The Criterion Collection

[SammyJankis]

I saw Anna Karina twice this week in NY doing Q&As for Band of Outsiders and Pierrot Le Fou. It has to go down as one of the more surreal experiences of my life. Not only has she been one of my favorite actresses since the second I saw her, but a defining presence in all of cinema. Seeing her on the big screen commanding attention and then watching her walk on stage afterwards to discuss not only Godard but classic Hollywood was something I never imagined seeing. Woman was an utter delight, just as magnetic as she was 50 years ago. Only downside is that I wasn't able to get my copy of Pierrot Le Fou signed, but I'm really not that bummed. Being three feet away from her was enough.





EDIT: I see I'm not alone in the Karina love

[MifuneFan]

She's been really busy! She has more vigor than most people half her age.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

Oddly enough I just finished Massacre Gun & Retailiation from Arrow. After watching those and Loving every Suzuki film Ive ever seen Im defiantly picking up up the Nikkatsu Noir set. Jo Shishido is just so freakin cool!

Check out his work with Suzuki too like Youth of the Beast, Branded to Kill, and Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards!.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I saw Anna Karina twice this week in NY doing Q&As for Band of Outsiders and Pierrot Le Fou. It has to go down as one of the more surreal experiences of my life. Not only has she been one of my favorite actresses since the second I saw her, but she's a defining presence in film. Seeing her on the big screen commanding attention and then watching her walk on stage afterwards to discuss not only Godard but classic Hollywood was something I never imagined seeing. Woman was an utter delight, just as magnetic as she was 50 years ago. Only downside is that I wasn't able to get my copy of Pierrot Le Fou signed, but I'm really not that bummed. Being three feet away from her was enough.

[Show spoiler]

EDIT: I see I'm not alone in the Karina love

You certainly aren't alone! When I saw her at the TCM festival for her interview and intro to Band of Outsiders, it was later in the evening and my 5th film of the day/night. I was really burnt out by that time ... but there was no way I was going to miss seeing Anna Karina if I had any say in it. I thought I might have been out of luck as I got to the theater a little late (... due to just finishing up seeing The King and I at a different theater, which included an intro from Rita Moreno). Anna had already started her interview by the time I got there. I was so happy that they let me in. Like you say, Anna was a delight!

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Page14

You certainly aren't alone! When I saw her at the TCM festival for her interview and intro to Band of Outsiders, it was later in the evening and my 5th film of the day/night. I was really burnt out by that time ... but there was no way I was going to miss seeing Anna Karina if I had any say in it. I thought I might have been out of luck as I got to the theater a little late (... due to just finishing up seeing The King and I at a different theater, which included an intro from Rita Moreno). Anna had already started her interview by the time I got there. I was so happy that they let me in. Like you say, Anna was a delight!

Glad you could make it! I actually had to get to both screenings at least an hour early to secure a seat in the front row. I'm actually not from New York. I have family here, and I'll, eh hem, sometimes use them as an excuse to take advantage of certain events in the city. She was the main reason for the trip. Silly to some, but I honestly never thought this would be a possibility, and, like I said, she's one of my all time favorite actresses. She was really lively and energetic on stage, providing anecdotes like working with Fassbinder to the origin of that little bear in Pierrot Le Fou.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Glad you could make it! I actually had to get to both screenings at least an hour early to secure a seat in the front row. I'm actually not from New York. I have family here, and I'll, eh hem, sometimes use them as an excuse to take advantage of certain events in the city. She was the main reason for the trip. Silly to some, but I honestly never thought this would be a possibility, and, like I said, she's one of my all time favorite actresses. She was really lively and energetic on stage, providing anecdotes like working with Fassbinder to the origin of that little bear in Pierrot Le Fou.

I'm thinking most of the people in these forums "get it".

