The Criterion Collection

[ijustblumyself]

God people are way too harsh on Boyhood here. Forgotten in 10 years? Firstly I'd argue it'll be remembered for the technical ambition alone, and secondly, whilst the narrative is never groundbreaking, to me, it's a beautiful meditation on the passing of time, parenthood and growing up.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

God people are way too harsh on Boyhood here. Forgotten in 10 years? Firstly I'd argue it'll be remembered for the technical ambition alone, and secondly, whilst the narrative is never groundbreaking, to me, it's a beautiful meditation on the passing of time, parenthood and growing up.

Yeah, there's a lot to like in it, and it was really working for me by the end, I just think the lead actor unfortunately turned out to be way too bland to really do a good job and thus all the supporting actors have to end up doing all the heavy lifting. Ethan Hawke in particular is great. I think it will be remembered for plenty of time, but maybe primarily for the filmed over 12 years thing. I greatly prefer the Before Trilogy but this certainly wasn't a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination. It just had some bad aspects.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

God people are way too harsh on Boyhood here. Forgotten in 10 years? Firstly I'd argue it'll be remembered for the technical ambition alone, and secondly, whilst the narrative is never groundbreaking, to me, it's a beautiful meditation on the passing of time, parenthood and growing up.

As I have stated before its been done before... there is nothing new with this film really...

The acting for me was terrible throughout, even when they were kids. PA was good in CERTAIN scenes, but she really over acted throughout and it got annoying, and I like her so I was disappointed, although I loved that she did look real, not like a film mum, but a real mum lol.

[excalibunny]

Take it as you will guys but of the recent rumors oddly enough I've heard the Lana Del Rey set and Daisies are 100 percent happening.

[The Great Owl]

After much internal debate, I've decided to hold tight to my Eureka copy of Le Silence De La Mer. As much as I'm intrigued by the Melville extras and his short film, the UK disc is too awesome for a double-dip. (This debate may not yet be over, though.)

Still...my April pre-orders are...

The River
Odd Man Out
Sullivan's Travels
The Friends of Eddie Coyle

I really ought to claim Criterion as a dependent when I do my taxes next year.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

God people are way too harsh on Boyhood here. Forgotten in 10 years? Firstly I'd argue it'll be remembered for the technical ambition alone, and secondly, whilst the narrative is never groundbreaking, to me, it's a beautiful meditation on the passing of time, parenthood and growing up.

Agreed. I do respect the thoughts of some of the detractors, as they're articulate and not generic. Some of the other detractors can't formulate a meritorious reason or reason to think the film is poor.

One can't predict how a film will be received years from now, but I think the above post is accurate.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Yeah, there's a lot to like in it, and it was really working for me by the end, I just think the lead actor unfortunately turned out to be way too bland to really do a good job and thus all the supporting actors have to end up doing all the heavy lifting. Ethan Hawke in particular is great. I think it will be remembered for plenty of time, but maybe primarily for the filmed over 12 years thing. I greatly prefer the Before Trilogy but this certainly wasn't a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination. It just had some bad aspects.

I thought the blandness of Coltrane was actually a positive, as it made the film feel a bit more authentic to me. I thought it seemed like he was just being himself and not really acting, which I liked.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I thought the blandness of Coltrane was actually a positive, as it made the film feel a bit more authentic to me. I thought it seemed like he was just being himself and not really acting, which I liked.

It bugged me when he turned into one of those stoner wanna-be philosopher Linklater-surrogate types in the last act of the movie and kept delivering eyeroll-worthy monologues. I don't think that was the intent of the movie, it seemed like it was written to be delivered by someone with the charisma and ability to make dialogue sound natural of Ethan Hawke in Before Sunrise or something, but with this wooden guy doing it I was simply bored. Even the other high school/college bit parts in there are practically acting him off the screen (ex the girl he breaks up with).

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

After much internal debate, I've decided to hold tight to my Eureka copy of Le Silence De La Mer. As much as I'm intrigued by the Melville extras and his short film, the UK disc is too awesome for a double-dip. (This debate may not yet be over, though.)

