The Criterion Collection

[AaronJ]

Ordered Cries and Whispers from B&N just now. Ordered -- not Criterion related, obviously -- Sixteen Candles from Amazon earlier.

Now, there are two films that go together quite well.

[silverlakephil]

I enjoyed One-Eyed Jacks prior to Turkey time yesterday. What a wonderful,unique western. I think Marlon Brando did an ace job directing this film. I didn't know Stanley Kubrick was first slated to direct the film but for reasons never clear, left the project and went on to direct Spartacus.

[Arch Stanton]

Guys, not Criterion related but I'd appreciate the thoughts of the most clued-up section of the forum on this...

I downright HATED Michael Haneke's Cache, but I'm really tempted to pick up Amour (mainly because I've heard it's very Bergman esque). But as I say, I'm really not big on Haneke and the apparent contempt he actually has for movies and people who watch them... so would I like it?

[Ray Jackson]

I'm thinking about making one more purchase before the end of the current Noble sale.

Either a blind buy of Cat People or buying back The Killers, which I sold about three weeks ago.

Cat People looks interesting, but also looks like a kitschy B-movie with mediocre acting (mediocre is being generous). I question whether it's going to have a lot of replay value.

Am I wrong?

...any strong thoughts one way or the other?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Guys, not Criterion related but I'd appreciate the thoughts of the most clued-up section of the forum on this...

I downright HATED Michael Haneke's Cache, but I'm really tempted to pick up Amour (mainly because I've heard it's very Bergman esque). But as I say, I'm really not big on Haneke and the apparent contempt he actually has for movies and people who watch them... so would I like it?

It's extremely moving and pretty much nothing like his other films -- or at least the vast majority of them. Also, you can't wrong with Trintignant and Riva, two truly fantastic actors.

I believe that as Haneke is getting older (he was born in 1942, I believe) he's started leaving things like Funny Games and Time of the Wolf and The Piano Teacher -- all films I respect, btw -- behind and realizing there's more to life than that.

Then again, I could be wrong. I guess we'll see with Happy End.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I'm thinking about making one more purchase before the end of the current Noble sale.

Either a blind buy of Cat People or buying back The Killers, which I sold about three weeks ago.

Cat People looks interesting, but also looks like a kitschy B-movie with mediocre acting (mediocre is being generous). I question whether it's going to have a lot of replay value.

Am I wrong?

...any strong thoughts one way or the other?

Well, first, I don't know how a film that stars Simone Simon could have "mediocre acting" at best.

More to the point, I didn't find it kitschy at all. It's certainly nothing that would be made today, but I don't think that's the point. And Tourneur makes a beautiful film here. I understand how it might not be to everyone's tastes, given what they are or are not into overall. But I love it.

And it's had a decent amount of replay value for me, and I've only owned it a short time.

Granted, it's no "2 Girls, 1 Cup." And I know that's your sort of thing ...

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I'm thinking about making one more purchase before the end of the current Noble sale.

Either a blind buy of Cat People or buying back The Killers, which I sold about three weeks ago.

Cat People looks interesting, but also looks like a kitschy B-movie with mediocre acting (mediocre is being generous). I question whether it's going to have a lot of replay value.

Am I wrong?

...any strong thoughts one way or the other?

I'd recommend staying far away from Cat People, as it's everything you're expecting and then some. Buy back The Killers.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Guys, not Criterion related but I'd appreciate the thoughts of the most clued-up section of the forum on this...

I downright HATED Michael Haneke's Cache, but I'm really tempted to pick up Amour (mainly because I've heard it's very Bergman esque). But as I say, I'm really not big on Haneke and the apparent contempt he actually has for movies and people who watch them... so would I like it?

Well it is different than Cache, but from the way it sounds you seem to really hate Haneke so I wouldn't recommend blind-buying it. But for me personally, I'd say it's undoubtedly one of the top 5 films of this decade so far.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I'm thinking about making one more purchase before the end of the current Noble sale.

...any strong thoughts one way or the other?

Berlin Alexanderplatz, just do it.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by fdm

Berlin Alexanderplatz, just do it.

Which reminds me, I STILL haven't seen all of World on a Wire. It seems like I've owned it for decades at this point. I really need to get onto that.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Guys, not Criterion related but I'd appreciate the thoughts of the most clued-up section of the forum on this...

