The Criterion Collection

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I've always wanted to see the 1975 film, Night Moves, but have sadly not seen it yet. I'd love for it to be announced on Blu-ray soon.

it is long overdue for Blu treatment, but I wouldn't wait any longer to see this. It is one of my favorite neo-noirs, ano one of the best written.

As much as I'd love it to get Criterion treatment, it seems more fitting for KLSC or maybe TT.

Edit: or most likely Warner Archive since they probably have the rights.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

it is long overdue for Blu treatment, but I wouldn't wait any longer to see this. It is one of my favorite neo-noirs, ano one of the best written.

As much as I'd love it to get Criterion treatment, it seems more fitting for KLSC or maybe TT.

Edit: or most likely Warner Archive since they probably have the rights.

I just ordered a new DVD of Night Moves (1975) for $2.75 ($6.74 after shipping) from an Amazon third-party dealer.

If Warner announces this one on Blu-ray soon, then y'all can thank me for taking one for the team.



Speaking of taking one for the team, my French Blu-ray digibook of the new 4K restoration of The Third Man arrived in the mail yesterday. Woo hoo! I'm looking forward to watching this one in a few days.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just ordered a new DVD of Night Moves (1975) for $2.75 ($6.74 after shipping) from an Amazon third-party dealer.

If Warner announces this one on Blu-ray soon, then y'all can thank me for taking one for the team.

No offense, Owl. You have a great presence here, but I don't think your $2.75 purchase is going to move the needle in getting an upgrade.

It isn't outside the realm of possibility that Warners licenses it out to Criterion, like they did for Day for Night.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

If you are on Letterboxd, I made a list of the Paste.com list.

http://letterboxd.com/tedprior/list/...st-film-noirs/

I am on exactly 50%. Guess I better get to work!

It looks like I'm only at 32%, but I have seen 14 of the top 15 films noir (I've yet to see the top film, which is one I've never even heard of before).

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Only God Forgives is a favorite of mine too, but I would recommend caution with that one; it's weird.

I really enjoyed the film as well. It looks absolutely beautiful and I did not mind the slow pace of it at all; I actually think the slowness helps drive the film. It certainly is a polarizing film, though, so I would definitely rent it first.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

If you are on Letterboxd, I made a list of the Paste.com list.

http://letterboxd.com/tedprior/list/...st-film-noirs/

I am on exactly 50%. Guess I better get to work!

Here is a list of 100 classic-era film noir movies that I personally think is a better encapsulation of the genre.

100 Greatest Films Noir

I've seen 95 out of these 100 films.

A handful of them (Journey into Fear, Undercurrent, etc.) are not easily available on DVD. I could probably search them out online, but I haven't done so yet.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just ordered a new DVD of Night Moves (1975) for $2.75 ($6.74 after shipping) from an Amazon third-party dealer.

If Warner announces this one on Blu-ray soon, then y'all can thank me for taking one for the team.

I own the DVD myself, I keep wishing WB would release a BLU but I think Archive is the best bet if it happens. I used to watch this one every summer.

[tallrichard]

Originally Posted by jw007

Owl:

You may be the biggest film noir fan I've ever encountered in my voyages.

Can you name me 5 modern (post-1967) noir films that are essential viewing?

thanks.

I wasn't asked but here is my opinion:

Blood Simple
Chinatown
L.A. Confidential
One False Move
Red Rock West

These are in no special order....

[tallrichard]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Here is a list of 100 classic-era film noir movies that I personally think is a better encapsulation of the genre.

100 Greatest Films Noir

I've seen 95 out of these 100 films.

A handful of them (Journey into Fear, Undercurrent, etc.) are not easily available on DVD. I could probably search them out online, but I haven't done so yet.

Undercurrent is available in a Katherine Hepburn boxed set...

I've seen 97 of the 100 missing Obsession (1949), Brick (2005) and Le Doulos (1962)....

[tallrichard]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

For someone that has only seen Mission Impossible (years ago) what would be the best blind buy in collection for a great heist film?

Only two I know are Rififi and Thief and not seen either.

Think it would be nice to branch out a bit and I would love a good tense heist film that's not predictable lol.

Blind Buy for a heist film...

Don't forget The Killing (Criterion) from Stanley Kubrick or Asphalt Jungle (DVD) from John Huston

[Priam]

Quick question: is it still worth spending a boatload for The Third Man oop blu-ray? I know the region B 4k release is out and will probably cost 4-5x less. I haven't seen the film, but it's always piqued my interest.

[bwdowiak]

@ Owl and @ TallRichard – you guys should give Brick a watch. while it won’t change your life, it can be argued that it is more noir than nearly every other 'modern film' (however you want to categorize that) on the list. the stylized dialogue, convoluted plot, the femme fatale… all the ingredients are there. it is a noir homage is what it is.

another consciously noir homage that is worth your time is Truffaut’s last film Finally, Sunday. that’s a fun watch, too.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Priam

Quick question: is it still worth spending a boatload for The Third Man oop blu-ray? I know the region B 4k release is out and will probably cost 4-5x less. I haven't seen the film, but it's always piqued my interest.

unless you consider yourself a Criterion collector, the answer to this is a resounding 'No.' I was content w/ the PQ of the CC disc, but, IMO, it isn't a 5 star transfer. I've definitely seen older B&W restorations that look better than it.

the new French release is all region, so I'd go with that.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

For someone that has only seen Mission Impossible (years ago) what would be the best blind buy in collection for a great heist film?

