The Criterion Collection

[thatguamguy]

Warner did the DVD releases, I've been figuring it would come from the Archive sooner or later. If it were Criterion, that's cool too.

[Mike0284]

My Criterion flash sale order arrived today.

[mja345]

Gotta say, I really enjoyed "Hopscotch", even more on a second viewing. It seemed to be a film that a lot of people shrugged their shoulders at when the BD was announced, but it's a really well-executed adventure-comedy. Walter Matthau plays a CIA agent demoted to a desk job. At that point, Matthau discovers he has no more f**ks to give and gets the idea to write a memoir detailing the incompetence of his supervisor, played by Ned Beatty. Beatty and his minions, of course, set out to silence Matthau, but he stays one step ahead of them, even renting Beatty's unoccupied family home.

The film maintains a brisk pace and is entertaining for the entire running time. Matthau and Glenda Jackson are both fantastic, continuing their excellent comedic chemistry from 1978's "House Calls". Sam Waterston, Herbert Lom, and Beatty also give very good supporting turns. Directed by the underrated Ronald Neame, it is an under the radar gem. Also, the BD is a massive upgrade on the old DVD. Beautiful transfer on this disc.

[thatguamguy]

mja, have you seen "The Man Who Never Was"? It's a solid story, and Neame's direction is low key but effective. If you don't know it, I think it's up your alley -- not saying blind buy the blu-ray import, but I think it streams on Netflix.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

mja, have you seen "The Man Who Never Was"? It's a solid story, and Neame's direction is low key but effective. If you don't know it, I think it's up your alley -- not saying blind buy the blu-ray import, but I think it streams on Netflix.

I haven't. Just read about it and it looks interesting. My GF has a Netflix account, so I'll definitely check it out. Thanks for the recommendation man.

[thatguamguy]

All part of my long-term plan to boost Neame's profile enough to get "Tunes of Glory" on blu-ray

[Gerby]

Ronald Neame directed my favourite version of Scrooge (the 1970 musical). An xmas eve staple in my house.

[theater dreamer]

The early 80s version of A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott in the role of Scrooge is a staple at our house. We watch it every year a few days before Christmas. Excellent cast!

Originally Posted by Gerby

Ronald Neame directed my favourite version of Scrooge (the 1970 musical). An xmas eve staple in my house.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by captainron_howdy

Because critical acclaim means it's good right? Titanic is at 88%

Critics for the most part always do nothing other than help out the marketing of a film.

1) Titanic is not only a great film, it's Cameron's best ... by a long shot.

2) If your view of film criticism is limited to looking at RT, then sure, probably. But there is a lot -- and I mean a lot -- of very serious, intellectual, and informative criticism that you seem to be ignoring. For example, I seriously doubt that A.O. Scott at the NY Times or Todd McCarthy at the THR (31 years at Variety) gives a damn about pushing movies for the studios. And then there's, of course, this:

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Gerby

Ronald Neame directed my favourite version of Scrooge (the 1970 musical). An xmas eve staple in my house.

Fantastic film. Watch it every year over the holiday, too. However, my Christmas staple for many, many years has been David Lean's Great Expectations. Not quite sure how my family fell into it, and it is not exactly Christmas-themed. But it is such a part of the holiday for me now that I really don't watch it any other time.

[Rory]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

All part of my long-term plan to boost Neame's profile enough to get "Tunes of Glory" on blu-ray

Criterion hasn't forgotten it, I'm sure. My bet is they'll eventually revisit it.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Fantastic film. Watch it every year over the holiday, too. However, my Christmas staple for many, many years has been David Lean's Great Expectations. Not quite sure how my family fell into it, and it is not exactly Christmas-themed. But it is such a part of the holiday for me now that I really don't watch it any other time.

co-written and co-produced by Ronald Neame! (He wore a lot of hats working under Lean before becoming a director.)

[andantelise]

I received my order yesterday. I needed to catch up on my boxsets.



This month has been torture to my wallet.

[ravenus]

With a 170min running time and episodic structure, Jan Troell's epic Here is Your Life (based on a popular series of autobiographical novels by Eyvind Johnson) cannot be described as tightly constructed drama, but for a good two thirds (the last hour loses itself in half-hearted socialist stance and kinda fizzles out) is an engaging coming of age tale of Olof, a working class young man in Swedish countryside during WW1. A handsome and endearingly vulnerable Eddie Axberg lives the role, and you have appearances from Ingmar Bergman's stable of actors including Max Von Sydow (playing a character called Pelle, hmm), Gunnar Bjondstrom and Ake Fridell, but most notable for me was the ravishing B&W photography and evocative use of freeze frames to emphasize the poetry of the moment (Troell himself shot and edited the picture, and proves himself an auteur). Next time I think I'll switch off at the 2 hour mark.

Full marks to Criterion for an exquisite presentation. While people these days think that 4K is an essential, this film comes off a 2K restoration and looks immaculate at least on my 50" screen. Rich contrast and fine grain in most part, and close-ups especially are terrific.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ravenus

With a 170min running time and episodic structure, Jan Troell's epic Here is Your Life (based on a popular series of autobiographical novels by Eyvind Johnson) cannot be described as tightly constructed drama, but for a good two thirds (the last hour loses itself in half-hearted socialist stance and kinda fizzles out) is an engaging coming of age tale of Olof, a young man in Swedish countryside during WW1. A handsome and endearingly vulnerable Eddie Axberg lives the role, and you have appearances from Ingmar Bergman's stable of actors including Max Von Sydow (playing a character called Pelle, hmm), Gunnar Bjondstrom and Ake Fridell, but most notable for me was the ravishing B&W photography and evocative use of freeze frames to emphasize the poetry of the moment (Troell himself shot and edited the picture, and proves himself an auteur). Next time I think I'll switch off at the 2 hour mark.

Full marks to Criterion for an exquisite presentation. While people these days think that 4K is an essential, this film comes off a 2K restoration and looks immaculate at least on my 50" screen. Rich contrast and fine grain in most part, and close-ups especially are terrific.

Nice post.

It may just be that so many films have been added to the collection since I first created my profile 4 years ago, but it seems that very little time is spent discussing the films after they've been released.

I really enjoy short, completely plot free reviews that describe style, mood, cinematography, and things of that sort, so please keep them coming.

[koberulz]

Anyone ever had any issues playing Kiss Me Deadly? Picked up a secondhand copy, it freezes just shy of an hour 20 and eventually kicks back to the menu. Seller suggests a player/disc compatibility issue, although I've had no prior problems with Criterion discs.

I'm in region-B-land, so I can't just grab another player and check.

[ravenus]

^I have watched my copy of KMD long ago (on a modded region free player), didn't have any issues then, so it's not a systemic error.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Nice post.

It may just be that so many films have been added to the collection since I first created my profile 4 years ago, but it seems that very little time is spent discussing the films after they've been released.

Owl writes a fair number of review posts and they are quite well done.

[DenOfEarth]

How about Hard Boiled in a 2K or 4K remastered version?

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Owl writes a fair number of review posts and they are quite well done.

He does a great job, for sure.

I just have a preference for reviews that are completely void of any discussion of a film's plot points.