I downright HATED Michael Haneke's Cache, but I'm really tempted to pick up Amour (mainly because I've heard it's very Bergman esque). But as I say, I'm really not big on Haneke and the apparent contempt he actually has for movies and people who watch them... so would I like it?

I haven't seen Cache, but I intensely hated Funny Games (German version). I was very hesitant to watch Amour after that, but it's a beautiful film, ultimately, displaying none of the contempt from his earlier films. That's not to say it's an easy film to watch, but that's part of what's rewarding about it.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by fdm

Berlin Alexanderplatz, just do it.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Which reminds me, I STILL haven't seen all of World on a Wire. It seems like I've owned it for decades at this point. I really need to get onto that.

You don't deserve to own this masterpiece of cinema.

If you had any decency...any decency at all...you'd give it away.

You'd make sure it found a good home full of love and repeat viewings.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Just watched Muriel, or the Time of Return and I don't quite know what it is I just watched, or why.

It seemed like little to nothing happened in the entire two hours. Am I missing something? Marienbad is one of my favorite films and I was expecting a lot more here.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

Just watched Muriel, or the Time of Return and I don't quite know what it is I just watched, or why.

It seemed like little to nothing happened in the entire two hours. Am I missing something? Marienbad is one of my favorite films and I was expecting a lot more here.

I found it quite remarkable at the seams. Marienbad is an all timer, but what he did here is no less radical in my opinion. The way it blurs time like memories over the years what I found so fascinating. That opening is just a rapturous torrent of half-remembered images, it's like trying to piece together a location from your mind and faltering--there was this dresser here, this lamp over there possibly, this collection of stuff here.

Above all though, you have to be engaged by the style. It's frustrating, no doubt, but if you let it, it will get under your skin and have you begging for answers. I saw it two times the week I bought it and I plan on seeing it again soon just so I can fully "learn" how to watch it.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I found it quite remarkable at the seams. Marienbad is an all timer, but what he did here is no less radical in my opinion. The way it blurs time like memories over the years what I found so fascinating. That opening is just a rapturous torrent of half-remembered images, it's like trying to piece together a location from your mind and faltering--there was this dresser here, this lamp over there possibly, this collection of stuff here.

Above all though, you have to be engaged by the style. It's frustrating, no doubt, but if you let it, it will get under your skin and have you begging for answers. I saw it two times the week I bought it and I plan on seeing it again soon just so I can fully "learn" how to watch it.

I guess if you are the type of person who can enjoy films solely based on editing technique, this might be for you. Aside from that, I need to be able to care somewhat about the people on screen for any of that to matter. I didn't at all.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I guess if you are the type of person who can enjoy films solely based on editing technique, this might be for you. Aside from that, I need to be able to care somewhat about the people on screen for any of that to matter. I didn't at all.

To be fair, its not the technique on it's own, but rather that the technique is perfectly suited to Resnais' thematic concerns. I found it to be a significant component of a greater whole.

From those thoughts though, I think we may differ in terms of the role characters play in movies. Unsympathetic, cold, or "dull" characters don't tend to define my experience.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

Just watched Muriel, or the Time of Return and I don't quite know what it is I just watched, or why.

It seemed like little to nothing happened in the entire two hours. Am I missing something? Marienbad is one of my favorite films and I was expecting a lot more here.

I love Hiroshima Mon Amour...top ten Criterion release for me.

But everything about Muriel screamed "riskiest blind buy of all time."

...I didn't have the strength.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

To be fair, its not the technique on it's own, but rather that the technique is perfectly suited to Resnais' thematic concerns. I found it to be a significant component of a greater whole.

From those thoughts though, I think we may differ in terms of the role characters play in movies. Unsympathetic, cold, or "dull" characters don't tend to define my experience.

To my credit, I often enjoy films with characters like this, especially in the films of Luis Bunuel. Something about this one left me empty though.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

To my credit, I often enjoy films with characters like this, especially in the films of Luis Bunuel. Something about this one left me empty though.

My best guess would be that this is much more abrasive and fragmented in form than Bunuel who, at least in terms of scene construction, is more classical.

And by fragmented, boy do I mean fragmented. I can only imagine what audiences made of it back then. Today we have decades more of mind-bending cinema to lean back on.