The Criterion Collection

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by iScottie

You know what I think would be a cool Criterion release? A compilation of music videos directed by famous directors.

For example: David Fincher directed George Michael's "Freedom '90" and Madonna's "Vogue", Gus Van Sant directed Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge", Brian De Palma directed Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark", Martin Scorsese directed Michael Jackson's "Bad", Spike Jonze directed Beastie Boys' "Sabotage", etc.

I'd love to see an assemblage of all 55 or so videos directed by David Fincher alone. He started in the 80's working with artists as diverse as The Motels, The Outfield, Paula Abdul, Rick Springfield, etc. His videos for Madonna's Bad Girl (with Christopher Walken) and Oh Father are particularly striking. I'm sure rights issues would keep this from ever happening, but it would be sweet.

Speaking of famous directors, I was always partial to Tobe Hopper's video for Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself and, come to think of it, David Fincher's video for Billy Idol's Cradle Of Love remains pretty sexy...

[flyry]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Le Samouraï

I can finally retire from buying Blu-rays in November. Woo hoo!

This is one of my all-time top five movies.

You won't buy new movies?

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by MJD64

I'd love to see an assemblage of all 55 or so videos directed by David Fincher alone. He started in the 80's working with artists as diverse as The Motels, The Outfield, Paula Abdul, Rick Springfield, etc. His videos for Madonna's Bad Girl (with Christopher Walken) and Oh Father are particularly striking. I'm sure rights issues would keep this from ever happening, but it would be sweet.

I believe Fincher was approached about a collection in the DVD era, when the "Directors Series" / "The Work of Director..." sets were coming out, focusing on guys like Spike Jonze or Michel Gondry (EDIT: I see these were referenced above), and he wasn't interested.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Aren't there 2 French versions? The initial poorly received one, and a 2nd improved one? If that is accurate, do you think the Criterion will be an improvement over the 2nd French release?

I own the second "improved" French Pathe Blu-ray release of Le Samouraï.

I'm the biggest fan of Le Samouraï in the whole wide world, and, whenever I revisit the movie, I opt for my Criterion DVD instead of my "improved" French Pathe Blu-ray.

That second edition of the French disc looks amazing during certain scenes, but, for others, it looks as though I'm watching the movie through an oily puddle of water.

My guess is that the Criterion release will look similar to their old DVD edition, but more detailed. At least that's what I'm hoping to see.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Le Samouraï

I can finally retire from buying Blu-rays in November. Woo hoo!

Originally Posted by flyry

You won't buy new movies?

Nope. I will retire completely from purchasing new Blu-rays after I buy the upcoming Criterion Blu-ray of Le Samouraï.

I'll be done. No more. Th-th-th-that's all folks!

My entire collection will be the Christmas tree, and Le Samouraï will be the shiny beautiful star that I place on top of that tree.



















Okay, that's not entirely true. I'll still keep buying new Blu-rays.

A proper high definition release of Le Samouraï is, however, the last real "Holy Grail" Blu-ray that I've been yearning to have. My collection really will feel complete, so to speak.

[olivianewtonyawn]

Originally Posted by CQD84

Am I the only one genuinely looking forward to the release of Desert Hearts? I haven't seen the movie before, but it looks great.

I definitely am looking forward to Desert Hearts. Great performances in this film and an interesting snapshot of a specific moment in time in America. Not to mention an lgbt classic.

I've had the OOP Wolfe Video dvd for several years and it definitely could use an upgrade.

[javy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

A proper high definition release of Le Samouraï is, however, the last real "Holy Grail" Blu-ray that I've been yearning to have. My collection really will feel complete, so to speak.

Le Samourai is bad to the bone eh? I look forward to checking it out. It sounds gangster.

[mja345]

The big part that makes "Le Samourai" special is that Alain Delon is so f**king cool that he makes Steve McQueen seem like a virginal 15 year old. Add in Melville's incredible skill and you have a masterpiece.

[billy pilgrim]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Based on your review, I decided that Canoa: A Shameful Memory should be in my collection.

The sale is over, but I grabbed the Blu-ray for $25 and change from Amazon Prime.

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Owl. High praise indeed.

I always find your opinions on these films so enjoyable. Would be interested in reading yours on Canoa.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by mja345

The big part that makes "Le Samourai" special is that Alain Delon is so f**king cool that he makes Steve McQueen seem like a virginal 15 year old. Add in Melville's incredible skill and you have a masterpiece.

I am not resorting to hyperbole when I say that I believe that Le Samouraï is the coolest movie ever made.

Alain Delon is as cool as ice for most of the movie. He's even cool during the two scenes when he shows surprising emotion.

