The Criterion Collection

[monorail91]

My final B&N haul this season was:

-America Lost and Found: The BBS Story
-The Apu Trilogy (after Amazon sent me a damaged copy)
-Day for Night
-The Essential Jacques Demy
-The Gold Rush
-A Hard Day's Night
-A Special Day

In years past, a 40% off ALL Blu-ray (not just CC) sale comes soon after the CC sale, right? Might get a couple more during that.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

The ending of Ace In the Hole didn't bother me at all.

Many of his best films have downer endings.

But I didn't think the dialogue was nearly as good as it was in Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard...or even Witness For The Prosecution.

I didn't think it looked that great either.

And I wasn't as impressed by the cast.

Douglass gives a pretty good performance, but didn't knock me over like Gloria Swanson or Barbara Stanwyck.

...and the performances by the supporting cast weren't as memorable as in some his other films imo.

But that story and screenplay was incredible! It was a bold film for its time and was almost like an anti-Hollywood film in its un-Hollywood like story. Furthermore, the message behind the movie is even more timely than ever today, how greed, manipulation, deception and corruption have taken over many institutions, including journalism. The movie was ahead of its time.

[Namuhana]

I think I'm finished with the B&N sale. Here's what I got:

In store - The Essential Jacques Demy, Walkabout, Odd Man Out, Don't Look Now, It Happened One Night, Summer with Monika, and Kwaidan
Ship-to-Home - Ikiru and A Special Day

I also got The Apu Trilogy from Amazon. I got a few more than I was planning on getting, so I'll probably hold back when the next sale rolls around.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

So why are they charging more for Apu?

...the sets seem almost identical in terms of content and packaging.

I raised this over in the UK Criterion thread. It's at the same price point as the 3 Films By Rossellini/Bergman set. My chief complaint is that the Apu set feels a little lacking, for want of a better term, when placed next to other recent Criterion box-sets. I'm not one to moan about Criterion's recent developments but this set actually feels a little cheap to me, when placed alongside the likes of the Rossellini set, or Tati. I think it's a combination of the lack of a big book and the quality of UK sets such as those being put out by Arrow and MoC that makes this feel a little underwhelming in comparison. Of course it's the on-disc content that counts the most, and I'm sure it's great in that department.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by jw007

But that story and screenplay was incredible! It was a bold film for its time and was almost like an anti-Hollywood film in its un-Hollywood like story. Furthermore, the message behind the movie is even more timely than ever today, how greed, manipulation, deception and corruption have taken over many institutions, including journalism. The movie was ahead of its time.

I think we disagree on the quality of the screenplay.

It's good imo, but not on the same level as Double Indemnity or Sunset Boulevard.

And while I'm sure that the scathing critique of the media was way ahead of its time in 1951, I didn't find the social commentary to be nearly as brilliant as the message in Network...which feels like a superior, more intelligent version of Ace In The Hole with respect to media criticism.

It's still a good movie.

...but there are at least four other Wilder films that I prefer.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

No Ikiru?

...that's a mistake bro.

If only I hadn't run out of money ... well, actually, I didn't exactly run out, I just started to feel guilty about what I'd already spent.

[Scottie]

Just finished rewatching Harakiri. To think I disliked this film in my first watch...

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by oildude

Since you have not seen it, I will put in a strong recommendation for one film on your list in particular: The Best Years of Our Lives. Let me begin by saying I don't usually give my highest recommendation for anyone to sit though a film that is a tad under three hours where there is lots of talking onscreen and no real "action" in the physical sense to drive the plot. I understand the limits of the human attention span, and the ability of the derriere and bladder to endure. But you won't want to leave your seat. In fact, you will become so engrossed in the experience you will likely find The Best Years of Our Lives to be one of the most uplifting and life affirming films ever made.

Even more than being a showcase of brilliant writing, directing, cinematography, and acting, TBYOOL is an important film. It was released only months after the end of World War II, when America was welcoming back its service men and women who were expected to rejoin society and resume normal lives. These expectations were perhaps highest among those who did not fight during the war and instead had the good fortune to enjoy the relative safety and comfort of living in the U.S.

Into a comforting bubble of ignorance, the veterans came home. TBYOOL arrived on screens while this was occurring to show us what the transition back to civilian life was really like, and in the process seek understanding from its audience for both those who served and understood and from those at home who did not face the fire, nor woke in the middle of the night from terrible dreams. Few films have ever been more important, or as effective, at showing us who we are as a society. It captures the struggles of returning veterans through the stories of three main characters from the same home town. These three men are unacquainted with each other until they meet for the first time as they are in a military depot awaiting transport back to the same city. One is shattered physically, all are emotionally impacted, and the effects this has on their families and those around them is a main theme of the film. Each main character is seeking a way back to normalcy, while holding off the personal demons that no one understands except other veterans.

TBYOOL is an immensely compelling character driven drama showing the pain of circumstances and the struggle to overcome and find redemption as the three men transition from what is likely to be the greatest event of their lives into the hum-drum of a civilian society that has no idea what they actually went through. It is an incredibly real film, so honest in how it approaches its subjects that the viewer is frequently devastated by scenes played between the characters that are composed solely of dialogue and small actions. Seeing it for the first time on Blu-ray two years ago, I know now why it has held up as a classic for nearly 70 years. It truly is a marvel and a treasure of a film.

