The Criterion Collection

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by bgart13

Do you think this release would've benefitted from two versions, then? This had been discussed for some time at another forum, and Bob Furmanek even showed plenty of evidence why wide matting helps. Of course, there was also Robert Harris stating the same discussion that he prefers 1.33/1.37 for it, even if 1.66 is accurate. It seems he also had influence with this release, providing caps from the timecoded version Criterion would end up releasing.

It just doesn't seem like it should be so difficult for aspect ratios to be confused or screwed up in this age (yes, I'm looking at you, Universal!).

Hello Ben,

It depends on the point of view/preference. I don't at all believe that the presentation is compromised because I also prefer the 1.37:1 ratio. The framing is very good and I am not at all convinced that the film was meant to be shown theatrically only in a widescreen ratio. Criterion were clearly aware of its history, as their booklet indicates.

In any event, the new restoration is of exceptionally high quality.

Pro-B

[ShellOilJunior]

I cannot wait until The Grand Budapest Hotel is released on blu-ray. Imagine all the discussions about the proper aspect ratio.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I cannot wait until The Grand Budapest Hotel is released on blu-ray. Imagine all the discussions about the proper aspect ratio.

I'm still being treated for aspect ratio whiplash.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by FestinaLente

Thanks for the heads up, iScottie! I love catching films like these on TCM. Just put them on my calendar.

Not a problem!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Coen

You are on a desert island and are allowed 1 Criterion BD from USA, Japan, Sweden, France, Italy and UK. What are your choices?

gosh, this question has made me realize that I have seen many French films and only have a smattering of international film otherwise.

I only feel qualified to answer:
USA - Rosemary's Baby
France - Army of Shadows
UK - The Lady Vanishes

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by Coen

You are on a desert island and are allowed 1 Criterion BD from USA, Japan, Sweden, France, Italy and UK. What are your choices?

USA: Down By Law
Japan: Late Spring
Sweden: Fanny & Alexander
France: Three Colors
Italy: 8 1/2
UK: Tess


And I'd sneak in:

USSR: Solaris
India: The Music Room
(although neither country is thoroughly represented in the collection, so I understand their exclusion from the hypothetical)

[The Bronx Bull]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I cannot wait until The Grand Budapest Hotel is released on blu-ray. Imagine all the discussions about the proper aspect ratio.

I'm torn. I absolutely loved The Grand Budapest Hotel, but it's the kind of blu-ray I don't want to pick up immediately, since it's more than likely that Criterion will eventually hit it out of the park with a phenomenal release.

[salad]

Originally Posted by CraigThom

In the good old day, around the time George Lefont reopened the Plaza, he also owned the Screening Room at Peachtree Battle, the Garden Hills Cinema in the Garden Hills Plaza, the Screening Room at Broadview Plaza, and the Tara (although the last played more mainstream movies). The artiest of all, though, was the Rhodes, which Lefont did not own.

In the late '70s and early '80s there was no shortage of places in Atlanta to see non-mainstream movies. And I can still tell you which of those I saw many specific movies in.

I know I saw something at the Lefont Toco Hills but cannot recall any specific titles -- or if any of them would have been considered "non-mainstream."

But I saw lots of movies at Garden Hills and at the Broadview Plaza Screening Room; I think the shopping center that hosted the latter was called Lindbergh Plaza by the time I ever went there.

The Peachtree Battle Screening Room must have closed before the mid 90s. I don't recall the Rhodes at all.

The Landmark Art Cinema reminds me of the Midtown 8 too much.

[belcherman]

OK, I'll play:

US: The Sweet Smell of Success
UK: The Third Man
Japan: The Seven Samurai
Sweden: Smiles of a Summer Night
France: Rules of the Game
Italy: 8 1/2*

* not my favorite Italian film, or even my favorite Fellini, but the only Criterion blu ray from Italy that I have seen.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I cannot wait until The Grand Budapest Hotel is released on blu-ray. Imagine all the discussions about the proper aspect ratio.

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I'm still being treated for aspect ratio whiplash.

I wonder sometimes about my eyesight. There was a large advertising stand for the film in the cinema lobby, giving you the story etc. It told you about the different ratio aspects etc. It is only after reading the comment from Shell that I remembered, I was so engrossed in the film I failed to notice

I wonder if it was because I was watching on an AVX screen

[BwayJ]

Has anyone noticed Criterion has changed their formatting again? Starting in April, some releases (like Riot in Cell Block 11, Master of the House, and Il sorpasso) are getting two releases: dual format and just DVD. DVDs will be priced $24.95 even if they have two discs. Certain ones, like the big Red River set, are just getting the dual format release. I understand doing this for A Hard Day's Night, which is where I first saw this happening (and is releasing a $19.95 DVD instead of $24.95), but why do you suppose they are doing this for titles that aren't likely to sell as well?