The clothes, which were purposely film-noir-retro even considering when this movie was made, are perfect.

The women are gorgeous. Alain Delon's wife, Nathalie Delon, co-stars, and the scenes between them have a gravitas in part thanks to the fact that the couple were separated in real life.
(The hat check girl in the movie is my favorite, though.)

The jazz music is superb, and the bar scenes are incredible as such.

The movie is mostly dialogue-free, but there are some priceless dialogue exchanges...

"Nothing to say?"
"Not with a gun on me."
"Is that a principle?"
"A habit."

[The Great Owl]

Also... True fact...

I keep all of my Blu-rays in these big plastic bins from Target. They're easy to organize by genre that way, they're easy to move around, and they're safe from dust, water, etc.

I have all of my Jean-Pierre Melville Blu-rays stored in the same plastic bin where I store all 24 of my James Bond 007 movies.

Why, you ask?

Because, if I ever have to leave my house quickly due to a fire or some other similar situation, then that will be the one plastic case of Blu-rays that I will want to save more than the others.

[javy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Also... True fact...

I keep all of my Blu-rays in these big plastic bins from Target. They're easy to organize by genre that way, they're easy to move around, and they're safe from dust, water, etc.

I have all of my Jean-Pierre Melville Blu-rays stored in the same plastic bin where I store all 24 of my James Bond 007 movies.

Why, you ask?

Because, if I ever have to leave my house quickly due to a fire or some other similar situation, then that will be the one plastic case of Blu-rays that I will want to save more than the others.

Is Out of the Past in that bin?

[trentdiesel]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Nope. I will retire completely from purchasing new Blu-rays after I buy the upcoming Criterion Blu-ray of Le Samouraï.

I'll be done. No more. Th-th-th-that's all folks!

My entire collection will be the Christmas tree, and Le Samouraï will be the shiny beautiful star that I place on top of that tree.



















Okay, that's not entirely true. I'll still keep buying new Blu-rays.

A proper high definition release of Le Samouraï is, however, the last real "Holy Grail" Blu-ray that I've been yearning to have. My collection really will feel complete, so to speak.

You can do whatever you want as long as you don't retire from reviewing

[spanky87]

Originally Posted by iScottie

You know what I think would be a cool Criterion release? A compilation of music videos directed by famous directors.

For example: David Fincher directed George Michael's "Freedom '90" and Madonna's "Vogue", Gus Van Sant directed Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge", Brian De Palma directed Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark", Martin Scorsese directed Michael Jackson's "Bad", Spike Jonze directed Beastie Boys' "Sabotage", etc.

Let's acknowledge PTA's brilliant music video for Fiona Apple's Across the Universe cover:

Fiona Apple - Across the Universe Music Video [HD] - YouTube

[Scottie]

Do not waste your time with the Amazon Instant Video version of Le Samouraï.

Not only is the quality atrocious, but the film skips and buffers and the subtitles do not match the dialogue (a character will speak a line of dialogue and the translation will flash briefly for approximately 1/2 a second before moving on).

[piebot56]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Do not waste your time with the Amazon Instant Video version of Le Samouraï.

Not only is the quality atrocious, but the film skips and buffers and the subtitles do not match the dialogue (a character will speak a line of dialogue and the translation will flash briefly for approximately 1/2 a second before moving on).

How about the version on Filmstruck? Is that worth a watch?

[spanky87]

A 35mm print of Le Samourai is screening in Toronto this weekend.

http://www.tiff.net/films/le-samourai/

I'm there, man.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by piebot56

How about the version on Filmstruck? Is that worth a watch?

No idea. I don't have Roku and I don't watch movies on a device other than a television unless I have to.

I did notice earlier that the film is available for rental for $2.99 on YouTube. Quality looks good from the preview.

[javy]

Originally Posted by spanky87

Let's acknowledge PTA's brilliant music video for Fiona Apple's Across the Universe cover:

Fiona Apple - Across the Universe Music Video [HD] - YouTube

I really love Michel Gondry's direction for Bjork's Human Behavior. What a 90's classic.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by javy

Is Out of the Past in that bin?

Yes, actually.

I have two Blu-rays of Out of the Past, because I found one at a used store a year or so ago, and bought it as a "backup copy."

The backup copy is in that bin. My initial copy is stored in my first Film Noir bin (which will be the second bin that I save if I have a chance to save more than one).

Out of the Past is the second coolest movie ever made behind Le Samouraï.
(I think that Out of the Past is the better movie by a slim...really slim...margin, but Le Samouraï is slightly cooler.)