The Criterion Collection

[1godzillafan]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

The odds are very high. I’m 99.9% sure Criterion are releasing those other two Hitchcock titles.

Sweet. In that case I'll just play the waiting game.

[trombone dixie]

First haul:

A Brighter Summer Day
Chimes At Midnight
Close-Up
Fellini Satyricon
L'avventura
La dolce vita
Personal Shopper
The Piano Teacher
Valerie & Her Week of Wonders

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by mja345

Interesting. I don't get depressed by many films. "Breaking the Waves", "Requiem for a Dream", and "Under the Volcano" are three, off the top of my head, that I found pretty depressing.

I find

[Show spoiler] the ending of Breaking The Waves to be so hopeful

, which is not something I can say for something like Requiem For A Dream.

[Scottie]

I've seen plenty of depressing movies. Tokyo Story is one off the top of my head.

Breaking the Waves is more preposterous to me than anything else.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by mja345

Interesting. I don't get depressed by many films. "Breaking the Waves", "Requiem for a Dream", and "Under the Volcano" are three, off the top of my head, that I found pretty depressing.

I generally expect films about alcoholics and drug addicts to be bleak, but Emily Watson’s character is so sweet in Breaking the Waves it just really gets me down. There’s a difference between sad, bleak and depressing. To me, Breaking the Waves is depressing.

[AaronJ]

Yeah, I'm on the bus with those who feel that Breaking the Waves is quite depressing. And that Emma Watson was amazing.

But as others have pointed out this is Lars' typical modus operandi. Find a (female) character with some sort of weakness and have heartless people exploit it, usually past the breaking point. See Dogville for a fine example.

Which, speaking of Dogville, is there any chance of this ever reaching Blu-ray? Anywhere? I mean, some films, like Dancer in Dark which I mentiooned earlier, aren't available in the US. But at least it's available SOMEWHERE in the world! No such luck with Dogville.

And it's such an uplifting message about the state of human nature!

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I generally expect films about alcoholics and drug addicts to be bleak, but Emily Watson’s character is so sweet in Breaking the Waves it just really gets me down. There’s a difference between sad, bleak and depressing. To me, Breaking the Waves is depressing.

To me there's good depressing and bad depressing in cinema.

Good depressing films can be sad in a way that make me experience a heightened state of being--similar to falling love or robbing a liquor store for the first time.

Bad depressing films just makes me want to shoot up heroin, listen to Nine Inch Nails and forget that I was ever born.

...hypothetically speaking.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

The only film that truly depressed me to the point of really affecting me negatively was White Rabbit (2013). That film left me with the most unsettling, uneasy feeling I've ever experienced for 2 straight weeks. I couldn't stop thinking about that film for those 2 weeks. It's a great film though IMHO but extremely dark and not easy to watch.

Fat City also depressed me too but nowhere near the degree of White Rabbit. I watched Fat City early in the afternoon and felt down for the rest of the day. Not for 2 damn weeks!

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

To me there's good depressing and bad depressing in cinema.

Good depressing films can be sad in a way that make me experience a heightened state of being--similar to falling love or robbing a liquor store for the first time.

Bad depressing films just makes me want to shoot up heroin, listen to Nine Inch Nails and forget that I was ever born.

...hypothetically speaking.

So ... not too different from a regular day, eh Ray?

[Purplenoon]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I've seen plenty of depressing movies. Tokyo Story is one off the top of my head.

Breaking the Waves is more preposterous to me than anything else.

I'm curious why you found Tokyo Story so depressing. I have given copies of it to each of my 45+ year old children to watch, but both refuse. They have apparently heard things. Try as I must, as a parent, I can't understand their reluctance. To me, since I first viewed it at their age, it has always seemed one of the most realistic and true stories about families ever put on film. Perhaps it hits too close to home? My son calls it "that film about kids having to take care of their parents". So far from the truth. True, we all die alone. But also true that without us our children would not exist, no? Help me understand why you find it so depressing. I think it is a truly beautiful film about the nature of "family". And by a postwar Japanese filmmaker no less.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

[Show spoiler]

Tee-hee

But to the point, yes Breaking the Waves is depressing as far as I'm concerned. But I still found Dogville even more so. But both films examine the dangers of community for those who are "other" in some way, despite all that we hear about its importance.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Purplenoon

[Show spoiler]I'm curious why you found Tokyo Story so depressing. I have given copies of it to each of my 45+ year old children to watch, but both refuse. They have apparently heard things. Try as I must, as a parent, I can't understand their reluctance. To me, since I first viewed it at their age, it has always seemed one of the most realistic and true stories about families ever put on film. Perhaps it hits too close to home? My son calls it "that film about kids having to take care of their parents". So far from the truth.

True, we all die alone.

[Show spoiler]But also true that without us our children would not exist, no? Help me understand why you find it so depressing. I think it is a truly beautiful film about the nature of "family". And by a postwar Japanese filmmaker no less.

I think that's it.

The film really drives home that point for some people.

...like the last shot of Late Spring.

[Show spoiler]

[mja345]

A sneaky depressing film is Frank Perry's "The Swimmer". The last half hour of that movie is pretty devastating. "Clean, Shaven", which Criterion released, is a huge downer as well. "Come and See" is also super depressing. Makes "Breaking the Waves" look like "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days".

[jw007]

If you want the epitome of depressing, try Melancholia.

Hard to beat that one.

(From Wikipedia: Von Trier's initial inspiration for the film came from a depressive episode he suffered and the insight that depressed people have a tendency to remain peaceful during catastrophic events.)

There you go!

[GCS]

Spellbound and Notorious were released January of 2012. They appear out of print now but stocks at market prices of $50+ are still out there. Alternatively, the 3-movie set containing Rebecca, Spellbound and Notorious for $89 plus shipping. All the above are available on Amazon.com

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by jw007

If you want the epitome of depressing, try Melancholia.

Hard to beat that one.

(From Wikipedia: Von Trier's initial inspiration for the film came from a depressive episode he suffered and the insight that depressed people have a tendency to remain peaceful during catastrophic events.)

There you go!

It's a brilliant film with a whopper of an ending. I also think it's possibly Dunst's best performance. And I say that as someone who is a very big fan of her acting.

Lars, more often than not, brings it. And usually "it" is something very bad.

[repulsed]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

To me there's good depressing and bad depressing in cinema.

Good depressing films can be sad in a way that make me experience a heightened state of being--similar to falling love or robbing a liquor store for the first time.

Bad depressing films just makes me want to shoot up heroin, listen to Nine Inch Nails and forget that I was ever born.

...hypothetically speaking.

What's depressing about NIN?
Something's wrong with me [emoji51]

Anyone find Her really depressing? The first time it didn't hit me but the second time was rough

[nitin]

For me, the movie that I have found the most painful to watch is Cries and Whispers. No contest. Great film but it totally wrecked me.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by nitin

For me, the movie that I have found the most painful to watch is Cries and Whispers. No contest. Great film but it totally wrecked me.

Man I forgot about "Cries and Whispers". That film really stuck with me. I still haven't picked up the BD because I always think to myself, "When are you realistically going to feel like watching it again?" Brilliant film, but completely devastating.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by nitin

For me, the movie that I have found the most painful to watch is Cries and Whispers. No contest. Great film but it totally wrecked me.

Well, Bergman made lots of happy-go-lucky films. Especially that one.

It's a Scandanavian thing. They have no sunlight so they make the happiest movies on Earth. Virgin Spring is another that just uplifts the soul.