[CraigThom]

Originally Posted by salad

I know I saw something at the Lefont Toco Hills but cannot recall any specific titles -- or if any of them would have been considered "non-mainstream."

But I saw lots of movies at Garden Hills and at the Broadview Plaza Screening Room; I think the shopping center that hosted the latter was called Lindbergh Plaza by the time I ever went there.

The Peachtree Battle Screening Room must have closed before the mid 90s. I don't recall the Rhodes at all.

The Landmark Art Cinema reminds me of the Midtown 8 too much.

The Silver Screen (corrected name) was torn down to make room for that two-story shopping center near the street at Peachtree Battle. The Rhodes is still there, vacant, just south of the Rhodes House. It's a wonder it hasn't been torn down like everything else I remember in Midtown.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BwayJ

Has anyone noticed Criterion has changed their formatting again? Starting in April, some releases (like Riot in Cell Block 11, Master of the House, and Il sorpasso) are getting two releases: dual format and just DVD. DVDs will be priced $24.95 even if they have two discs. Certain ones, like the big Red River set, are just getting the dual format release. I understand doing this for A Hard Day's Night, which is where I first saw this happening (and is releasing a $19.95 DVD instead of $24.95), but why do you suppose they are doing this for titles that aren't likely to sell as well?

There must be a niche (library?) demand for some of these titles. Notice how many of the DVD releases don't contain all special features and essays.

[spargs]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

gosh, this question has made me realize that I have seen many French films and only have a smattering of international film otherwise.

I only feel qualified to answer:
USA - Rosemary's Baby
France - Army of Shadows
UK - The Lady Vanishes

I hear you... I only have the 1 Swedish film in my collection. I'll eventually get to Bergman's films, but I'm still catching up on so much other stuff. Neverending...

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by spargs

I hear you... I only have the 1 Swedish film in my collection. I'll eventually get to Bergman's films, but I'm still catching up on so much other stuff. Neverending...

same number of Swedish films I have! off the top of my head, I can't think of any others aside from Bergman and My Life as a Dog, so basically the question is, "which is your favorite Bergman film?" which I have yet to determine.

although I've appreciated the Italian films I've seen, nothing has distinguished itself as a 'desert island favorite.' I've seen La Dolce Vita, but have never seen 8 1/2, so maybe that one will do the trick.

[AaronJ]

USA: Rosemary's Baby
Japan: Rashomon
Sweden: Persona
France: Three Colors (Hey it's one spine number! )
Italy: L'Eclisse
UK: Repulsion (tough choice between this and "The Red Shoes")

Huh. Two Polanski pics. I guess it's not that surprising, really.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

same number of Swedish films I have! off the top of my head, I can't think of any others aside from Bergman and My Life as a Dog, so basically the question is, "which is your favorite Bergman film?" which I have yet to determine.

There is a a lot more to see beyond Bergman. Swedish Cinema has a long and very rich history.

One of my all-time favorites films is Roy Andersson's A Swedish Love Story a.k.a. En kärlekshistoria (1970). I find it rather strange that it has not entered the Criterion Collection yet as there has been a beautiful restoration of it for quite some time.

Mai Zetterling's films are also spectacular. I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Girls, with Bergman's favorite beauties Harriet Andersson and Bibi Andersson (Persona). Even the controversial Nattlek is available on an English-friendly DVD in Sweden.

Recently, I also picked up Mikael Marcimain's Call Girl, which was a European Discovery of the Year nominee in 2013. Fantastic time capsule, sort of a Swedish answer to Boogie Nights. Too bad it did not make to Blu-ray in the U.S. or UK. There are Scandinavian releases. But the Artificial Eye DVD release is excellent.

Colin Nutley's superb Oscar nominated Under the Sun was also released on DVD.

By the way, Olive Films announced that they are planning to bring to Blu-ray a number of films by the great Bo Widerberg





Pro-B

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

There is a [u]a lot[/i] more to see beyond Bergman. Swedish Cinema has a long and very rich history.

One of my all-time favorites films is Roy Andersson's A Swedish Love Story a.k.a. En kärlekshistoria (1970). I find it rather strange that it has not entered the Criterion Collection yet as there has been a beautiful restoration of it for quite some time.

Mai Zetterling's films are also spectacular. I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Girls, with Bergman's favorite beauties Harriet Andersson and Bibi Andersson (Persona. Even the controversial Nattlek is available on an English-friendly DVD in Sweden.

