The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Under the Skin just won't leave my mind. This film is something special. Think I may just take the plunge and see it again. I haven't done that for a theatrical release in a long time.

Same here. Under the Skin has been weighing down on my head all weekend, and I cannot stop pondering it. The more that I think about it, the more I am inclined to think that this movie is one of the greats.

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

Hey guys, this isn't Criterion related but I figured I'd ask you guys: How is The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)? I've been thinkin about buying the blu, but wasn't sure. Any input would be appreciated.

I think that this original film adaptation of The Postman Always Rings Twice is outstanding. I would not personally rank it in my top ten film noirs, but it is still one of the most memorable movies from the classic film noir era, and I love revisiting it.

John Garfield is one of the greatest film noir actors. Lana Turner is drop dead gorgeous in her role here. Audrey Totter, who was one of the great noir actresses, has a fun minor role.

This movie looks quite beautiful on Blu-ray. The documentaries on Lana Turner and John Garfield are a nice touch.


Also...

Speaking of film noir, albeit non-Criterion, I watched my new Universal Blu-rays of Double Indemnity and Touch of Evil this weekend. These Blu-rays are both five-star releases in terms of transfer quality and movie content, in my book. I cannot recommend these two quintessential noirs enough now that the black levels look so amazing in high definition.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I think that this original film adaptation of The Postman Always Rings Twice is outstanding. I would not personally rank it in my top ten film noirs, but it is still one of the most memorable movies from the classic film noir era, and I love revisiting it.

John Garfield is one of the greatest film noir actors. Lana Turner is drop dead gorgeous in her role here. Audrey Totter, who was one of the great noir actresses, has a fun minor role.

This movie looks quite beautiful on Blu-ray. The documentaries on Lana Turner and John Garfield are a nice touch.

I'm telling you, you'll be an even bigger fan of the man after you see The Breaking Point. The only downside is it's dvd only.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I'm telling you, you'll be an even bigger fan of the man after you see The Breaking Point. The only downside is it's dvd only.

I'll be ordering that DVD soon. I'm holding off for now, since I've got a nice backlog of unwatched film noirs on DVD after snatching up a bunch of them in recent months, but I'll be delving into the Archives DVDs pretty soon, and The Breaking Point is at the top of my list.


Back on Criterion topics...
I sold my Criterion DVD of Insomnia today in anticipation of the new Blu-ray upgrade. Looking forward to checking it out in a few months!

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Same here. Under the Skin has been weighing down on my head all weekend, and I cannot stop pondering it. The more that I think about it, the more I am inclined to think that this movie is one of the greats.

Agreed.

What surprised me is how Johansson completely shed her big hollywood star image instantly. That blank expression that is rarely given a laugh or a smile just fully articulated her surroundings. It's hard to imagine anyone else in the role - something I never thought I'd say when discussing Johansson.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

What surprised me is how Johansson completely shed her big hollywood star image instantly. That blank expression that is rarely given a laugh or a smile just fully articulated her surroundings. It's hard to imagine anyone else in the role - something I never thought I'd say when discussing Johansson.

Yesterday, I read some review of Under the Skin that described the movie by saying it looks as though it were not filmed by humans.

I think that this is an apt description, and I agree. This movie draws its strength from that emotional detachment, and it never takes a wrong step. I applaud Glazer for never stooping to comic relief or heavy-handed drama. Watching this movie really is like observing a colony of ants, and I mean that in a complimentary way.

[Show spoiler]I love the early scene on the beach. It's easily one of the most remorselessly cold sequences that I have ever seen in a film, but the tragedy of the situation is lost on the main character because she seem not to have any emotional context from which to observe the events.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Yesterday, I read some review of Under the Skin that described the movie by saying it looks as though it were not filmed by humans.

I think that this is an apt description, and I agree. This movie draws its strength from that emotional detachment, and it never takes a wrong step. I applaud Glazer for never stooping to comic relief or heavy-handed drama. Watching this movie really is like observing a colony of ants, and I mean that in a complimentary way.

[Show spoiler]I love the early scene on the beach. It's easily one of the most remorselessly cold sequences that I have ever seen in a film, but the tragedy of the situation is lost on the main character because she seem not to have any emotional context from which to observe the events.

Do you mind linking me to the review?

That scene you tagged is arguably the most telling scene of the entire film.

