The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'm not going to lie: I just chuckled a little bit.

You crack me up, JW.

Well, I'm glad I can at least still do that, Mr. D.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I'm of the opinion that Kubrick isn't cold or detached, though. I think he's a pretty emotional director and has a lot to say about being human, something Spielberg significantly lacks. .

I find the experience of watching a Kubrick film to be pretty draining. It's all the indoor shots lit with natural light and maybe the fact that characters like Alex Delarge and Barry Lyndon are loathsome. ...and his trademark zoom outs - still portraits coming to life. I absolutely love the artistry. I strive to be a perfectionist myself, but that's probably what I mean when I say detached.

He definitely has a lot to say about being human in "A Clockwork Orange" and especially "Full Metal Jacket." I agree there wholeheartedly!

He's my #1A favorite director of all-time although what I wrote here probably doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

funny, watched this yesterday. Don't really see all hype but it was an enjoyable movie. Weird thing is that I keep thinking about the movie but nothing really stood out!

I watched it last night and I was really wowed by it.

Originally Posted by JJJ225

This was one of the very first titles Criterion bested in HD several years ago. I think it's the last one that they have not released yet. Wonder why.

I know.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Bicycle Thieves is the saddest movie that I've ever seen. I'd gladly upgrade it to Blu-ray, although I have to be in a specific mood to revisit it, to say the least.

It honestly is. It sounds like it could be the stupidest, most boring, film ever, but it's one big, devastating thrill ride.

Originally Posted by ravenus

You desperately need to be region-free
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Bicyc...-Blu-ray/8333/

Tell me about it. Do you have a recommended Blu-ray player?

Also, if I become Region Free, I'll be spending so much money haha.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Last night TCM showed Los Olvidados. I hadn't seen it for many, many years. It' s still a powerful, brutal film that pulls no punches. Has it ever been mentioned as a possible Criterion title?

Someone? Anyone?? No one???

[SammyJankis]

I agree with a lot of his points regarding A.I, but at the same time I really don't feel as passionate about it as he does. At all. I've tried to like it. I went back earlier this year with hope that I would like it. That it would finally hit me like it has so many others. But it still just gives me a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe not as bad of a taste as Saving Private Ryan does, but it's still there.

[colinrgeorge]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Whoah! I think you kind of missed the point. Andre was a bit of a phony.

I love My Dinner with Andre. Such an engrossing, fascinating watch every time.

I don't think we're necessarily meant to think of Andre as a phony. It's a valid perspective, but I don't think Malle is interested in painting him as anything more than an eccentric. Personally, I find his perspective as fascinating as it is loopy.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I agree with a lot of his points regarding A.I, but at the same time I really don't feel as passionate about it as he does. At all. I've tried to like it. I went back earlier this year with hope that I would like it. That it would finally hit me like it has so many others. But it still just gives me a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe not as bad of a taste as Saving Private Ryan does, but it's still there.

I understand. That is similar to my relationship with Its a Wonderful Life. While I recognize what everyone finds so noteworthy about it, the layers of schmatz coating keeps me from responding to it in a genuine way. (This analogy may be a bit off, but you get my drift).

Originally Posted by colinrgeorge

I love My Dinner with Andre. Such an engrossing, fascinating watch every time.

I don't think we're necessarily meant to think of Andre as a phony. It's a valid perspective, but I don't think Malle is interested in painting him as anything more than an eccentric. Personally, I find his perspective as fascinating as it is loopy.

Nicely put, George. While I don't see Malle totally damning Andre, I see a bit of criticism there nonetheless: a recognition that he has the tendency to cut people off and afford them a chance to respond only out of courtesy, not genuine interest. I do respect your view and I suspect my bias towards his type may play a part in my perception of him.

Regardless, I was engrossed throughout because it's a terrifically written and acted film!

[brandon_260]

I just finished watching Maurice Pialat's Van Gogh, which got me thinking back to L'enfance nue, which was one of the first films I watched when I started getting into foreign films and I was really into 60's French films. I would really like Criterion to upgrade it at some point.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I understand. That is similar to my relationship with Its a Wonderful Life. While I recognize what everyone finds so noteworthy about it, the layers of schmatz coating keeps me from responding to it in a genuine way. (This analogy may be a bit off, but you get my drift).

