The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Breathless definitely takes some cues from American film noir, although I would not classify it as such. It's a cool noir-edged French new wave film, I suppose. The jazz really injects a lively vibe into the story, just as Miles Davis's score makes Malle's Elevator to the Gallows a cooler film.

I agree. It, of course, falls into the category of French New Wave, but the film has many themes and is equal parts art film as it is crime story.

It is perhaps only noir-ish in a referential sense... and the jazz riff.

[smoss469]

I can't wrap my head around the love Breathless gets. I found it boring, a chore to watch and filled with horrible editing (the jump cuts are atrocious). I thought the only enjoyable parts were the Paris scenery and the beautiful Jean Seberg.

I consider it the worst blind buy I've ever made, regardless of any medium or product type.

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I can't wrap my head around the love Breathless gets. I found it boring, a chore to watch and filled with horrible editing (the jump cuts are atrocious). I thought the only enjoyable parts were the Paris scenery and the beautiful Jean Seberg.

I consider it the worst blind buy I've ever made, regardless of any medium or product type.

I'm sure each of us has a movie that we have distaste for and which is universally coveted. I for one love Breathless.

I understand where you're coming from, because I can't stand Ikiru. And, I'm probably alone in that regard.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I, too, chose to watch a Criterion film in lieu of the Oscars although I am glad I caught Jared Leto's acceptance speech before giving Breathless a spin in the disc player. Anyway, yeah.. Breathless.. Wonderful. The two of them could have spoke about nothing for the entire duration of the film in the hotel room and I still would have loved it. The last time I saw it was probably close to 15 years ago, so I remembered next to nothing. Seeing it as a younger man, all the style was lost on me - went right over my head. I didn't give much thought to Godard's typical poetry that comes through the dialogue either. tons of re-watchability. and of course, the film looks amazing in high-def. One of my favorites in the CC!

Glad you liked it!

I opted for Game of Thrones: Season 2 instead of the Oscars...or anything else for that matter...and I'm glad I made the right choice!

[bwdowiak]

I thought about you, Smoss, while watching it because I remembered that you said you didn't like it. Hmm... do you think you were turned off by the jump cuts (in the beginning there are quite a few) to the point where you became disinterested? Of course, you can never twist someone's arm into liking something, but I'm a bit surprised that you can't get into this one. I know that you are fond of Melville. Not that they are the same, but there is the crime story going on in Breathless that I found worthwhile enough to sustain interest.

The other deal breaker might be whether or not you find the long hotel scene interesting because it is all conversation. I LOVED that sequence.

I accept the jump cuts as style choices. The entire film is pretty raw and that's one reason why it works for me.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

I'm sure each of us has a movie that we have distaste for and which is universally coveted. I for one love Breathless.

I understand where you're coming from, because I can't stand Ikiru. And, I'm probably alone in that regard.

Ahhh.. you guys are killin' me!!

tryin' to think of what that film is for me... I guess it's the Star Wars movies. I saw them when I was a kid and I guess I enjoyed them well enough. As an adult, I tried to watch the first one and couldn't get more than about 20 minutes in.

oh.. for Criterion films, it's Le Samourai. I am absolutely CRAZY about Melville and maybe this will change when I get to see it again, (I do look fwd to a blu-ray release) but there is seriously nothing happening in this film. I am all for the minimalist style, but I just couldn't grab onto anything with this one.

[14728]

Since we're on the topic of Movies everyone but you loves, I would have to go with the Searchers. Some people see it as moving, gripping, and powerful. I just see it as a cheesy 50s western. It's not that bad, it's just kind of ok. People might call me a blankethead (actually insult from the movie) for not seeing its beauty, but the acting is bland, the writing stereotypical, and everything is surprisingly clean for a film that takes place in the west. With all those factors, how could you make a masterpiece, let alone a good film?

Album-wise, I have to go with Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan. Tangled Up in Blue and Shelter from the storm are classics, but the singing! Oh god the singing! And people say its some of his best vocal work! It's almost intolerable! People say that the lyrics are amazing, but I can't understand what the hell he's saying, and the cd comes with no lyric book! Maybe I need to give it another listen.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by 14728

Since we're on the topic of Movies everyone but you loves, I would have to go with the Searchers. Some people see it as moving, gripping, and powerful. I just see it as a cheesy 50s western. It's not that bad, it's just kind of ok. People might call me a blankethead (actually insult from the movie) for not seeing its beauty, but the acting is bland, the writing stereotypical, and everything is surprisingly clean for a film that takes place in the west. With all those factors, how could you make a masterpiece, let alone a good film?

I disagree. It's a great film. However, I do recognize the fact Ford often has unbearably annoying characters in his films. Vera Miles in The Searchers and the little guy Michaleen in The Quiet Man, for example.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

I'm sure each of us has a movie that we have distaste for and which is universally coveted.

Agreed.

I won't name any specific movie (*cough* Robert Altman's Nashville *cough* *ahem*), but I'm also sure that each of us is underwhelmed by a movie that is widely acclaimed.

*cough*
Nashville
*cough*

(Okay, it's not a bad movie, but it is my least favorite of the Criterion Blu-rays in my collection.)

[pedromvu]

While on that subject, one of my most hated Criterions that everyone seems to love is Kiss me Deadly, i just found incredibly difficult to enjoy since the acting of everyone was terrible , the plot was interesting but the acting ruined it for me.

[RipleyLV426]

So, all the Park Circus UK Chaplin films dropped in a price a lot. Should I wait on getting a few, hoping for a criterion release or just get them. Heard there was room for improvement on The Circus, but not sure how much they could do.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm also sure that each of us is underwhelmed by a movie that is widely acclaimed.

