link below, perhaps these are what will be announced tomorrow for December.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...oid=70&page=15

[Show spoiler]Punch-Drunk Love
Bicycle Thieves
The Kid
Ikiru
La Strada
The Coward

Wha-?

Where did this list come from?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Speaking of Dassin's American films, the other month I watched Naked City on Netflix. It's been the first time I've seen the film in decades. I just never got around to picking up the Criterion DVD, as much as I'd been loving the DVD sets of the TV series from the 60s (the series is my second favorite TV crime drama of all time, behind only The Wire).

Anyway, I was surprised at how underwhelmed I was by the film. Not that I didn't like it, but I expected to like it a lot more than I did. I love Barry Fitzgerald as a character actor, but his Lt. Muldoon didn't work for me. And the voice-over narration, a lot of it in the second person, felt too intrusive (and expository). There's voice-over narration in the TV series, too, but it's usually just the introduction.

I believe that Irene Kane, the actress in Killer's Kiss, also stars in the Naked City TV series. She's really something else. I'll have to check out that show at some point, but it'll be a while before I can.

The Killing also features voice-over narration, and it's a trip to hear it in a Kubrick film. It goes hand-in-hand with the calculated precision of the narration, though, and it is necessary to guide us through the flashbacks.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Wha-?

Where did this list come from?

Oh, none of those are confirmed (for this announcement), and if you work back through the list there are a bunch of others. I think these are just likely future releases.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I believe that Irene Kane, the actress in Killer's Kiss, also stars in the Naked City TV series. She's really something else. I'll have to check out that show at some point, but it'll be a while before I can.

The Killing also features voice-over narration, and it's a trip to hear it in a Kubrick film. It goes hand-in-hand with the calculated precision of the narration, though, and it is necessary to guide us through the flashbacks.

She was also in Bob Fosse's All That Jazz. I can't wait for 20th Century Fox's 2014 BluRay release of that spectacular musical.

I've been meaning to see Star 80. Does anybody feel that the film should get a spine?

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Interesting. I wonder when those pages showed up. They have phantom pages for a lot of people, but the sequential nature of those pages seems suggestive.

Good news for anyone hoping this will happen - I just imported the UK release, so it definitely will. ;P

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Wha-?

Where did this list come from?

It's definitely not true.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I watched Stanley Kubrick's Killer's Kiss last night and loved it. It's a no-nonsense low-key work of film noir that makes me think of Blast of Silence or of the Jules Dassin American films.

I'm about to watch The Killing.

I decided to watch Killer's Kiss first, although it is merely included as a supplement on The Killing package, because it's the earlier of the two films, and I want to see how Kubrick evolved.

I am glad that the two movies are on the same disc, but I find it odd that the Criterion cover art only lists The Killing instead of listing both films.

I really wish I had watched these before I broke into my UK Kubrick set (of which I am now on to Full Metal Jacket), for that reason alone. I do look forward to watching the two films in the near future though.

Originally Posted by Judex

Really debating wether to get that or continue to wait for a UK release, which doesn't seem to be happening...

I would be ecstatic if AE stepped up and did an upgrade of their entire Tarkovsky collection, but that seems like something that will remain more a dream than reality.

Originally Posted by blkhrt

My wishlist is pretty much all the same, but it is worth mentioning again because it has been a while.

Picnic at Hanging Rock
Ghost World
Ghost Dog
In a Lonely Place
Passion of Joan of Arc
Bicycle Thieves

While I would like Joan of Arc upgraded for all those who aren't region free, the timing would be inopportune since I finally decided to import MOC's release. I really, really need to see Bicycle Thieves but I can't bring myself to buy the DVD, like most Criterion releases.

Originally Posted by C138

Well, not sure if anyone has seen this (or posted about it) but, according to the link below, perhaps these are what will be announced tomorrow for December.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...oid=70&page=15

[Show spoiler]Punch-Drunk Love
Bicycle Thieves
The Kid
Ikiru
La Strada
The Coward

I would lose my mind if PDL was announced tomorrow. The Kid would just be icing. A lot of these look like prospective titles though, and not necessarily stuff that will be announced yet. I hope 4 by Agnes Varda isn't announced yet, because I haven't even cracked into the DVD set I picked up in July.