[Show spoiler]Have any theories on why she didn't fight back during the rape scene? My impression when watching it was that she chose not to sleep with the disfigured man, and that, for one reason or another, messed with her ability to do what she does. The next time she sleeps with that man in the bed, something is up. She is unsure of herself and paranoid of the people that are in charge. She is nothing but a shell now - just like the woman from the beginning. She chose to have empathy for this man and thus she is punished for it.

[Oscar Rothman]

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Do you mind linking me to the review?

That scene you tagged is arguably the most telling scene of the entire film.

[Show spoiler]Have any theories on why she didn't fight back during the rape scene? My impression when watching it was that she chose not to sleep with the disfigured man, and that, for one reason or another, messed with her ability to do what she does. The next time she sleeps with that man in the bed, something is up. She is unsure of herself and paranoid of the people that are in charge. She is nothing but a shell now - just like the woman from the beginning. She chose to have empathy for this man and thus she is punished for it.

I had to go back and look, because I couldn't remember, but here is the Under the Skin review in question.

With respect to your above question...

[Show spoiler]My guess is that Johansson's character still does not have a grasp on what defines genuine affection. In her mind, she may not see a difference between the advances of the compassionate man who makes love to her in the bed and the advances of the man who attempts to rape her in the forest. These two scenes are filmed in an equally detached style, although the situations are vastly different in context in our eyes. Perhaps, from her viewpoint as an outsider, both men are treating her as a commodity in the same way that her victims are apparently mere commodities, but we do not see her acknowledge the ethics of these situations in any clear way. Her real self seems to be looking down on her human visage at the end without visible emotion or understanding.

Incidentally, the "reveal" of her true self is so wonderfully creepy and cool. The movie really hinged on this, in my opinion, because a lot of the impact would have been lost if the creature had been a disaster of bad visual effects or if it had been overtly sympathetic or overtly fearsome. It just was what it was, and that was the best possible way to handle the sequence.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

night of the living dead (1968) , spartacus , mishima , human condition

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

Le Samouraï
The Vanishing
Night and the City
The Naked City
Brute Force
The Killers (1946)
Pickup on South Street
Elevator to the Gallows
Bob Le Flambeur
Stray Dog
Touchez Pas Au Grisbi
L' Avventura
Le Trou
Le Doulos
Le Deuxième Souffle
The Naked Prey
The Spirit of the Beehive

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

The Top Ten
Bicycle Thieves
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Andrei Rublev
L' avventura
Ordet
Au Hasard Bathazar
Ugetsu Monogatari
La Strada
Gertrud
Viridiana

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

The Cranes are Flying

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I had to go back and look, because I couldn't remember, but here is the Under the Skin review in question.

With respect to your above question...

[Show spoiler]My guess is that Johansson's character still does not have a grasp on what defines genuine affection. In her mind, she may not see a difference between the advances of the compassionate man who makes love to her in the bed and the advances of the man who attempts to rape her in the forest. These two scenes are filmed in an equally detached style, although the situations are vastly different in context in the our eyes. Perhaps, from her viewpoint as an outsider, both men are treating her as a commodity in the same way that her victims are apparently mere commodities, but we do not see her acknowledge the ethics of these situations in any clear way. Her real self seems to be looking down on her human visage at the end without visible emotion or understanding.

Incidentally, the "reveal" of her true self is so wonderfully creepy and cool. The movie really hinged on this, in my opinion, because a lot of the impact would have been lost if the creature had been a disaster of bad visual effects or if it had been overtly sympathetic or overtly fearsome. It just was what it was, and that was the best possible way to handle the sequence.

I like your reading on those final two encounters.. a lot.

Agreed with the reveal. The wide shot of the fire in the snow is among the creepiest shots in the film.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

If Criterion does release the blu then I think we'll know it's coming many months before the release. The word is it needs a new restoration to be presentable on blu-ray.

[Belloche]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

Out of print, but I would love to have Nights of Cabiria

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

The Silence of the Lambs, Sisters

Originally Posted by Thebunk

With respect to Brazil:

[Show spoiler]I found all the sets, vehicles, wiring closets, etc just so dated. Also I know it was supposed to be bleak but for me it really wasn't enough. Also found the characters just so unlike able and the day dream sequences with giant Shredder were funny.

The thing about Brazil is... When you come down to it, Sam is the bad guy. Everything that they convict him of doing was something he actually did. Sure. The government were dicks about it, but from the point of view of Jack, he is doing the right thing.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Do you mind linking me to the review?

That scene you tagged is arguably the most telling scene of the entire film.