For me, the top two are Gone with the Wind and The Godfather.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

For me, the top two are Gone with the Wind and The Godfather.

Gone with the Wind, agreed. Not my cup o' tea.


Alos, got my two shipments in today, sans a golden ticket. Still, pretty nice day to get both orders on the same day.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I thought about you, Smoss, while watching it because I remembered that you said you didn't like it. Hmm... do you think you were turned off by the jump cuts (in the beginning there are quite a few) to the point where you became disinterested? Of course, you can never twist someone's arm into liking something, but I'm a bit surprised that you can't get into this one. I know that you are fond of Melville. Not that they are the same, but there is the crime story going on in Breathless that I found worthwhile enough to sustain interest.

The other deal breaker might be whether or not you find the long hotel scene interesting because it is all conversation. I LOVED that sequence.

I accept the jump cuts as style choices. The entire film is pretty raw and that's one reason why it works for me.

I found the entire movie vastly overrated and pretty... well awful. That's the best way I can describe it. I don't really see it being similar to Melville's work that I own. (Granted I only own 3 of his films and have seen a 4th but I have 3 of his CC DVD's in a stack on my desk from Netflix that I just haven't gotten around to watching yet).

Basically it was terrible on every level other than just a purely visual stand point, but since I was watching a movie and not looking at a picture, appreciating the beauty doesn't make up for every other fault (IMO).

The only reason I haven't taken the disc out and burned it is because someone might be looking for a copy eventually and I could trade it for something that I might enjoy

I know a few others have been really disappointed with it, but I think I've been more vocal about my disappointments. We can't love them all, someone a few days back actually was pretty rough on Rififi. A movie I've really enjoyed and thought was basically loved by all.

Thankfully my CC disappointments are few and far between. So far out of probably 100, I have 1 that I loathe, 2 I'm really struggling with and 1 that I disliked but not to the level of Breathless. 96% success is pretty damn impressive, especially when most of the ones I buy, are blind buys.

And holy crap, the mail was delivered. 6" of snow on the ground, roads covered and the mail was delivered. I received order #2, no golden tickets though

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm pumped up about the 35mm theatrical showing of Breathless here in Atlanta next Tuesday. I'm just as excited about it as I am about seeing Seven Samurai at the theater tomorrow night. Two epic Tuesdays in a row.

Breathless has such an incredible rhythm to it that keeps me enthralled.

Any film that acknowledges Monogram gets points from me.

[Thebunk]

So I watched High and Low last night and it instantly became my favorite Kurasowa (I have only have seen 7 Samurai which I love, along with Rashoman which I hated).

To me, the film really shocked me in so many ways. It was great seeing Kurasowa direct something other then a Samurai flick. The areas that jumped out most were

[Show spoiler]just how dark the flick was for a 1963 film, especially the whole heroin part of the flick. I also like that while the protagonist got his money back, it was too late. And the whole train sequence was great as well. I was shocked at just how modern the film felt and the whole thing flew by.

Given that, are there any other later era Kurasowa films that are easy to view from an accessibility perspective (I have Hulu). I am thinking The Bad Sleep Well next since it is on there. I have also never seen Ikiru.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Thankfully my CC disappointments are few and far between. So far out of probably 100, I have 1 that I loathe, 2 I'm really struggling with and 1 that I disliked but not to the level of Breathless. 96% success is pretty damn impressive, especially when most of the ones I buy, are blind buys.

fair enough regarding yr assessment of Breathless.

I'm batting 95.2% with Criterion titles although many of those are borrowed as opposed to bought. The only two I didn't like were Kes (a second viewing could.. maybe change my mind.. probably not) and Mr. Hulot's Holiday was a somewhat painful experience for me.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Given that, are there any other later era Kurasowa films that are easy to view from an accessibility perspective (I have Hulu). I am thinking The Bad Sleep Well next since it is on there. I have also never seen Ikiru.

Stray Dog is my second favorite Akira Kurosawa film behind Seven Samurai, and it is set in postwar Japan. Stray Dog is probably the closest that Kurosawa came to traditional American film noir, and it is justifiably ranked along with American film noirs on many lists.

Drunken Angel and The Bad Sleep Well are also superb post-war Kurosawa films that draw from the film noir wellspring.

The Quiet Duel is another effective Kurosawa movie that is tragic, but easy to follow.

Everything in the Postwar Kurosawa Eclipse set is highly recommended, especially One Wonderful Sunday.

I'll add my name to the list of those who love Ikiru as well.

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I have the French Pathe Blu-ray release of Le Samourai, since it is an all-time favorite movie of mine. The transfer for this French Blu-ray is underwhelming, to say the least. I wrote a long User Review with my observations, but my 1.5-star video quality rating sums up my thoughts about the transfer. Those of you who own larger televisions than I do will probably be quite appalled at this presentation, and I recommend sticking with the Criterion DVD for now.

I am glad that I bought this French Blu-ray to satisfy my curiosity, but it is merely a placeholder until a better transfer arrives.

Just got back around to reading this. Thanks for the heads up. I wouldn't buy the French blu anyway b/c of the lack of English subs but this makes me wish the Criterion upgrade was coming soon.

[colinrgeorge]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

While on that subject, one of my most hated Criterions that everyone seems to love is Kiss me Deadly, i just found incredibly difficult to enjoy since the acting of everyone was terrible , the plot was interesting but the acting ruined it for me.

I mostly agree... but that ending!