On the plus side, your letterbox reminded me that I need to watch Mysteries of Lisbon. Assuming it arrives at my library in time, I plan on watching it Monday. Would watch it tomorrow if I had it on me. I do need to watch Hour of the Wolf, which I've had checked out for almost a week.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by colinrgeorge

I love My Dinner with Andre. Such an engrossing, fascinating watch every time.

I don't think we're necessarily meant to think of Andre as a phony. It's a valid perspective, but I don't think Malle is interested in painting him as anything more than an eccentric. Personally, I find his perspective as fascinating as it is loopy.

Well said, George. I think Malle may be living vicariously through Andre though.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Nicely put, George. While I don't see Malle totally damning Andre, I see a bit of criticism there nonetheless: a recognition that he has the tendency to cut people off and afford them a chance to respond only out of courtesy, not genuine interest. I do respect your view and I suspect my bias towards his type may play a part in my perception of him.

Regardless, I was engrossed throughout because it's a terrifically written and acted film!

I think you should see this film not just about a man talking but also about a man listening. "Listening" is as much a part of My Dinner with Andre as conversing. I think Wallace's role as listener is just as appropriate as Andre's role as talker and that yin/yang is what makes this film work on so many levels. I think Malle believes in what Andre believes especially if you've seen Black Moon (that only came out a few years earlier) because there were talking animals and plants in that film (and it is mentioned often in My Dinner with Andre). I think Louis Malle is a big believer in post-apocalyptic society as was portrayed in Black Moon, and he is dissatisfied about current society in general. I bet if Mr. Malle were still alive today, he'd be pretty burnt out and alienated with the "selfie phenomenon" generation too.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jw007

Black Moon (that only came out a few years earlier) because there were talking animals and plants in that film

I made a blind purchase of the Criterion DVD of Black Moon shortly after it was released, I watched it as soon as I got home, and I spent the next couple of weeks curled up in a fetal position in the corner of my living room.

When someone with the username "The Great Owl" feels uneasy while watching a movie about talking animals, that's not awesome.

In all fairness, I did not have an outright dislike for the film, and I actually enjoyed the sheer offbeat randomness of the whole affair, but it was quite abnormal like nothing I've watched before. On the other hand, a wise man once said that life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

On the plus side, your letterbox reminded me that I need to watch Mysteries of Lisbon. Assuming it arrives at my library in time, I plan on watching it Monday. Would watch it tomorrow if I had it on me. I do need to watch Hour of the Wolf, which I've had checked out for almost a week.

Great! Try to give yourself ample time to see it during the day. There is a lot of plot. Let me reiterate: there is a lot of plot, especially in the second half, so make sure you have the stamina to savor this huge film.

I think you'll be surprised by it too: it has the spectacle of, say, Barry Lyndon or The Leopard (slightly, but not too far off). It has some of the most rapturous sights of the last several years!

Like I stated earlier: I'm still a viewing away from untangling the plot of the last hour of the film. There are way too many relationships to keep track of. I expect you to breeze through it, though, and mock me later on when you deem it not as "complex" as I am making it out to be.

(Hour of the Wolf is a big anomaly in Bergman's body of work: you could almost call it a "genre film". I am very curious to see what you will make of it.)

On the topic of Bergman, Winter Light is airing on TCM later this month. As my all time favorite Bergman: it comes with my highest recommendation. On the surface, it may appear as Bergman turning subtext into super-text, but gradually, the layers reveal the depths of Bergman's spiritual torment. At 80 minutes, the amount of punch it packs is unparalleled.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jw007

Well said, George. I think Malle may be living vicariously through Andre though.



I think you should see this film not just about a man talking but also about a man listening. "Listening" is as much a part of My Dinner with Andre as conversing. I think Wallace's role as listener is just as appropriate as Andre's role as talker and that yin/yang is what makes this film work on so many levels. I think Malle believes in what Andre believes especially if you've seen Black Moon (that only came out a few years earlier) because there were talking animals and plants in that film (and it is mentioned often in My Dinner with Andre). I think Louis Malle is a big believer in post-apocalyptic society as was portrayed in Black Moon, and he is dissatisfied about current society in general. I bet if Mr. Malle were still alive today, he'd be pretty burnt out and alienated with the "selfie phenomenon" generation too.