I'm sticking with that one for now too, and I'm glad I didn't have to wait this long for it. I've watched that disc countless times. On the flipside, I double dipped and ordered Eureka's Satyricon yesterday for the English language track. It's puzzling to me that Criterion didn't include it on their release.

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by Jaymole

]

"Barney's movie had heart, but Football In The Groin had a football in the groin."

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

It bugged me when he turned into one of those stoner wanna-be philosopher Linklater-surrogate types in the last act of the movie and kept delivering eyeroll-worthy monologues. I don't think that was the intent of the movie, it seemed like it was written to be delivered by someone with the charisma and ability to make dialogue sound natural of Ethan Hawke in Before Sunrise or something, but with this wooden guy doing it I was simply bored. Even the other high school/college bit parts in there are practically acting him off the screen (ex the girl he breaks up with).

I can see your point.

[jhiggy23]

Thoughts on The River? One or two of you have posted about it thus far. It seems very interesting to me. My reluctance is that I'm indifferent when it comes to Renoir.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Thoughts on The River? One or two of you have posted about it thus far. It seems very interesting to me. My reluctance is that I'm indifferent when it comes to Renoir.

I pre-ordered The River, and it will be a blind buy for me.

I love the other Renoir films in my collection, though. I've got A Day in the Country, La Grande Illusion, The Rules of the Game, and Swamp Water.

More than anything, though, I have been blown away by the early Technicolor films in the Criterion Collection, so I pulled the trigger on The River right away when this site review compared the transfer to that of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I pre-ordered The River, and it will be a blind buy for me.

I love the other Renoir films in my collection, though. I've got A Day in the Country, La Grande Illusion, The Rules of the Game, and Swamp Water.

More than anything, though, I have been blown away by the early Technicolor films in the Criterion Collection, so I pulled the trigger on The River right away when this site review compared the transfer to that of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.

Same with me--the technicolor intrigues me, as does the story.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Thoughts on The River? One or two of you have posted about it thus far. It seems very interesting to me. My reluctance is that I'm indifferent when it comes to Renoir.

Phenomenal. Purchase it.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Thoughts on The River? One or two of you have posted about it thus far. It seems very interesting to me. My reluctance is that I'm indifferent when it comes to Renoir.

An absolutely magnificent film, and one that had been long in my Top 3 Criterion DVDs That Needed to Be Upgraded to Blu (the others being Kwaidan and The Passion of Joan of Arc -- yes, I know about the MOC release of the latter). I can't wait until it comes out.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Thoughts on The River? One or two of you have posted about it thus far. It seems very interesting to me. My reluctance is that I'm indifferent when it comes to Renoir.

The film is very accessible.

My suggestion is to read Rumer Godden's novel. It's very short and you could knock it out in one sitting. If you like the book you'll love Renoir's film.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The film is very accessible.

My suggestion is to read Rumer Godden's novel. It's very short and you could knock it out in one sitting. If you like the book you'll love Renoir's film.

Thanks!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Choosing whatever song was the number one single at the time to use as the soundtrack is lazy and uninteresting IMO. Britney Spears was less annoying cause it was used diegetically and little kids really would have been listening to it, but Coldplay is just on the soundtrack and is really annoying. And I LIKE that song!

I have a soft spot for Coldplay's first album despite really not liking anything they've done post A Rush of Blood to the Head (half of that album is lousy, too, IMO.) Knowing Linklater has such an independent spirit and style of film making, it surprises me that he didn't just choose a few artists and flesh out the entire soundtrack with their music. Wilco and Arcade Fire date back to the earlier years of this film (not quite w/ AF, but close.) Their music would have helped Linklater establish a more consistent tone for his themes.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

As I have stated before its been done before... there is nothing new with this film really...

I'm pretty sure that this has been disproved here before, but I'll go ahead and say that TV soaps are not even remotely comparable. I have no idea how long different shows might take to film one episode, but even if it is a month, in that time, the script is set, the actors do their bits, it is edited and done with. There are running story-lines, but none that are conceptualized and executed over the actual life spans of the actors involved.

Two and a Half Men just wrapped up here in the States after 12 seasons and those who watched saw Angus T. Jones (Jake) grow from age 9 to age 21; to say that is even remotely comparable to what Linklater did with a feature film would be objectively wrong.