I went to the film festival by myself, because I don't know anybody else who would want to go, and I'm getting too old to wait around for other people to do things I want to do. So it's either do it alone, or don't do it at all. Once I got there, it was like a huge family ... everybody there with the same high passion and there for the same purpose. I'm already hoping to go again next year. .... Most people I know (face to face) probably never heard of TCM before. I took many pics, but those of most interest to this group were taken in dimly lit theaters from a seat at least halfway back from the screen. I took a few small videos too, but I don't know how to post those in here.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Page14

I'm thinking most of the people in these forums "get it".

I went to the film festival by myself, because I don't know anybody else who would want to go, and I'm getting too old to wait around for other people to do things I want to do. So it's either do it alone, or don't do it at all. Once I got there, it was like a huge family ... everybody there with the same high passion and there for the same purpose. I'm already hoping to go again next year. .... Most people I know (face to face) probably never heard of TCM before. I took many pics, but those of most interest to this group were taken in dimly lit theaters from a seat at least halfway back from the screen. I took a few small videos too, but I don't know how to post those in here.

I hear ya. A few family members would verbally scoff when I told them I was going down to the city for a movie. None of them had heard of the films/Karina, so it's whatever. I like going solo as well. A lot of the people there were going solo as well, some who hadn't even seen the films before (interesting to hear their thoughts afterward.) Like you, I no longer let my decision depend on whether it'll be a shared experience or not.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I hear ya. A few family members would verbally scoff when I told them I was going down to the city for a movie. None of them had heard of the films/Karina, so it's whatever. I like going solo as well. A lot of the people there were going solo as well, some who hadn't even seen the films before (interesting to hear their thoughts afterward.) Like you, I no longer let my decision depend on whether it'll be a shared experience or not.

Yup, yup, yup .....

[GentleGiant]

Wow, just learned Carnival of Souls is going to be released on Blu! Thrilled to no end by this.

I remember saying in this thread how I wished it would get a Blu-ray upgrade one of these days. It turns out dreams do come true once in a while!!!

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I saw Anna Karina twice this week in NY doing Q&As for Band of Outsiders and Pierrot Le Fou. It has to go down as one of the more surreal experiences of my life. Not only has she been one of my favorite actresses since the second I saw her, but a defining presence in all of cinema. Seeing her on the big screen commanding attention and then watching her walk on stage afterwards to discuss not only Godard but classic Hollywood was something I never imagined seeing. Woman was an utter delight, just as magnetic as she was 50 years ago. Only downside is that I wasn't able to get my copy of Pierrot Le Fou signed, but I'm really not that bummed. Being three feet away from her was enough.

[Show spoiler]

EDIT: I see I'm not alone in the Karina love

That backdrop looks familiar. Museum of the Moving Image?

[AaronJ]

Yay! My copy of Phoenix arrived early. So, tonight with be a Christian Petzold/Nina Hoss double feature of Barbara (finally going to see it for the first time) and Phoenix. Should be a fascinating evening.

[Ray Jackson]

I finished watching The Apu Trilogy for the second time last night and I can now say definitively, this is the greatest blind buy of my cinematic life.

...the Brigitte Bardot of blind buys.

...the Dom Perignot 1985.

...the raw Peruvian yayo that keeps you up for three days.

...the Thai massage therapist with the happy endings.

There is a power and a magic in these films that is unlike anything I've ever experienced in my cinematic life. And that includes Ikiru.

I can't explain it.

I can't put it into words.

You have to experience it for yourself.

I can only say that no other film has ever burned in my soul the way the Apu Trilogy has.

Tis a burning sensation like no other.

Not since that summer night after my junior year, when I sat in the back of my father's 1970 Pontiac GTO, consuming biker crank and broken dreams with old Mary Jane Rottencrotch.

...and the gonorrhea that was soon to follow.

[Scottie]

I just finished rewatching Lost in Translation for the umpteenth time and would like to reiterate that this film would be perfect in the Collection.

[The Great Owl]

In a Lonely Place and Bicycle Thieves showed up in the mail today.

