The Criterion Collection

[LPMA]

Originally Posted by iScottie

It opened up a brand new world for me.

Same here. Gateway drug haha.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I think it might be the feeling that one wouldn't seem as "well-read" (or whatever you think the cinematic equivalent of that term would be). It also depends on how you think of yourself relative to the subject. If I come across someone who likes reading science fiction or mysteries, or even books on the NYT Best Sellers list, I wouldn't necessarily expect them to have read Joyce or Dostoyesky or James. But if I came across someone who was an Lit major at college, I think I would be surprised if they'd never read those authors.

If someone claims, or demonstrates by what they write, to be passionate about film (as opposed to just liking to watch movies), I would be surprised if they hadn't seen at least one film by all or most of the acknowleded masters of the medium. I wouldn't hold it against them if they didn't, but I'd still be surprised.

It's also not necessary to have seen (or read or listened to) "everything" in order to be "well-read". But the cream of the crop isn't the same as "everything". A fan of pop music wouldn't have to have heard every pop song ever written to be taken seriously. But wouldn't you think it odd if someone claimed that they loved rock'n'roll, and had never heard a single song by The Beatles?

While your reply is well written and I do agree with what you wrote, you didn't address my issue with the OP. Are you saying your passionate film person should be embarrassed because they haven't seen at least one film the acknowledged masters? On the off chance you haven't seen at least one film from said list, do you feel embarrassed? Could you post a link to such a list for those who are concerned about such things. I'm sure there are some that would like to be able to rid themselves of such a social stigma and just go on their own choices as well as possibly giving them exposure to unknown directors.

Again, no offense intended.

[adamhopelies]

I've been trying to figure out who my greatest blind spot is and I think it must be Elaine May. She's probably the most popular figure within cinephile circles whose work remains a complete mystery to me.

I hadn't seen any of Alain Robbe Grillet's work until last year's box-set from the BFI, nor am I particularly well-versed on Costa-Gavras, tho I have seen Z and a couple of other early films, and am working my way through the rest at the moment. Until recently I'd only seen a handful of Fellini's movies, with City Of Women all but putting me off of him completely, but that's turned around of late and I've seen most of them now. I'm underseen on Bergman.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

. Are you saying your passionate film person should be embarrassed because they haven't seen at least one film the acknowledged masters?

No, that person should be sad. Because embarrassment is pretentious whereas sorrow apparently is not.

[AaronJ]

Wow. Interesting to see a number of people suggesting Dune vis-a-vis Lynch. As much respect as I have for the man, and for his creative abilities, I've always found Dune to be nearly unwatchable. Then again, I had read the books before I saw the film, so maybe that has an effect.

As to being "embarrassed" I think it's just a word. No one's really saying that you should feel like a lesser human being for not seeing a film by [x]. It's just that, at least for me, I saw certain giant holes in my understanding of film, and that was something that I wasn't really "embarrassed" about. It's just something that I need correct, and thus I am in the process of attempting that.

Look, world cinema is not only vast geographically, but it has existed for over a century. I have absolutely no idea how many films have ever been made, but it's a lot. There's no way that anyone can be an expert on the entire art form. It's impossible. When I used the word "embarrassed" or "guilty" I was mostly joking. But I am, to a point, embarrassed about the hole in my film knowledge when it comes to Asian cinema, for example. That hole shouldn't be there. At least, it shouldn't be there to the extent to which it is.

BTW, I watched Ozu's Late Spring, and I'm still putting together my thoughts on it.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

To summarize this discussion:

Watch everything David Lynch has ever made. Even Dune.

Dune is actually my favorite David Lynch film that I have seen. I was in seventh grade when the movie came out, and it hit just at the right time in my life. I love everything about that movie, and I'd love for Criterion to helm a Blu-ray edition.

I own the Criterion Blu-ray of Eraserhead, but, truth be told, it's actually my least favorite Criterion title in my collection (dethroning Robert Altman's Nashville). It's an interesting enough movie for me to keep on my shelf, but I won't be revisiting it as often as other titles in the Collection.

I have a somewhat "meh" reaction to the news of a Criterion release of Mulholland Dr. It's an interesting film, but it didn't blow me away when I saw it years ago.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching my MGM Blu-ray of Brian De Palma's Dressed to Kill.

This disc has been sitting in my unwatched Blu-ray collection for a few months since I bought it from a FoxConnect sale, but I decided to watch it now and make a few bucks from it at the used movie store down the street before the Criterion edition comes out in August.

I saw Dressed to Kill on HBO during my childhood, and the movie is just as fun now as I remember it being back then. The movie is derivative of quite a few key Hitchcock moments in Vertigo and Psycho, but that's a part of the enjoyment. Angie Dickinson has always been one of my favs, and she's wonderful here. This is also one of Nancy Allen's better roles, and I don't understand why people give her such a hard time for her acting in her films.

I am really looking forward to the Criterion release now.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by octagon

No, that person should be sad. Because embarrassment is pretentious whereas sorrow apparently is not.

