The Criterion Collection

[hustlermane]

My BN.com order placed on 15 November FINALLY arrived here today. Ah, the joys of international shipping.

So my entire Criterion blu-ray collection is now:

Marketa Lazarova
Senso
Pale Flower
Closeup
Lola Montes
Seventh Seal
Seconds
Red Shoes

First five are blind buys and haven't seen them yet. So I'm pretty happy with my 8 so far, any recommendations for what I should get next? Bigger Than Life and Sweet Smell of Success are almost certainly next, but I'd like some blind buys as well...

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by hustlermane

So I'm pretty happy with my 8 so far, any recommendations for what I should get next? Bigger Than Life and Sweet Smell of Success are almost certainly next, but I'd like some blind buys as well...

I recommend any of the Hitchcock or Lang releases, they're all excellent. (I can't wait for Foreign Correspondent). I also really enjoyed Letter Never Sent. Eating Raoul was also a nice, funny 80's cheese movie that has lots of replay value. A Man Escaped is a great minimalist prison movie and I think most people around here are stoked for Rififi on Blu-Ray (excellent film). Anatomy of a Murder or 12 Angry Men would be a great choice, especially both watched back to back!

If you want something silent, I think Gold Rush is a good entry into Chaplin. Branded to Kill is about as eccentic as they come but I really enjoyed it, totally off the way and insane. Plus there's also some of the Wes Anderson movies, I'd recommend Rushmore or The Royal Tenenbaums.

If you're open to DVD only releases, Green for Danger, Thieves Highway or Nightrain to Munich should give you more than your moneys worth.

I know that might be a lot and I'm sure others will have a completely different list of suggestions but that's the beauty of the CC releases. 10 people can give you 10 different lists, there's just so much to chose from!

[hustlermane]

I've got local, DVD releases of a few of those like Chaplins, Branded to Kill and A Man Escaped, and the UK blu of Rififi. But Anatomy of a Murder might be a good choice - love the film, probably creeps into my Top 5 Preminger films (who is a director way underrepresented on blu!) and looks like a good package. Letter Never Sent, especially at the lower price tag looks great as well!

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by hustlermane

I've got local, DVD releases of a few of those like Chaplins, Branded to Kill and A Man Escaped, and the UK blu of Rififi. But Anatomy of a Murder might be a good choice - love the film, probably creeps into my Top 5 Preminger films (who is a director way underrepresented on blu!) and looks like a good package. Letter Never Sent, especially at the lower price tag looks great as well!

Letter Never Sent is amazing. I really really wish it had some type of commentary. Ministry of Fear is another one on the cheaper end and it's excellent as well. If you are into the whole Noir genre, I'd recommend the Basil Dearden's London Underground Eclipse set, 4 great movies!

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I recommend any of the Hitchcock or Lang releases, they're all excellent. (I can't wait for Foreign Correspondent). I also really enjoyed Letter Never Sent. Eating Raoul was also a nice, funny 80's cheese movie that has lots of replay value. A Man Escaped is a great minimalist prison movie and I think most people around here are stoked for Rififi on Blu-Ray (excellent film). Anatomy of a Murder or 12 Angry Men would be a great choice, especially both watched back to back!

If you want something silent, I think Gold Rush is a good entry into Chaplin. Branded to Kill is about as eccentic as they come but I really enjoyed it, totally off the way and insane. Plus there's also some of the Wes Anderson movies, I'd recommend Rushmore or The Royal Tenenbaums.

If you're open to DVD only releases, Green for Danger, Thieves Highway or Nightrain to Munich should give you more than your moneys worth.

I know that might be a lot and I'm sure others will have a completely different list of suggestions but that's the beauty of the CC releases. 10 people can give you 10 different lists, there's just so much to chose from!

Great recommendations, especially for mentioning A Man Escaped and Letter Never Sent

Robert Bresson is one of my favorite directors. I would not call A Man Escaped a minimalist film. Bresson's surgical film and sound editing is what is one of the best in all cinema. The story is also amazing (it is based on a true story). I highly recommend Pickpocket or Au Hasard Balthazar.

Letter Never Sent is a Russian film masterpieces especially in the realm of cinematography. Sergey Urusevsky is a fantastic cinematographer. If you liked this movie, his The Cranes are Flying is cinematography gold, beautiful camera movements.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Great recommendations, especially for mentioning A Man Escaped and Letter Never Sent

Robert Bresson is one of my favorite directors. I would not call A Man Escaped a minimalist film. Bresson's surgical film and sound editing is what is one of the best in all cinema. The story is also amazing (it is based on a true story). I highly recommend Pickpocket or Au Hasard Balthazar.

Letter Never Sent is a Russian film masterpieces especially in the realm of cinematography. Sergey Urusevsky is a fantastic cinematographer. If you liked this movie, his The Cranes are Flying is cinematography gold, beautiful camera movements.

