The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I like playing sad songs on the guitar when I'm feeling down. I think it's part of the "misery loves company" syndrome.

I plan on watching films like Ikiru and The Descendants when the day comes that some of my family members head out into the great beyond. Some may think that is some form of self-punishment, but it will be a bittersweet medicine and I'll cry my f**king eyes out... but it will be fine.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I find happy films annoying when I'm down - they piss me, why can they be happy and funny! lol

Lars Von Trier films really drain you and suck all your energy out, and easier to connect with when down - hard to explain haha, its like good on you 'She' you hurt him! take it all out haha

Want to truly be sucked dry of all energies?

One word:

Ironweed.

Watch that and you'll be in a state of melancholic ecstasy.

Most depressing film of all time.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Want to truly be sucked dry of all energies?

One word:

Ironweed.

Watch that and you'll be in a state of melancholic ecstasy.

Most depressing film of all time.

I dunno. It's depressing, but I think Leaving Las Vegas is more depressing. But then, it's been 10 years longer since I've seen Ironweed than since I've seen Leaving Las Vegas.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I find happy films annoying when I'm down - they piss me, why can they be happy and funny!

Sundays and Cybele is for you.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jw007

Want to truly be sucked dry of all energies?

One word:

Ironweed.

Watch that and you'll be in a state of melancholic ecstasy.

Most depressing film of all time.

Another word: Ratcatcher. Tiny glimmers of sunshine don't make up for the one big dark cloud that is this film. I can pretty much guarantee that you'll feel better, no matter what your situation is, after seeing it.

[The Great Owl]

If Criterion ever gets the right back to René Clément's Forbidden Games and upgrades it to Blu-ray, then everyone in this whole thread will be crying.

That's such a devastating movie.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If Criterion ever gets the right back to René Clément's Forbidden Games and upgrades it to Blu-ray, then everyone in this whole thread will be crying.

That's such a devastating movie.

Amazing performances by the two children.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by jw007

Want to truly be sucked dry of all energies?

One word:

Ironweed.

Watch that and you'll be in a state of melancholic ecstasy.

Most depressing film of all time.

Ironweed is an excellent film. But I can think of a lot of more depressing films. Heck, Blue Valentine is one off of the top of my head.

[Helikaon]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Ironweed is an excellent film. But I can think of a lot of more depressing films. Heck, Blue Valentine is one off of the top of my head.

Definitely. Some I can think of: Requiem for a Dream (been years since I watched it and not really looking forward to seeing it again) and Irreversible.

[Gusto-Guus]

Someone posted their copy of The Third Man a few pages ago.

What's the deal with that movie? Did CC lose the license to distribute it, and if so, will they regain it ever?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Helikaon

Definitely. Some I can think of: Requiem for a Dream (been years since I watched it and not really looking forward to seeing it again) and Irreversible.

Damn. Requiem for a Dream is about as harsh as it gets. And Irreversible, while I'm not sure it's depressing, exactly, is just downright brutal. Well, the ending, yeah. OK, recalibrating. It's effin' depressing.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

Want to truly be sucked dry of all energies?

One word:

Ironweed.

Watch that and you'll be in a state of melancholic ecstasy.

Most depressing film of all time.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Sundays and Cybele is for you.

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Another word: Ratcatcher. Tiny glimmers of sunshine don't make up for the one big dark cloud that is this film. I can pretty much guarantee that you'll feel better, no matter what your situation is, after seeing it.

Originally Posted by Helikaon

Definitely. Some I can think of: Requiem for a Dream (been years since I watched it and not really looking forward to seeing it again) and Irreversible.

Not heard of irons weed so will check that out, I had my eyes on Sunday's... But wasn't sure but will also check out :-)

Love Requiem, great acting, incredible score and superb cinemography, Pi is also great.

I like blue valentine but I don't find depressing, it's moody and full of atmosphere, it's great.

I love Gasper Noe, irreversible is devastating, I find Enter The Void and I stand Alone to be more depressing though, and shocking. He needs to make new films.

I think Haneke and Lars Von Trier are the master of the "depressing" films though, the suck you dry and are full of emotions.

I'm a sucker for dark and depressing films though - I connect with them so well, that's why I adore Antichrist.

I actually find Koyaanqisqqysi rather depressing too, but it's so mesmerising.

A few films off top of my head that I rarely see get any recognition are Lilya 4 Ever, Happiness, Gummo, Precious, Synechdoche, New York and A Tale of Two Sisters, Downloading Nancy.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Gusto-Guus

Someone posted their copy of The Third Man a few pages ago.

What's the deal with that movie? Did CC lose the license to distribute it, and if so, will they regain it ever?

In one word: yes. It's a long story, but basically, StudioCanal had been declining to renew expiring licenses for the films that it owns. The Third Man was one of the early casualties. It went OOP mid-2009 or thereabouts.