"That person" should be whatever he or she feels. I'm rebutting the OP viewpoint that they SHOULD be embarrassed for not seeing one film of every important director. Feelings should be defined by the individual not an outside party.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

"That person" should be whatever he or she feels. I'm rebutting the OP viewpoint that they SHOULD be embarrassed for not seeing one film of every important director.

I think you're reading way too much into that post. He wasn't guilt-tripping anybody or putting on any airs...it was a conversation starter (or more accurately a conversation continuer).

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Feelings should be defined by the individual not an outside party.

That's kind of odd coming as it does only a few posts after you describe the feelings of others as pretentious.

Isn't it?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

I've never seen a David Lynch film. I saw a couple of episodes of Twin Peaks when I was younger because my mom watched it, but I have yet to watch an actual film of his. Any suggestions?

To get on the David Lynch bandwagon, my advice would be take out a week or two and watch every film he's made starting with Eraserhead (conveniently available in the Criterion Collection) all the way up to Inland Empire. It's important I think to watch his films in chronological order, because you will see just how his filmmaking evolved over the decades.

My personal favorites of course are Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet.

My least favorites are Wild at Heart and Eraserhead.

I also have a special place in my heart for Dune and The Straight Story.

And Lost Highway and Inland Empire are still growing on me.

But The Elephant Man and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me I'm still hesitant about.

Okay, I think I just named all 10 feature films of his in my thoughts. I'm done.

[joie]

Contemporary film makers have appropriated the ideas of their predecessors, so they are all you need to see.

[TwelveMind]

Does anyone know when the next Criterion sale might be? I think they just had one in March, and the one for Barnes and Nobles is sometime in July. However, I'm hoping to buy some titles cheap and quick.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by joie

Contemporary film makers have appropriated the ideas of their predecessors, so they are all you need to see.

Back to trolling again?

[Santa Barbara]

Looks like the general consensus is start with Blue Velvet.

I'm in the minority of people who didn't like Mulholland Drive. I really never cared for Naomi Watts as a lead.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Why would anyone be embarrassed not to have seen a director's work unless they are putting on some pretense of being more worldly or an expert on all things cinema? I also haven't heard every band nor have I even seen all the ones I like in concert. I also haven't read every book. I haven't been to every country but I try experience the ones on top of my list. I also haven't been to every state. Sorry, I'm not embarrassed, but sad that I can't live long enough to experience all the wonders that are out there that I am interested but happy for those I can.

Amen, brother. Nobody should be embarrassed about anything. It's a figure of speech - a way of setting up the question... Kinda like how it's done on the Newlywed Game.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by octagon

I think you're reading way too much into that post. He wasn't guilt-tripping anybody or putting on any airs...it was a conversation starter (or more accurately a conversation continuer

Geez.. Just got around to seeing the subsequent posts.. Thanks for addressing this for me, octagon. Would have thought the idea behind the question was fairly obvious, but apparently not.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by joie

Contemporary film makers have appropriated the ideas of their predecessors, so they are all you need to see.

Chinese food again today, joie?

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by TwelveMind

Does anyone know when the next Criterion sale might be? I think they just had one in March, and the one for Barnes and Nobles is sometime in July. However, I'm hoping to buy some titles cheap and quick.

Well if you live in the U.S. and near a Costco (membership only), they just stocked the following at some of their stores:

($19.99 each)

Paths of Glory
Cries and Whispers
The Game
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Seven Samurai
Hoop Dreams
The Rose
Ride The Pink Horse
Sullivan's Travels

And they should still have these previous four:

A Day In The Country
Every Man For Himself
Don't look Now
An Autumn Afternoon

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

While your reply is well written and I do agree with what you wrote, you didn't address my issue with the OP. Are you saying your passionate film person should be embarrassed because they haven't seen at least one film the acknowledged masters? On the off chance you haven't seen at least one film from said list, do you feel embarrassed? Could you post a link to such a list for those who are concerned about such things. I'm sure there are some that would like to be able to rid themselves of such a social stigma and just go on their own choices as well as possibly giving them exposure to unknown directors.

Again, no offense intended.

No offense taken.

I wouldn't say that a passionate film person should be embarrassed, but I can understand why they themselves might feel that way. Would I feel embarrassed? No, I don't think so, though sometimes when I've been in serious discussions about classic science fiction novels, I've been loathe to admit that there were some classics I hadn't read (even when I hadn't read them, I usually knew enough about them to participate in a discussion).

As for your last statement, I did say in my own response to the original question that while I felt confident that I'd seen at least one film by each of the acknowledged masters, it was difficult to be sure simply because there was no way of knowing who exactly would be on such a list, and who not. I don't imagine that there's such a list anywhere that wouldn't be contested one way or another by this person or that.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Wow. Interesting to see a number of people suggesting Dune vis-a-vis Lynch. As much respect as I have for the man, and for his creative abilities, I've always found Dune to be nearly unwatchable. Then again, I had read the books before I saw the film, so maybe that has an effect.

It's the one Lynch film that I can't bear to watch. Such a waste of an amazing cast. I would often joke (even though I wasn't really joking) that the extended TV version was "just as bad as the theatrical version, except there's more of it".