The Criterion Collection

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

DVDs look just fine on my 49" 4K television. The Criterion DVD of Le Samouraï still has a proud place in my collection.

Of course, I usually just enjoy watching a movie without obsessing over picture quality, much to the chagrin of some folks on this forum. I'll never be well-suited to give technical spec reviews for Blu-rays.

I'm the same way. Picture quality has to be pretty bad for me to notice. I feel fortunate when I see people genuinely upset with slight picture issues or colors that I don't even notice, to the point that it gets in the way of them enjoying the film. I'm not usually an "ignorance is bliss" kinda guy, but in these situations it really is.

[Donnie D]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Most of my DVD collection consists of classic-era films noir that may not ever see release on Blu-ray. I've been happy watching those as is.

As much as I like blu-ray video quality, DVDs are still good. Having grown up with VHS I feel very lucky to have good DVD video transfers of things not out or will not be out on blu-rays. DVDs are superior to VHS so enjoy PLUS DVD prices have dropped so much so enjoy!

[llj]

The Soft Skin--One of the best films about an adulterer I've ever seen. I am not being facetious. Sensitive and non judgmental, but not biased for the protagonist either, it really "gets" how an extramarital affair could realistically develop between two fundamentally decent people and how this could make them (him mostly) do some pretty douchey things to hold onto it. And I wonder if Francoise Dorleac would be as equally famous as her sister today had she lived. I'm guessing from her early body of work, yes. While the physical resemblance between her and Catherine Deneuve is obvious, there is a reticence and vulnerability about her that contrasts with Deneuve's icier, tough persona.

There are a number of scenes here that are possibly among Truffaut's best--the obvious one of course being the annoying blathering pest that Desailly can't seem to shake (everyone can relate to this) and, around the same sequence, the Dorleac character waiting for Desailly in the theatre lobby for (seemingly) hours because she couldn't get a ticket. That struck me as both quite touching and sad.

I stayed up until 3:00am to finish this. I was originally going to only watch the first 15 minutes during a midnight snack, but then sat through the whole thing.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by llj

The Soft Skin--One of the best films about an adulterer I've ever seen. I am not being facetious. Sensitive and non judgmental, but not biased for the protagonist either, it really "gets" how an extramarital affair could realistically develop between two fundamentally decent people and how this could make them (him mostly) do some pretty douchey things to hold onto it. And I wonder if Francoise Dorleac would be as equally famous as her sister today had she lived. I'm guessing from her early body of work, yes. While the physical resemblance between her and Catherine Deneuve is obvious, there is a reticence and vulnerability about her that contrasts with Deneuve's icier, tough persona.

There are a number of scenes here that are possibly among Truffaut's best--the obvious one of course being the annoying blathering pest that Desailly can't seem to shake (everyone can relate to this) and, around the same sequence, the Dorleac character waiting for Desailly in the theatre lobby for (seemingly) hours because she couldn't get a ticket. That struck me as both quite touching and sad.

I stayed up until 3:00am to finish this. I was originally going to only watch the first 15 minutes during a midnight snack, but then sat through the whole thing.

The Soft Skin is my favorite Truffaut film. I like your take on it.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by llj

The Soft Skin--One of the best films about an adulterer I've ever seen. I am not being facetious. Sensitive and non judgmental, but not biased for the protagonist either, it really "gets" how an extramarital affair could realistically develop between two fundamentally decent people and how this could make them (him mostly) do some pretty douchey things to hold onto it. And I wonder if Francoise Dorleac would be as equally famous as her sister today had she lived. I'm guessing from her early body of work, yes. While the physical resemblance between her and Catherine Deneuve is obvious, there is a reticence and vulnerability about her that contrasts with Deneuve's icier, tough persona.

There are a number of scenes here that are possibly among Truffaut's best--the obvious one of course being the annoying blathering pest that Desailly can't seem to shake (everyone can relate to this) and, around the same sequence, the Dorleac character waiting for Desailly in the theatre lobby for (seemingly) hours because she couldn't get a ticket. That struck me as both quite touching and sad.

I stayed up until 3:00am to finish this. I was originally going to only watch the first 15 minutes during a midnight snack, but then sat through the whole thing.

really good film. I'm terrible at remembering specific plot points, but I recall

[Show spoiler]a scene in which he is supposed to meet up with her and he's being held by someone while he observes her out the window of a café... I think that's the pest scene you describe.

that scene is very effective.

I've tried The Story of Adele H and Stolen Kisses w/ my wife. She was ok w/ the former and thought the latter was just too odd. I want her to like Truffaut and I've been thinking this is the one I'll watch with her.

[llj]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I've tried The Story of Adele H and Stolen Kisses w/ my wife. She was ok w/ the former and thought the latter was just too odd. I want her to like Truffaut and I've been thinking this is the one I'll watch with her.

Truffaut is an odd one for me. I really like some of his films but he jumps around between different genres and changes his style up quite often to varying degrees of success, so it's hard to pin him down exactly. He's fundamentally more of a humanist than most others of the French New Wave but stylistically he plays around a lot more. I'm currently exploring Truffaut's "Hitchcock" phase which seems to be less heralded by film buffs. I've got The Bride Wore Black on my "to watch" list in the next month or so.

Have you tried showing your wife Day for Night?

[ShellOilJunior]

I just don't have time for SD content. My viewing hours each week are rather limited and the time I do have is allotted to the cinematheque, blu-ray and Prime content.