Definitely! I wouldn't like it so much if I felt it was just Andre jabbering on about Iranian rugs. His stories are interesting, no doubt, but I still view him as a tad, a big tad, self absorbed. And you are totally right about that sense of societal dissatisfaction that pervades his work. I mean, hell, you can trace that line all the way to the anarchic Zazie dans le Metro. The man always had big ideas, but the real kicker is that he consistently followed it up with very effective execution.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Slightly off topic, but how often does Criterion release the Eclipse sets? I've got 1 or 2 in my wish list and I know I'm almost certainly getting the Nikkatsu Noir set for Christmas, but are they included in any of the monthly releases or do they have their own schedule?

How often have they (historically) added new ones?

They've done about 5 sets a year on average, although I think there were only 2 in 2013. Early Bergman, the first series, was released in 2007. They are announced with the mainline titles every mid-month.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Great! Try to give yourself ample time to see it during the day. There is a lot of plot. Let me reiterate: there is a lot of plot, especially in the second half, so make sure you have the stamina to savor this huge film.

I think you'll be surprised by it too: it has the spectacle of, say, Barry Lyndon or The Leopard (slightly, but not too far off). It has some of the most rapturous sights of the last several years!

Like I stated earlier: I'm still a viewing away from untangling the plot of the last hour of the film. There are way too many relationships to keep track of. I expect you to breeze through it, though, and mock me later on when you deem it not as "complex" as I am making it out to be.

I've heard this before. It intrigues me even more. I first heard of the film from Vishnevetsky.

The length is intimidating, but I watched The Best of Youth in one sitting, so I'm expecting to make it through this one in one sitting.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I've heard this before. It intrigues me even more. I first heard of the film from Vishnevetsky.

The length is intimidating, but I watched The Best of Youth in one sitting, so I'm expecting to make it through this one in one sitting.

Heck yes! What really put the film on my radar was his 2011 list where he had it at number one, I believe.

Are you anticipating his debut film as writer/director, Ellie Lumme? I certainly am and I hope the film is as unique as his take on movies. Do you know when it is to be released?

(Don't worry, Owl, I'm in my assigned seat as we speak.)

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Heck yes! What really put the film on my radar was his 2011 list where he had it at number one, I believe.

Are you anticipating his debut film as writer/director, Ellie Lumme? I certainly am and I hope the film is as unique as his take on movies. Do you know when it is to be released?

(Don't worry, Owl, I'm in my assigned seat as we speak.)

It was number one. He does have.. interesting taste. It's not always aligned with mine, but he always has something worthwhile to say.

I am. I'm hoping it gets a release soon. Curious to see what he can do with that budget. It's always interesting when a critic goes to the director's chair.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

On the topic of Bergman, Winter Light is airing on TCM later this month. As my all time favorite Bergman: it comes with my highest recommendation. On the surface, it may appear as Bergman turning subtext into super-text, but gradually, the layers reveal the depths of Bergman's spiritual torment. At 80 minutes, the amount of punch it packs is unparalleled.

I definitely need to revisit Winter Light. When I last viewed it, I enjoyed it, but it definitely ranks among my least favorite Bergman films. I think I'd have a new appreciation for it after digging further into his body of work.

[brandon_260]

Don't remember seeing this pop up in the thread when Criterion posted it and I kept forgetting about it. Daniel Lopatin AKA Oneohtrix Point Never's Top 10. Bergman, Cronenberg, Tarkovsky. Great choices all around. http://www.criterion.com/explore/207...patin-s-top-10

If anyone hasn't listened to his new album, R Plus Seven, it comes highly recommended.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

On the topic of Bergman, Winter Light is airing on TCM later this month. As my all time favorite Bergman: it comes with my highest recommendation. On the surface, it may appear as Bergman turning subtext into super-text, but gradually, the layers reveal the depths of Bergman's spiritual torment. At 80 minutes, the amount of punch it packs is unparalleled.

Agreed. It's brilliant, probably Bergman's most underrated. I wish Criterion would release The Ingmar Bergman Trilogy on Blu.