The Criterion Collection

[RojD]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

On a side note - I've only been to Paris once, but it has made me a sucker for most films that show the landmarks and monuments of that city. It brings back great memories.

I'm completely with you on that....I love Paris. I've watched Rififi twice in the last week, and one of the things I like about that film is the way Dassin uses the city: Place Vendôme, Montmartre, the Metro bridge over the Seine with the view of the Tour Eiffel, Port-Royal, Jardin du Luxembourg, Place de la Concorde, the suburbs. Great heist film, great portrait of an aging guy dealing with aging (like Friends of Eddie Coyle) and great play around the city.

I was wondering about what other cities have regularly been such strong characters in film. Of course, films are made in other cities, like LA, but Paris has often been such a presence that it's almost like a character. There are films shot in Berlin or London, but the cities either don't dominate the film or there aren't many films where they do. Not like Paris has. Maybe New York. Rome? I feel like Shanghai might have the potential.

Thoughts, anyone?

[JJJ225]

New York for sure. As much or more than Paris. In fact, it's frequently described as being almost another character in many, many films.

[joie]

I've now seen the German and Italian blu-ray releases of "LA Dolce Vita." They are both nice, glossy b&w, from the latest restoration/scan.

I was surprised that Criterion didn't try to make some $50-MSRP extravaganza out of it, and I hope they don't try to make it look "filmic" by taking the gloss out of it. If it's glossy, I'll buy the Criterion, too.

[Alex DeLarge]

Check out Eric Rohmer's THE SIGN OF LEO if you wish to see Paris in a different light. This is Rohmer's first film and was so poorly received that he didn't make another feature film for years. However in retrospect it's a masterful use of the city as not only a setting but a character. Rohmer does not depict a flattering picture of Paris but shows us the filthy streets and lives with handheld cameras on location. THE SIGN OF LEO is part of the French Blu-ray complete filmography (all with English subs!). I'm not sure if it was ever released on dvd. I reviewed it on my primary Korova Theatre blog if you wish to read about it.

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by RojD

I was wondering about what other cities have regularly been such strong characters in film. Of course, films are made in other cities, like LA, but Paris has often been such a presence that it's almost like a character. There are films shot in Berlin or London, but the cities either don't dominate the film or there aren't many films where they do. Not like Paris has. Maybe New York. Rome? I feel like Shanghai might have the potential.

Thoughts, anyone?

San Francisco for sure. A ton of memorable films shot there and that city puts its stamp on all of them.

[Feiereisel]

Originally Posted by joie

But didn't Kim Hendrickson say that Criterion aren't film curators? Aren't keepers of a canon?

It's absurd to think that Criterion could ever release all that's important, culturally or historically, given the limited number of releases they are able to do. It could be accurate to say that they release what they feel is important, which is a small part of what they are able to license, which is a small part of what is culturally and historically significant.

edit: this is probably more of a reply to the author of the piece at the link. He uses "canon" and "curate."

That's a fair point, but whatever Criterion claims directly, it's not unfair to look at their 700-plus (and constantly expanding) roster as some kind of whole. It's also worth noting that canon and canonization is perhaps not the best thing to be associated with, as it tends to only highlight what ISN'T included and as a result focus more on exclusion rather than inclusion.

The piece is about the importance of including populist and commercial films in the Criterion Collection for any number of reasons. It's arguing that Criterion isn't a canon of indisputable masterpieces as much as it is an approach, like a viewing lens.

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by Sinthetic

A look at the Eraserhead packaging from Criterion Cast. I'll be posting some of my own when I get it in a few days.

Son of a--
First month of no dual packs, and of course this one is a digipack.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by the sordid sentinel

San Francisco for sure. A ton of memorable films shot there and that city puts its stamp on all of them.

San Francisco came to my mind too. I've never been there, but watching Vertigo has made me want to visit. I think any city with many well-visited landmarks can become a recognizable "character", but Paris is special to me.