Since In a Lonely Place automatically goes to the top of my to-watch list, I'll be enjoying it tonight after dark. I'm glad that it arrived before I leave town for a two-day training.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just finished rewatching Lost in Translation for the umpteenth time and would like to reiterate that this film would be perfect in the Collection.

I agree. It's her magnum opus.

If Paul Verhoeven can have one of his films in the collection, and William Greaves can have one of his films in the collection, and Erik Skjoldbjærg can have one of his films in the collection, and Kevin Smith can have one of his films in the collection, and Spike Lee can have one of his films in the collection, and Neil Jordan can have one of his films in the collection, and George Sluizer can have one of his films in the collection, and David Gordon Green can have one of his films in the collection, and Lasse Hallström can have one of his films in the collection, and Sam Peckinpah can have one of his films in the collection, and Catherine Breillat can have one of her films in the collection, and Jack Woods can have one of his films in the collection, and Lodge Kerrigan can have one of his films in the collection, and Allison Anders can have one of her films in the collection, and Mathieu Kassovitz can have one of his films in the collection, Stuart Cooper can have one of his films in the collection, and Byron Haskin can have one of his films in the collection, and Cornel Wilde can have one of his films in the collection, and Paul Schrader can have one of his films in the collection, and Milcho Manchevski can have one of his films in the collection, and Claude Jutra can have one of his films in the collection, and Martin Ritt can have one of his films in the collection, and Gregory Nava can have one of his films in the collection, and Peter Yates can have one of his films in the collection, and Mira Nair can have one of her films in the collection, and Matteo Garrone can have one of his films in the collection, and Michael Ritchie can have one of his films in the collection, and Götz Spielmann can have one of his films in the collection, and Steve McQueen can have one of his films in the collection, and Henry Jaglom can have one of his films in the collection, and James L. Brooks can have one of his films in the collection, and Andrea Arnold can have one of her films in the collection, and Claire Denis can have one of her films in the collection, and Ken Loach can have one of his films in the collection, and Todd Solondz can have one of his films in the collection, and Lena Dunham can have one of her films in the collection, and Otto Preminger can have one of his films in the collection, and Hal Ashby can have one of his films in the collection, and Robert M. Young can have one of his films in the collection, and Danny Boyle can have one of his films in the collection, and Andrew Haigh can have one of his films in the collection, and Franc Roddam can have one of his films in the collection, and Paul Bartel can have one of his films in the collection, and Joshua Marston can have one of his films in the collection, and Michael Cimino can have one of his films in the collection, and Christopher Nolan can have one of his films in the collection, and Elia Kazan can have one of his films in the collection, and Gabriel Axel can have one of his films in the collection, and Michael Mann can have one of his films in the collection, and Terence Davies can have one of his films in the collection, and Lawrence Kasdan can have one of his films in the collection, and Pedro Almodóvar can have one of his films in the collection, and Bob Fosse can have one of his films in the collection, and Frank Capra can have one of his films in the collection, and Sydney Pollack can have one of his films in the collection, and Todd Haynes can have one of his films in the collection, and Martin Rosen can have one of his films in the collection, and Mark Rydell can have one of his films in the collection, and Carroll Ballard can have one of his films in the collection, and Michael Haneke can have one of his films in the collection, and Takashi Murakami can have one of his films in the collection, and Howard Brookner can have one of his films in the collection, and Joel and Ethan Coen can have one of their films in the collection, and Mike Nichols can have one of his films in the collection, and Christian Petzold can have one of his films in the collection, and Arthur Hiller can have one of his films in the collection, and King Hu can have one of his films in the collection...

...then Sofia Coppola can have one of her films in the collection!

[AaronJ]

That was epic.

And as a huge Sofia Coppola fan, I'm all in favor of her films being in the collection. And yes, Lost in Translation is a very special film.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jw007

I agree. It's her magnum opus.