[Show spoiler]Have any theories on why she didn't fight back during the rape scene? My impression when watching it was that she chose not to sleep with the disfigured man, and that, for one reason or another, messed with her ability to do what she does. The next time she sleeps with that man in the bed, something is up. She is unsure of herself and paranoid of the people that are in charge. She is nothing but a shell now - just like the woman from the beginning. She chose to have empathy for this man and thus she is punished for it.

[Show spoiler]I don't think she was ever going to sleep with the disfigured man. After he goes into the black goo [It seems that the powers that be hesitated at first to take him down and that's how he got so close to her. When he was down he was thrown out because he was disfigured and not up to their standards - this is talked about more in the novel in terms of

[Show spoiler]their perfect specimens

], she goes downstairs and catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror and, after seeing that the disfigured man was not like anyone else she had seen before, begins to break through with thoughts of humanity and that she may be doing something wrong.

With the man she was going to sleep with I was not sure what was up in the context of the scene, because there is section in the novel where we are given a description of that part of the alien anatomy:

[Show spoiler]there is nothing there

. But the helpful man did not seem too concerned so, in the context of the film, I just took it as her being in shock that she actually did have a body part that is used that way...

IMO, by the time she meets the helpful man she's dead set on wanting to be human. She takes a bus. She tries food. She tries sex. She's doing everything to try and become what she never can be.

And when she freaks out at the sexual encounter she runs. When she does she meets a man that treats her just as she treats the men at the beginning of the film.

Finally, I hate beating a dead horse with the novel deal, but: the film ending is mesmerizing and it is conveyed very well, but I believe it packs so much more of a punch if you've read the novel because there are perfect descriptions of Isserley's thoughts blended within the action of the finale.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Same here. Under the Skin has been weighing down on my head all weekend, and I cannot stop pondering it. The more that I think about it, the more I am inclined to think that this movie is one of the greats.

My initial reaction was one of confusion but as the weeks have passed by, I am starting to become more proud of my Under the Skin avatar I've been flaunting for the last month or two. This film could be so great that it is often misunderstood and I was one of those people. This film is definitely still in my mind over 10 days later. I'm just giving my 2 cents that the movie takes some time to sink in for some people such as myself.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

4 By Agnes Varda (based off of how much I loved Cleo From 5 To 7)
L'Avventura
Bicycle Thieves
Carnival Of Souls
Juliet Of The Spirits
Magnificent Obsession
Missing
My Man Godfrey
Nights Of Cabiria
Le Samourai (I haven't seen it, but I'm a fan of almost every Melville films)
Sullivan's Travels
The Virgin Spring
Written On The Wind
Z

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

[Show spoiler]I don't think she was ever going to sleep with the disfigured man. After he goes into the black goo [It seems that the powers that be hesitated at first to take him down and that's how he got so close to her. When he was down he was thrown out because he was disfigured and not up to their standards - this is talked about more in the novel in terms of

[Show spoiler]their perfect specimens

], she goes downstairs and catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror and, after seeing that the disfigured man was not like anyone else she had seen before, begins to break through with thoughts of humanity and that she may be doing something wrong.

With the man she was going to sleep with I was not sure what was up in the context of the scene, because there is section in the novel where we are given a description of that part of the alien anatomy:

[Show spoiler]there is nothing there

. But the helpful man did not seem too concerned so, in the context of the film, I just took it as her being in shock that she actually did have a body part that is used that way...

IMO, by the time she meets the helpful man she's dead set on wanting to be human. She takes a bus. She tries food. She tries sex. She's doing everything to try and become what she never can be.

And when she freaks out at the sexual encounter she runs. When she does she meets a man that treats her just as she treats the men at the beginning of the film.

Finally, I hate beating a dead horse with the novel deal, but: the film ending is mesmerizing and it is conveyed very well, but I believe it packs so much more of a punch if you've read the novel because there are perfect descriptions of Isserley's thoughts blended within the action of the finale.

I think that my reading of the Michel Faber novel helped me to grasp the general flow of Under the Skin, but I quickly decided a few minutes into the movie that I should take it in on its own terms.

[Show spoiler]I like how the movie remains ambiguous about why the disfigured man was released, and how it remains ambiguous about what happens to him when he is caught by the motorcycle accomplice during the clean-up/cover-up procedure.

I also find it interesting that Johansson's character specifically targets hitchhikers in the novel, but the movie depicts her simply targeting isolated males. I think that this helped the movie function better from a horror standpoint, since there's apparently more randomness to her choices.

I'm going to feel bad if this title is announced as a non-Criterion Blu-ray (It probably will be.), because I've been cluttering up the thread talking about it.