Recently, I also picked up Mikael Marcimain's Call Girl, which was a European Discovery of the Year nominee in 2013. Fantastic time capsule, sort of a Swedish answer to Boogie Nights. Too bad it did not make to Blu-ray in the U.S. or UK. There are Scandinavian releases. But the Artificial Eye DVD release is excellent.

Colin Nutley's superb Oscar nominated Under the Sun was also released on DVD.

By the way, Olive Films announced that they are planning to bring to Blu-ray a number of films by the great Bo Widerberg

[Show spoiler]

Pro-B

I was surprised to see an Olive Films label on The Devil, Probably DVD by Robert Bresson. This film was very hard to come by back in the day. I guess there is that unspoken rule that a movie cannot skip a generation of video media.

Olive films are slowly, but surely achieving the heights of criterion by releasing these high-quality DVDs and blu-rays of obscure, but great films.

[smoss469]

USA: Hopscotch
Japan: Branded to Kill or Yojimbo
Sweden: The Seventh Seal
France: Rififi or Army of Shadows
Italy: Trilogy of Life (Only Italian CC I've seen other than Mafioso which I thought stunk)
UK: The Lady Vanishes

[The Great Owl]

A few observations about my latest Criterion viewing...



Paolo Sorrentino's 2013 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, The Great Beauty, is a visually stunning movie where every still frame begs for the pause button. Although I get the feeling that The Great Beauty rails against "coolness" in general and, instead, focuses on the soul-deadening effects of placing aesthetics ahead of substance, I still have to say, first and foremost, that it is one of the coolest-looking films that I have seen in recent memory.

In a perfect world, Toni Servillo, who portrays the has-been writer-turned-Rome-socialite Jep Gambardella, would play the main villain in the next James Bond 007 film. This actor, with his mannerisms and his appearance, was clearly put on this planet to be a Bond villain, and he has the potential to be the most suavely sinister bad guy of the entire Bond franchise. Yeah, I know that, once again, the fact that I'm even thinking along these lines probably means that I entirely missed the boat on what The Great Beauty is supposed to convey, but...whatever...being a Bond villain is Servillo's calling. Hey, Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, if you're reading this, make it happen. I want to see Tony Servillo in a face-off with Daniel Craig in a splendidly lavish hidden lair in Italy.

Despite my above superficial observations, I actually was paying attention during The Great Beauty, and I personally took home a reminder that we should not overlook the supposedly small treasures in life by trying to grasp some all-encompassing "great beauty." A few quiet moments conversing with a longtime friend on a sofa in a quiet corner of a crowded room and relating to that friend, a cognizance of every acquaintance that passes through your life, the ability to stop and take in your surroundings at any given moment, and a willingness to travel outside the confines of your comfort zone could very well be the truly significant things that many of us ignore in favor of our searches for grand-scale self-realization and closure. While I was watching The Great Beauty, I thought about the low-key fun of my 20-year high school reunion, where small grudges and conflicts of the past were forgotten in favor of the happiness of simply seeing old faces. I thought about a conversation with a friend during a recent training run where I revealed my insecurities about having not amounted to anything significant in life at the age of 42, and where my friend, who was going through the same midlife crisis, replied with a laugh, "On the bright side, we should be happy that we've lived long enough to realize that life is pointless and has no purpose."

The Great Beauty has quite a few golden moments. A masterful sleight of hand where a funeral ceremony for one acquaintance represents a character's grief at the loss of another person is an emotional gut-punch that I want to revisit several times just to analyze how these scenes all come together. A disappearing act during the final half of the film is accomplished with such precise timing with regard to its place in the story and its visual appeal. The ability of the filmmakers to inspire our disgust at Servillo's Jep Gambardella and then arouse our sympathies for the same character seconds later at the drop of a hat is a quite marvel of filmmaking. Rome, with its mix of sacred and decadent sights, is an unforgettable character all its own. The closing credits, where we the viewers simply become just another crowd of tourist travelers taking in the sights of an amazing city, create a sequence that I could have watched for hours.

This visual feast of a film deserves a fine high definition treatment, and the Criterion Collection has knocked another home run out of the park with The Great Beauty on Blu-ray. Like Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line or The Tree of Life before it, Sorrentino's film was meant to be seen on a great set-up, and, although I regret not taking advantage of the recent theatrical run of this movie, I am pleased that the Blu-ray hits all of the right notes and does not miss a step in terms of video and audio quality. The music of The Great Beauty is important, and the sonic landscapes of the presentation excel with a lossless track. Director, screenwriter, and actor interviews are decent supplements, but the movie itself is the entrancing main attraction in every way. This is one of my favorite films of 2013, and this Criterion home video edition is a superb purchase.


Incidentally, I'm about to watch the non-Criterion Blu-ray, The Swimmer. This might shape up to be an odd, but well-timed, double feature night.