If Paul Verhoeven can have one of his films in the collection, and William Greaves can have one of his films in the collection, and Erik Skjoldbjærg can have one of his films in the collection, and Kevin Smith can have one of his films in the collection, and Spike Lee can have one of his films in the collection, and Neil Jordan can have one of his films in the collection, and George Sluizer can have one of his films in the collection, and David Gordon Green can have one of his films in the collection, and Lasse Hallström can have one of his films in the collection, and Sam Peckinpah can have one of his films in the collection, and Catherine Breillat can have one of her films in the collection, and Jack Woods can have one of his films in the collection, and Lodge Kerrigan can have one of his films in the collection, and Allison Anders can have one of her films in the collection, and Mathieu Kassovitz can have one of his films in the collection, Stuart Cooper can have one of his films in the collection, and Byron Haskin can have one of his films in the collection, and Cornel Wilde can have one of his films in the collection, and Paul Schrader can have one of his films in the collection, and Milcho Manchevski can have one of his films in the collection, and Claude Jutra can have one of his films in the collection, and Martin Ritt can have one of his films in the collection, and Gregory Nava can have one of his films in the collection, and Peter Yates can have one of his films in the collection, and Mira Nair can have one of her films in the collection, and Matteo Garrone can have one of his films in the collection, and Michael Ritchie can have one of his films in the collection, and Götz Spielmann can have one of his films in the collection, and Steve McQueen can have one of his films in the collection, and Henry Jaglom can have one of his films in the collection, and James L. Brooks can have one of his films in the collection, and Andrea Arnold can have one of her films in the collection, and Claire Denis can have one of her films in the collection, and Ken Loach can have one of his films in the collection, and Todd Solondz can have one of his films in the collection, and Lena Dunham can have one of her films in the collection, and Otto Preminger can have one of his films in the collection, and Hal Ashby can have one of his films in the collection, and Robert M. Young can have one of his films in the collection, and Danny Boyle can have one of his films in the collection, and Andrew Haigh can have one of his films in the collection, and Franc Roddam can have one of his films in the collection, and Paul Bartel can have one of his films in the collection, and Joshua Marston can have one of his films in the collection, and Michael Cimino can have one of his films in the collection, and Christopher Nolan can have one of his films in the collection, and Elia Kazan can have one of his films in the collection, and Gabriel Axel can have one of his films in the collection, and Michael Mann can have one of his films in the collection, and Terence Davies can have one of his films in the collection, and Lawrence Kasdan can have one of his films in the collection, and Pedro Almodóvar can have one of his films in the collection, and Bob Fosse can have one of his films in the collection, and Frank Capra can have one of his films in the collection, and Sydney Pollack can have one of his films in the collection, and Todd Haynes can have one of his films in the collection, and Martin Rosen can have one of his films in the collection, and Mark Rydell can have one of his films in the collection, and Carroll Ballard can have one of his films in the collection, and Michael Haneke can have one of his films in the collection, and Takashi Murakami can have one of his films in the collection, and Howard Brookner can have one of his films in the collection, and Joel and Ethan Coen can have one of their films in the collection, and Mike Nichols can have one of his films in the collection, and Christian Petzold can have one of his films in the collection, and Arthur Hiller can have one of his films in the collection, and King Hu can have one of his films in the collection...

...then Sofia Coppola can have one of her films in the collection!

I realize that you're just having fun with this post, but there are quite a few names on this list whose cinematic achievements trounce those of Sofia Coppola.

just sayin'...

[Snicket]

Such a waste of words.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

That backdrop looks familiar. Museum of the Moving Image?

Yep. Such a cool place.

EDIT: The other picture is the Film Forum.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I realize that you're just having fun with this post, but there are quite a few names on this list whose cinematic achievements trounce those of Sofia Coppola.

just sayin'...

Though, interestingly, in my opinion Sofia has never made a feature that's not at least good. She has made five features, and they all have been good, excellent, or great.

I'd buy a Criterion box set of her features in a second, even if it meant that I had to sell a kidney to do so (I mean I've got two of them, and only really need one).