The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

I suspect there might a be little bit of label confusion here. It's "Arrow Video" that has a US presence. "Arrow Video" is the cult label of Arrow Films.

I didn't realize it was a specific imprint. I, too, was hopeful when Arrow announced they were releasing titles over here, though frankly, I was mostly interested in their European TV releases, especially the Scandanavian ones like Bron/Broen/The Bridge, Forbrydelsen/The Killing and Borgen.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by ThisKid

What would be pretty awesome is if Criterion manages to release some more Australian films, such as

Gallipoli
The Year of living dangerously

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

This is 1/2 rhetorical and 1/2 me lookin for an answer that I'm not aware of... What 'good' film has Arrow US put out? I recall being happy when I read that they would have a US presence, only to be underwhelmed time and again when their release slates are announced. Is there anything that might be a natural extension of Criterion's output or anything from some CC directors?

As far as "prestigious" offerings from Arrow, the closest that I own is the Edgar Allan Poe's Black Cats Blu-ray set. These are more Italian giallo than anything else, and both films are quite well made.

[Gerby]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I absolutely love The Dish, The Castle, and Muriel's Wedding; like Romper Stomper, and haven't seen Priscilla. There are plenty of other good Aussie films that aren't high-profile here in the States (i.e., aren't by big names like Weir and Beresford and Luhrmann).

Among my favorites:

Lantana
We Of The Never Never
The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith
Storm Boy
The Club
Summerfield
Malcolm
Last Of The Knucklemen
The Removalists
Dalkeith

[mrjohnnyb]

I finally got a chance to watch my blind-buy purchase of The American Friend. I'm happy to say that I absolutely loved it. I did not realize that Dennis Hopper was playing Tom Ripley, who was the main character in Purple Noon and The Talented Mr. Ripley. I was also pleased to see some major cinema directors in some acting roles. In addition to Hopper, the film showcased Nicholas Ray, Jean Eustache, Sam Fuller, Gérard Blain, Peter Lilienthal, Daniel Schmid, Rudolf Schündler, and even Wim Wenders himself

[Show spoiler]in the uncredited role of the bandaged man in the ambulance.

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

I finally got a chance to watch my blind-buy purchase of The American Friend. I'm happy to say that I absolutely loved it. I did not realize that Dennis Hopper was playing Tom Ripley, who was the main character in Purple Noon and The Talented Mr. Ripley. I was also pleased to see some major cinema directors in some acting roles. In addition to Hopper, the film showcased Nicholas Ray, Jean Eustache, Sam Fuller, Gérard Blain, Peter Lilienthal, Daniel Schmid, Rudolf Schündler, and even Wim Wenders himself

[Show spoiler]in the uncredited role of the bandaged man in the ambulance.

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I will highly second this. The 2 interviews with Wenders and Ganz are fantastic too. Really sheds a lot of light on the film and the starts of those 2. Also, the comments on Hopper are very interesting.. One of my favorite releases in a while from CC, until The Road Trilogy arrives..

[Gusto-Guus]

Is Tom Ripley suppose to be the same character from those stories?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Gusto-Guus

Is Tom Ripley suppose to be the same character from those stories?

Yes

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Gusto-Guus

Is Tom Ripley suppose to be the same character from those stories?

Yes. Patricia Highsmith wrote five novels in the series.

Purple Noon (with Alain Delon as Ripley) and The Talented Mr. Ripley (with Matt Damon as Ripley) are adapted from the first novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Ripley Under Ground (with Barry Pepper as Ripley) is adapted from the second novel (same title).

The American Friend (with Dennis Hopper as Ripley) and Ripley's Game (with John Malkovitch as Ripley) are adapted from the third novel, Ripley's Game.

[Olmo]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

This is 1/2 rhetorical and 1/2 me lookin for an answer that I'm not aware of... What 'good' film has Arrow US put out? I recall being happy when I read that they would have a US presence, only to be underwhelmed time and again when their release slates are announced. Is there anything that might be a natural extension of Criterion's output or anything from some CC directors?

They released a 4K restoration of Closely Observed Trains last year, which in my opinion is a masterpiece.

Released a host of Dassin's recently also; Thieves Highway, The Naked City & Brute Force.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Olmo

They released a 4K restoration of Closely Observed Trains last year, which in my opinion is a masterpiece.