Only two I know are Rififi and Thief and not seen either.

Think it would be nice to branch out a bit and I would love a good tense heist film that's not predictable lol.

Thief is less 'predictable' but only in the sense that it is a less conventional film. Rififi is, IMO, the way to go. it was one of the most tense films I've seen in my life.

[Yami]

This should appeal to some folks here - Arrow have just announced this behemoth will be released on November 20th. It's a UK release, but will be region free

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by repulsed

Anyone a fan of Dark Passage?
The person that told me about it before I was a Bogart fan basically said skip it after he made it sound really interesting by
describing it to me and the p.o.v.
aspect of it. Either way I think it's great

Somebody from work recently lent that to me. The first 30 minutes or so with the POV shots are definitely awesome; it was a good movie overall.

Originally Posted by jw007

Yes, precisely that. a "utopian film noir"...something that is completely contradicting and probably near impossible. But I just love that oxymoronic counterpoint in there...of something positive and mentally bright but physically dark and mysterious at the same time... those other dystopic sci fi films you mentioned are all favorites of mine of course, but I want something more complex now. Maybe even Silent Running (1972) could be a type of utopian noir film, as the theme strives for a positive/natural reality but remains dark and shrouded in shadow being in space.

Hmm, I never thought of Silent Running in that context. Maybe space-opera-noir could be a cool new thing.

Now that I think about it though, the next best thing I can think of to a possible utopia noir would be the Bioshock video games. It probably could be argued that they're more dystopian, since everything fell apart in those settings, but Bioshock: Infinite does a superb job of immersing you in a utopic setting with a few noir tropes/conventions involved. If they make this series into some decent films, we may have what you're looking for.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Chinatown
Body Heat
To Live and Die in L.A.
No Country for Old Men
Thief
Blood Simple

Forgot about those. In fact, I often forget that No Country for Old Men is considered noir.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

@ Owl and @ TallRichard – you guys should give Brick a watch. while it won’t change your life, it can be argued that it is more noir than nearly every other 'modern film' (however you want to categorize that) on the list. the stylized dialogue, convoluted plot, the femme fatale… all the ingredients are there. it is a noir homage is what it is.

Brick is worth a look too.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Priam

Quick question: is it still worth spending a boatload for The Third Man oop blu-ray? I know the region B 4k release is out and will probably cost 4-5x less. I haven't seen the film, but it's always piqued my interest.

I just received my new region-free French Blu-ray of the 4K restoration of The Third Man in the mail yesterday, and I look forward to watching it in a day or two, so I'll weigh in with my thoughts then.

The Criterion Blu-ray is notably superior to the first StudioCanal disc, but this latest StudioCanal transfer of the 4K is supposed to be even better.

The Criterion does have some sweet special features, if that has any impact on your decision. Of course, the StudioCanal disc has some sweet extras as well.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by octagon

Best credit sequence would probably go to Anatomy of a Murder. Saul Bass and Duke Ellington? Pretty hard to top.

Best opening sequence? 12 Angry Men, maybe. I really love the way the camera moves from grandiose images of the courthouse exterior and marble halls to progressively more mundane, everyday images until finally coming to the chipped paint on the door of the courtroom itself.

Another title sequence in the Criterion Collection that's right up there with Anatomy of a Murder is It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (IMO), also designed by Saul Bass. I think a good, creative title sequence sets the mood for the rest of the film ... in a way, becomes a part of the film.

I stumbled upon a great website for title sequences. For some of the titles, they attach a little article below talking about that particular title.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/anatomy-of-a-murder/

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/i...mad-mad-world/

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Page14

Another title sequence in the Criterion Collection that's right up there with Anatomy of a Murder is It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (IMO), also designed by Saul Bass. I think a good, creative title sequence sets the mood for the rest of the film ... in a way, becomes a part of the film.

I stumbled upon a great website for title sequences. For some of the titles, they attach a little article below talking about that particular title.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/anatomy-of-a-murder/

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/i...mad-mad-world/

Great site. I love those old credit sequences and the way they told a story before the story. Too often studios just roll the credits over the opening sequences or have plain titles on a monochrome background. Not Criterion related, but I just watched the title sequence to The Thomas Crown Affair (the original). Great stuff, makes me want to watch it tonight.

[Feiereisel]

Originally Posted by Priam

Quick question: is it still worth spending a boatload for The Third Man oop blu-ray? I know the region B 4k release is out and will probably cost 4-5x less. I haven't seen the film, but it's always piqued my interest.

Unless you are a die-hard Criterion collector, I think the new SC disc is the way to go. Though some of the extras are unplayable on region one players, the disc itself is region-free and the restoration looks terrific, especially compared to the first SC disc. (I've not seen the Criterion Blu-ray, so I won't compare, but I'd be surprised if it looked better.)

As mentioned, the Criterion disc has the edge on extras--hard to top a Soderbergh commentary--but given SC's new disc, the high prices of Criterion's OOP Blu-ray now are asking you to pay mostly for branding. It's not the worst option, but the new SC disc is a compelling and affordable alternative.

I would still love a flying-pig licensing resolution to allow for Criterion to rerelease the film, but learning that SC's release is region free was a huge relief.