It was, in fact, the first of their Blu-ray releases to go OOP. This was especially unfortunate, because they had kept the title in print since they first released it in 1985, from LD to DVD to Blu-ray. Actually, I suppose I should include VHS, as it was one of three titles that Criterion's parent company (at the time) Voyager released on VHS (the other two were The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes).

Lately, there have been rumors going about that StudioCanal might be open to relicensing to Criterion again. If this is true, I imagine that some of the earliest ones will be titles that Criterion had already released on Blu-ray. In fact, one of the rumors suggests a re-release of The Man Who Fell to Earth, which had been another of the early casualties.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by jayembee

In one word: yes. It's a long story, but basically, StudioCanal had been declining to renew expiring licenses for the films that it owns. The Third Man was one of the early casualties. It went OOP mid-2009 or thereabouts.

It was, in fact, the first of their Blu-ray releases to go OOP. This was especially unfortunate, because they had kept the title in print since they first released it in 1985, from LD to DVD to Blu-ray. Actually, I suppose I should include VHS, as it was one of three titles that Criterion's parent company (at the time) Voyager released on VHS (the other two were The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes).

Lately, there have been rumors going about that StudioCanal might be open to relicensing to Criterion again. If this is true, I imagine that some of the earliest ones will be titles that Criterion had already released on Blu-ray. In fact, one of the rumors suggests a re-release of The Man Who Fell to Earth, which had been another of the early casualties.

If this is true, it would be fantastic. I would not sell your blu-rays all to soon until it is confirmed.

I would love to see Ran released by Criterion

[joie]

Originally Posted by jayembee

[...] It's a long story, but basically, StudioCanal had been declining to renew expiring licenses for the films that it owns. The Third Man was one of the early casualties. It went OOP mid-2009 or thereabouts. [...]

Isn't it possible that Studio Canal offered to renew the expiring licenses, but couldn't reach an agreement with Criterion?

They might have disagreed over fees, ... .

[ingmog]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Not heard of irons weed so will check that out, I had my eyes on Sunday's... But wasn't sure but will also check out :-)

Love Requiem, great acting, incredible score and superb cinemography, Pi is also great.

I like blue valentine but I don't find depressing, it's moody and full of atmosphere, it's great.

I love Gasper Noe, irreversible is devastating, I find Enter The Void and I stand Alone to be more depressing though, and shocking. He needs to make new films.

I think Haneke and Lars Von Trier are the master of the "depressing" films though, the suck you dry and are full of emotions.

I'm a sucker for dark and depressing films though - I connect with them so well, that's why I adore Antichrist.

I actually find Koyaanqisqqysi rather depressing too, but it's so mesmerising.

A few films off top of my head that I rarely see get any recognition are Lilya 4 Ever, Happiness, Gummo, Precious, Synechdoche, New York and A Tale of Two Sisters, Downloading Nancy.

I would love to see Lilya 4-Ever get a release by someone.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Lately, there have been rumors going about that StudioCanal might be open to relicensing to Criterion again. If this is true, I imagine that some of the earliest ones will be titles that Criterion had already released on Blu-ray. In fact, one of the rumors suggests a re-release of The Man Who Fell to Earth, which had been another of the early casualties.

The Criterion Forum posted pics of THE VANISHING Blu-ray packaging and the film is now licensed from StudioCanal.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by joie

Isn't it possible that Studio Canal offered to renew the expiring licenses, but couldn't reach an agreement with Criterion?

They might have disagreed over fees, ... .

Well, that's true, but only in a sense. As I understand it, StudioCanal was looking for a North American partner who would license the entire StudioCanal catalog (at least the films that SC owned outright). Criterion, who had been licensing titles individually, didn't want (and/or couldn't afford) to do that.

StudioCanal ended up licensing their catalog to Lionsgate, who released Ran (which Criterion had been working on upgrading at the time they lost the license) and The Third Man, as well as a handful of other SC titles. The problem is that Lionsgate only released a total of seven SC titles over a three year period, and appear to be interested only in digital platform rights.

I suspect this is why SC is maybe talking with Criterion again. I suppose the test of that suspicion will be if Criterion is able to (re-)release SC titles on physical discs, but not be able to offer them on Hulu.

On edit: With respect to dwk's posting immediately above, I notice that Criterion is offering The Vanishing on Hulu and iTunes. So there goes that theory.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Ironweed is an excellent film. But I can think of a lot of more depressing films.

I remember seeing Pennies From Heaven in a theater.
Whenever I hear another movie described as "the most depressing ever made", I LAUGH....Wimps.

[Scottie]

Adding to the discussion, StudioCanal is affiliated with the upcoming Jacques Tati release. This is definitely promising.