I just saw it yesterday (the first film I've seen for the festival) and I really loved it. This really feels like a film that should be in the Criterion Collection.

The three hours passed like nothing.

Tonight I see Citizen Kane. Only my second time seeing it and my first on the big screen!

[DistrictOfMisery]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched both as blind-buys and thoroughly enjoyed Fassinder's film...as for Wilder's movie, I already knew what to expect from his type of directing and I wasn't let down one bit, despite the terrible downer of an ending. Actually, I didn't blind-buy Ace in the Hole but won it in a contest with Ausjdm. Have you seen Fassbinder's The Merchant of Four Seasons?

I also just bought Ace in the Hole a few days ago and watched it today and absolutely loved it. I think the ending was perfect, after all it is considered film noir with many noir tropes and themes so I don't think the ending was supposed to be happy or upbeat whatsoever.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by monorail91

My final B&N haul this season was:

-America Lost and Found: The BBS Story
-The Apu Trilogy (after Amazon sent me a damaged copy)
-Day for Night
-The Essential Jacques Demy
-The Gold Rush
-A Hard Day's Night
-A Special Day

In years past, a 40% off ALL Blu-ray (not just CC) sale comes soon after the CC sale, right? Might get a couple more during that.

I'm losing some faith in Amazon. Had them send me A Streetcar Named Desire three times (digibook), and all three were damaged, even after I emailed them about the issue. The first Doctor Zhivago they sent me, and the first Giant--both were damaged. I finally bought Streetcar from a seller on Ebay who had a mint one, and I'm waiting on another Giant.

Just irks me that I have to keep returning things because Amazon can't get it right.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Tonight I see Citizen Kane. Only my second time seeing it and my first on the big screen!

I'm jealous. I'd love to see that on the big screen. Enjoy!

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I raised this over in the UK Criterion thread. It's at the same price point as the 3 Films By Rossellini/Bergman set. My chief complaint is that the Apu set feels a little lacking, for want of a better term, when placed next to other recent Criterion box-sets. I'm not one to moan about Criterion's recent developments but this set actually feels a little cheap to me, when placed alongside the likes of the Rossellini set, or Tati. I think it's a combination of the lack of a big book and the quality of UK sets such as those being put out by Arrow and MoC that makes this feel a little underwhelming in comparison. Of course it's the on-disc content that counts the most, and I'm sure it's great in that department.

Don't forget that there was a massive restoration project in order to rescue the fire/water damaged negatives. That sort of thing is ridiculously expensive and the cost has to be recouped one way or the other.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I think we disagree on the quality of the screenplay.

It's good imo, but not on the same level as Double Indemnity or Sunset Boulevard.

And while I'm sure that the scathing critique of the media was way ahead of its time in 1951, I didn't find the social commentary to be nearly as brilliant as the message in Network...which feels like a superior, more intelligent version of Ace In The Hole with respect to media criticism.

It's still a good movie.

...but there are at least four other Wilder films that I prefer.

Have you seen Elia Kazan's A Face In the Crowd? Another example of someone manipulating the media. Andy Griffith's performance is amazing, especially considering that it was his first role. That film really needs to be on Blu-ray.

[WonderWeasel]

I thought I was done. I bought The River on Friday, and managed to abstain all day Saturday.

Then tonight, I went Christmas shopping for my niece.

I thought I made sure I had no more coupons on me, but I remembered I could easily access it on my phone. I tried to steer clear of B&N, but like a junkie, I eventually found my fix, and ended up bringing home Ikiru.

My final haul:
The Apu Trilogy
The Phantom Carriage
Ace in the Hole
The Gold Rush
Kwaidan
The River
Wild Strawberries
Ikiru

I think I saw my wallet sit up on the nightstand last night and flip me the bird.

[olivianewtonyawn]

Well, I meant to begin Christmas shopping this weekend. Ended up sticking a fork in the criterion sale this go around. Yikes. Final haul for the month:

Ikiru (of course)
Merchant of Four Seasons (highly recommend!)
Apu Trilogy
Yi Yi
In Cold Blood
Mulholland Dr.
My Own Private Idaho
Nashville
Sweet Smell of Success
Children of Paradise

[Firecrackker]

If you had to choose 3 of these 4, which one would you leave off and why?

8 1/2
My Darling Clementine
Orpheus
M

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Firecrackker

If you had to choose 3 of these 4, which one would you leave off and why?

8 1/2
My Darling Clementine
Orpheus
M

All are great - Orpheus has the least replay value, in my opinion.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Have you seen Elia Kazan's A Face In the Crowd? Another example of someone manipulating the media. Andy Griffith's performance is amazing, especially considering that it was his first role. That film really needs to be on Blu-ray.

A Face in the Crowd is absolutely brilliant. It doesn't pull any punches but it never gets preachy either. And it never goes the easy punchline or tries to set up straw-filled bad guys.

And a decent BD should look gorgeous. I don't even want to think about what a nice one would look like.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Firecrackker

If you had to choose 3 of these 4, which one would you leave off and why?

8 1/2
My Darling Clementine
Orpheus
M

8 1/2 is required Criterion ownership imo.

...Fellini's masterpiece.

[Ray Jackson]

Anyone here have lukewarm feelings about the Apu Trilogy?

All I'm reading are glowing posts about what a moving classic it is.

...anyone not like it?