I also don't watch blu-rays at home during the day because I'm often on my feet, out of the house or at the gym. Home video time is always at night for me.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by llj

Truffaut is an odd one for me. I really like some of his films but he jumps around between different genres and changes his style up quite often to varying degrees of success, so it's hard to pin him down exactly. He's fundamentally more of a humanist than most others of the French New Wave but stylistically he plays around a lot more. I'm currently exploring Truffaut's "Hitchcock" phase which seems to be less heralded by film buffs. I've got The Bride Wore Black on my "to watch" list in the next month or so.

Have you tried showing your wife Day for Night?

no, I haven't, but that is a definite candidate. my wife has a tiny aversion to b&w, so it might be a better choice. she'll watch b&w but only if we start earlier in the day. she gets lulled to sleep, I guess.

the Hitch inspired films do have their fans. I think The Bride Wore Black is a good watch. the scenes play out in these engaging self contained episodes, but it doesn't quite come together in the end in a way for me to think terribly highly of it.

I haven't really come across anything from him that I plain didn't like. I even thought A Gorgeous Girl Like Me was kinda fun. ...and interestingly enough, the ones that I felt I didn't connect with on first watch have stuck w/ me more so than some of the ones I did like right away. Two English Girls falls in that category. needs a re-watch

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I also don't watch blu-rays at home during the day because I'm often on my feet, out of the house or at the gym. Home video time is always at night for me.

Most of my movie viewings are on weekends, if there's nothing else going on.

Weeknights are iffy, because I come home from a 10-hour workday, and then meet up with my running group for an hour or two. I can usually squeeze in two or three movies between Tuesday and Friday, but that doesn't always work, because I end up staying up later on a weeknight than I'd prefer. I watched the first hour of The Revenant last night, but the sleep monster caught up with me after that, so I'll have to finish it tonight.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Was just looking through the Filmstruck library, and noticed they added a few more titles. One thing I didn't really realize is that Criterion now has Kurosawa's Dersu Uzala.

Here's some that are now on the service that weren't on the list:

Rembrandt
Watership Down
Stalker (1979) - is this a known title they had, or a new acquisition?
Winter Light

I just noticed that the initial Filmstruck announcement mentions films from Kino's library. Could that the reason for the Dersu Uzala/Stalker inclusions, or are they somehow branded as Criterion?

[f451]

Originally Posted by llj

Truffaut is an odd one for me. I really like some of his films but he jumps around between different genres and changes his style up quite often to varying degrees of success, so it's hard to pin him down exactly. He's fundamentally more of a humanist than most others of the French New Wave but stylistically he plays around a lot more. I'm currently exploring Truffaut's "Hitchcock" phase which seems to be less heralded by film buffs. I've got The Bride Wore Black on my "to watch" list in the next month or so.

Have you tried showing your wife Day for Night?

Truffaut does jump around in genres. "The Bride Wore Black" is a good one -- rather odd but quite good. "The Last Metro" has a lot going for it, many think it his best. "Fahrenheit 451" shows a very humanist Truffaut approach to the story -- but Criterion has yet to remaster and restore that one. (Note to Criterion: Thant's a hint.)

[jordan-r]

New NYFF restorations. Anyone wanna speculate on which might make it to Criterion?

The Battle of Algiers (already available)
L’argent
Harlan County USA
Three short films by Jacques Rivette
Taipei Story
Ugetsu
Memories of Underdevelopment
One-Eyed Jacks
The Living Idol
Panique

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jordan-r

New NYFF restorations. Anyone wanna speculate on which might make it to Criterion?

The Battle of Algiers (already available)
L’argent
Harlan County USA
Three short films by Jacques Rivette
Taipei Story
Ugetsu
Memories of Underdevelopment
One-Eyed Jacks
The Living Idol
Panique

I would think Ugetsu is a given.

Would love to see Taipai story, and hard to imagine Criterion wouldn't be interested.

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by llj

The Soft Skin--.

I decided to forgo the Criterion editions and went for the Artificial Eye box set import recently since it was so damn cheap. So far, I really enjoyed Shoot The Pianist and The Soft Skin. I'm currently finishing The Last Metro.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I just noticed that the initial Filmstruck announcement mentions films from Kino's library. Could that the reason for the Dersu Uzala/Stalker inclusions, or are they somehow branded as Criterion?

They are Criterion branded, made sure to check before posting that.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

They are Criterion branded, made sure to check before posting that.

Awesome. Thank you!

[MifuneFan]

Tried taking some screencaps of Stalker, but the app kept crashing

[jordan-r]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I would think Ugetsu is a given.

Would love to see Taipai story, and hard to imagine Criterion wouldn't be interested.

I was thinking the same of both. Haven't heard any definite news about the others (I seem to remember that One-Eyed Jacks was already rumored for Criterion, though?) but L'argent, Harlan County USA upgrade, and Memories of Underdevelopment also seem like definite Criterion contenders.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by jordan-r

New NYFF restorations. Anyone wanna speculate on which might make it to Criterion?

The Battle of Algiers (already available)
L’argent
Harlan County USA
Three short films by Jacques Rivette
Taipei Story
Ugetsu
Memories of Underdevelopment
One-Eyed Jacks
The Living Idol
Panique

Oh man, if Criterion released Ugetsu or Taipei Story I'd be so extremely happy. Especially Taipei Story, as I love Edward Yang's modern films set in the city. Very few directors filmed cities as beautiful as he did.

[ajburke]

Megan Abbott's Top 10 is up on criterion.com. I found it an excellent read.

https://www.criterion.com/explore/29...bbott-s-top-10