Released a host of Dassin's recently also; Thieves Highway, The Naked City & Brute Force.

None of these are US releases, though, which is what was asked about. Other than that, I agree wit you.

[KillDaWabbit]

Sitting down to watch Mulholland Drive for the first time right now. Very excited!

[kylec123]

I wish I could see Mulholland Drive for the first time again.

[jw007]

Late last night I watched Burroughs: The Movie and found much of it to be interesting but unless you're a fan of William S. Burroughs, I would not advise purchasing this release.

I'm looking forward to watching the 2 and a half hours of supplements tonight as I feel I'm going to really understand what the filmmakers were trying to do with this documentary. I'm also looking forward to seeing what directors Jim Jarmusch and Tom DiCillo have to say, as they were the camera/sound people on this 1983 film. Both were fellow NYU students too, and were friends of Howard Brookner, who directed the movie. It's a shame Brookner died at such a young age (from AIDS) in 1989... I never even knew who this director was either. Has anyone seen his films? Bloodhounds of Broadway starred an impressive ensemble but apparently it was a terrible film.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching my Criterion Blu-ray of Charlie Chaplin's Limelight.

I dragged my feet getting around to watching this one, because, although I purchased it to keep up my collection of Chaplin on Criterion, the premise didn't really quicken my pulse. Oftentimes, however, the titles in my collection that I'm not in as big of a hurry to watch ultimately turn out to be the most pleasant surprises. Limelight is another such pleasant surprise.

I loved this movie, and I found that it flew by at a lightning pace, despite its 137-minute run time. It doesn't hurt that it clicked for me during Chaplin's "All the world's a stage..." line that this was the source of the Rush song, "Limelight."

Charlie Chaplin is older and more meditative, but his comedic routines in the film have the same snap and vigor of his oldest short films. Claire Bloom (The Haunting, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Clash of the Titans) is lovely and powerful, especially with her dance sequences. Buster Keaton, in a role as Chaplin's partner, is a blast to watch as always.

I'm going through the extras right now, and am really enjoying them.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jw007

Late last night I watched Burroughs: The Movie and found much of it to be interesting but unless you're a fan of William S. Burroughs, I would not advise purchasing this release.

I'm looking forward to watching the 2 and a half hours of supplements tonight as I feel I'm going to really understand what the filmmakers were trying to do with this documentary. I'm also looking forward to seeing what directors Jim Jarmusch and Tom DiCillo have to say, as they were the camera/sound people on this 1983 film. Both were fellow NYU students too, and were friends of Howard Brookner, who directed the movie. It's a shame Brookner died at such a young age (from AIDS) in 1989... I never even knew who this director was either. Has anyone seen his films? Bloodhounds of Broadway starred an impressive ensemble but apparently it was a terrible film.

I'll be honest and I'm sure I'm not alone here... I don't even know who William S Burroughs is/was...

[KillDaWabbit]

Originally Posted by kylec123

I wish I could see Mulholland Drive for the first time again.

I feel like I just watched the dreams of a failed actress who had too much Valium. What a trip.

That was also my first time ever watching a David Lynch film. Had no idea what to expect going in as I had purposely not read anything about it, and I am happy I didn't. I normally don't like surreal and stylized movies like this, but I am going to be pondering what I just watched for quite a while. Laura Harring and Naomi Watts were fantastic as well. The audition scene was incredible.

[ThatOneGuy]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I'll be honest and I'm sure I'm not alone here... I don't even know who William S Burroughs is/was...

He was a writer, he wrote Naked Lunch and some other books. I had to look him up since I also don't know the name (which happens often) but I definitely wouldn't know him since I'm not a reader.

[MifuneFan]

Was just checking out what my local art houses are screening, and noticed Film Forum will be showing a restored version of Chantal Akerman's Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels, which is being provided by Janus Films. Probably a good chance it'll get a BD release down the road, hopefully in a boxset with other Akerman films

http://filmforum.org/film/chantal-ak...bruxelles-film

[MifuneFan]

Film Forum will also be screening A Touch of Zen, also courtesy of Janus Films from April 22nd - May 5th. Perhaps we'll get the BD sometime this Summer

http://filmforum.org/film/king-hus-a...-zen-film-page