[JHas]

Began reading the "Picnic at Hanging Rock" novel included in the release. Really happy that it was included in Criterions package. Anyone else read this yet?

[JHas]

Originally Posted by RojD

I'm completely with you on that....I love Paris. I've watched Rififi twice in the last week, and one of the things I like about that film is the way Dassin uses the city: Place Vendôme, Montmartre, the Metro bridge over the Seine with the view of the Tour Eiffel, Port-Royal, Jardin du Luxembourg, Place de la Concorde, the suburbs. Great heist film, great portrait of an aging guy dealing with aging (like Friends of Eddie Coyle) and great play around the city.

I was wondering about what other cities have regularly been such strong characters in film. Of course, films are made in other cities, like LA, but Paris has often been such a presence that it's almost like a character. There are films shot in Berlin or London, but the cities either don't dominate the film or there aren't many films where they do. Not like Paris has. Maybe New York. Rome? I feel like Shanghai might have the potential.

Thoughts, anyone?

Chicago in "Thief," "The Blues Brothers" and John Hughes' work.

[pro-bassoonist]

Eraserhead Blu-ray REVIEW



PACKAGING PHOTOS

Hello guys,

Here are the packaging photos for Criterion's release of David Lynch's Eraserhead. Unfortunately, in the official review above there will be only one packaging photo because we ran out of slots The rest will be here and in the official thread.











Pro-B

[PowellPressburger]

PRO - B Any chance you have Macbeth yet? Dying for a review of that one. But I understand if you have a huge plate of titles to review. but packaging pics would be cool.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

PRO - B Any chance you have Macbeth yet? Dying for a review of that one. But I understand if you have a huge plate of titles to review. but packaging pics would be cool.

PB,

Macbeth review in about 30 hours. I've had some technical problems with All That Jazz, but I think I've solved them

I will make sure to post the packaging photos for Macbeth here when the market version arrives.

Pro-B

[monorail91]

Might be a special kind of crazy but I'm such a David Lynch fan I can't possibly get rid of his (literal) seal of approval on the Criterion!

Just watched Ali: Fear Eats the Soul for the first time. My first Fassbinder, and I'm a huge fan of All That Heaven Allows. I liked it overall though I had trouble understanding

[Show spoiler]Ali's motivation for having the affair -- it felt out of place to me, I didn't quite get it beyond creating some conflict.

[kazama]

Wow, the Eraserhead digipack looks amazing! Can't wait to get it.

[ccg1978]

Looking for a copy of Le Cercle Rouge on blu. Besides paying $70+ for it on eBay where is the best place to look. Maybe someone wants to help me out from the forum???

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

Looking for a copy of Le Cercle Rouge on blu. Besides paying $70+ for it on eBay where is the best place to look. Maybe someone wants to help me out from the forum???

It's weird that Lionsgate isn't releasing these films in the US. I thought they have rights to Studio Canal's catalog.

[minister_x]

Maybe they bought a shedload of the (Studio Canal) now-OOP Criterions before they went OOP and are drip-feeding them into the market at the high prices... Even better business model than bothering to release their own titles!

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by minister_x

Maybe they bought a shedload of the (Studio Canal) now-OOP Criterions before they went OOP and are drip-feeding them into the market at the high prices... Even better business model than bothering to release their own titles!

Seems legit

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by ravenus

It's weird that Lionsgate isn't releasing these films in the US. I thought they have rights to Studio Canal's catalog.

They do have the rights. But after releasing three SC titles, waiting seven months, releasing two more, waiting almost two years, releasing one more, waiting another half-year, and releasing yet another, that seems to be it. The most recent one was over a year-and-a-half ago. The only reason I can think for this paucity of releases is that the ones released so far just haven't sold well.

Of course, this is only with respect to movies branded with "The StudioCanal Collection". There have been other StudioCanal-owned titles they've released, just not branded. One I just picked up recently is The Wicker Man.