I mean minimalist in that the story really only focuses on a small handful of characters in a very limited # of scenes. There is no real antagonist and the story is straightforward. (Albeit VERY well done). I don't mean minimalist to be anything negative, just that the film is very limited in scope. (Again, that's not a bad thing at all!)

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I mean minimalist in that the story really only focuses on a small handful of characters in a very limited # of scenes. There is no real antagonist and the story is straightforward. (Albeit VERY well done). I don't mean minimalist to be anything negative, just that the film is very limited in scope. (Again, that's not a bad thing at all!)

The school of Minimalism is seen in painting, architecture and music. I never heard it correctly applied to a film. It is a movement that started in the late 60s, years after the release of Bresson's film. Having studied painting and music, I guess I have a completely different understanding of minimalism.

Some Quay brothers short films might correctly be called minimalist, they repeat scenes multiple times adding few subtle movements.

I am glad you enjoyed the film.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

The school of Minimalism is seen in painting, architecture and music. I never heard it correctly applied to a film. It is a movement that started in the late 60s, years after the release of Bresson's film. Having studied painting and music, I guess I have a completely different understanding of minimalism.

Adjective: being or offering no more than what is required or essential.

I didn't mean it as a school of thought or style of art

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Adjective: being or offering no more than what is required or essential.

I didn't mean it as a school of thought or style of art

In conclusion,

A Man Escaped is not the film equivalent to Philip Glass' Music in 12 Parts

[smoss469]

If you enjoyed the detailed realism for the heist in Rififi, you'll love it, that's for sure!

[BluMonday]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

I just want Criterion to someday release Breaking the Waves.

Funny because in that Criterion drawing, that's the first movie I thought of seeing the angel flying over the wave with the bell.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by smoss469

If you enjoyed the detailed realism for the heist in Rififi, you'll love it, that's for sure!

I have not seen Rififi, but will definitely check it out now.

[pro-bassoonist]

LIV & INGMAR: OUT NOW IN SELECT CINEMAS ACROSS THE U.S.

Liv & Ingmar - A Love Story - OFFICIAL TRAILER - DOCUMENTARY 2012 - YouTube

Pro-B

[*DrStrangelove*]

All this talk about Le Circle Rouge made me go on ebay and see how much it's going for Wish I would've left my copy unopened! Really though, great film. Probably gonna rewatch it tonight along with Vivre Sa Vie.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by octagon

It's twelve below and I still haven't watched The Ice Storm.

Hmmmm..........

I'm smart. Tonight was the perfect night to watch this.

I kind of almost sort of wish I hadn't watched the making of interviews though. It was a great feature with a lot of great interviews but there were a couple of 'how they did it' bits that will be hard to get out of my head during future viewings.

But damn, what a great film. Bleak, depressing and yet still oddly enjoyable. It was actually fun to watch which still kind of baffles me.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by BluMonday

Funny because in that Criterion drawing, that's the first movie I thought of seeing the angel flying over the wave with the bell.

Does a bell play a significant role in BTW? I've never seen it so that's why I didn't grasp the clue entirely.

I can see the angel floating over the waves meaning something, though.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by octagon

It's twelve below and I still haven't watched The Ice Storm.

Hmmmm..........

THE ICE STORM is one of Ang Lee's best, always devastating, the perfect Thanksgiving film (to put a damper on the festivities!), and especially interesting to see so many stars in early major dramatic roles, although Criterion's disc is just a bit softer and more video-y than their usual stellar film-like transfers.

But only twelve below? It was 25 below up my way today, and got up to about 18 below tonight! I decided it was the ideal time to watch DRY SUMMER from Criterion's new World Cinema Project box set! (Great film, by the way... strong performances and fantastic B&W cinematography.)

[BluMonday]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Does a bell play a significant role in BTW? I've never seen it so that's why I didn't grasp the clue entirely.

I can see the angel floating over the waves meaning something, though.

I don't know how much I can say without spoiling the movie, but there's a scene at the very end that reminds me of this clue.

[Show spoiler]"Angels" are ringing bells in the clouds/heaven above the oil rig.

[dorothyv]

I bought copies of Le Cercle Rouge and Army of Shadows at my local B&N when I heard that they were going out of print. Then, a few months later (and before I got around to watching them or even opening them), I found used copies of both at my local Half Price Books.

So, if anyone wants my new copy of either title, let me know. I am willing to let them go for what I paid for them originally (MSRP - B&N member discount) provided that the person who buys them is buying them to watch and not to just resell at a higher price.

EDIT: Le Cercle Rouge has been claimed, Army of Shadows is still available

[MKej]

Do you guys ever get an answer from suggestions@criterion.com ?