The Criterion Collection

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

anyone can appropriate the work of art, ascribe it whatever political meaning they see fit, whether it fits or not

Well we can't have that, can we?

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

I don't understand the question.

It seems to me that you don't care about what someone (a filmmaker through a movie, for example) is trying to convey; instead, you'd just like to put your own stamp on it, all other factors be damned.

If one doesn't take the artist's intention into account, anyone can appropriate the work of art, ascribe it whatever political meaning they see fit, whether it fits or not, and even weaponize it, which is unfair at best and dangerous at worst. A film is not made in an intellectual vacuum - it is carefully planned and designed, which means intention is integral to the equation. But to assert that said intention is always political is a baseless generalization.

This is actually wildly incorrect. At least in literary criticism, intention is irrelevant.

[Ruined]

Hope that studiocanal mtg with criterion results in orphic trilogy blu reissue. Just seems incomplete with orpheus alone.

[theEXORCIST]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

I don't understand the question.

It seems to me that you don't care about what someone (a filmmaker through a movie, for example) is trying to convey; instead, you'd just like to put your own stamp on it, all other factors be damned.

If one doesn't take the artist's intention into account, anyone can appropriate the work of art, ascribe it whatever political meaning they see fit, whether it fits or not, and even weaponize it, which is unfair at best and dangerous at worst. A film is not made in an intellectual vacuum - it is carefully planned and designed, which means intention is integral to the equation. But to assert that said intention is always political is a baseless generalization.

Thats why discussion is so important. To express what kind of message you got from the film and why whether its political or not

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Well, it depends on the film and the role. I think it was Owl who earlier mentioned Lifeforce. Well, come on. And as good as Bardot was in Contempt, let's face it: if she hadn't been Bardot -- both culturally and in the way she looked -- she wouldn't have been in that movie (which would have been a terrible shame, actually).

But sure, if you're talking about Eyes Wide Shut and all you have to say is that Nicole Kidman looks great naked, then yeah, you've definitely missed the point.

So again, it depends on the film and the role.

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Yeah, funny enough when this discussion began I immediately thought of Gilda, and about how someone could write a review of the film without commenting on Rita's beauty and sexiness.

Of course, and I responded to Owl saying Lifeforce is one of those exceptions. Mathilda May isn't given much of a chance to act outside of her expressions and movement, which are limited due to her playing an alien without emotion. And there aren't many films in cinematic history with a significant character walking around naked for the whole film (only others that come to mind are La Belle Noiseuse and Not Another Teen Movie, neither of which I've seen). I wouldn't expect a critic to not mention the looks of a sex symbol like Bardot or Marilyn Monroe in a review, though again I think it'd be appropriate to mention the acting as well, and give them credit for their performances. The job of an actor is to act and that is what's being critiqued, no matter any stunt casting. I'm not saying never mention an actor's looks, but the acting is the most important thing to look for in a review and should come first. I'd find it impossible not to mention Raquel Welch's iconic fur bikini in One Million Years B.C., or to refrain from ogling Jessica Alba, not exactly a strong actress, in anything she's in. I'd be lying if I said I didn't buy Gilda at least partially for Rita (I remembered that scene in Shawshank). One or a few missteps out of a thousand reviews isn't anything worth getting upset about, but it'd be concerning if it were a pattern in a critic's work to write something like your Eyes Wide Shut example.

That said...

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Can Supervixens be the next Russ Meyer CC release and can we pleeeease get an awesome fold out poster like this:

I'm all for this! I own the two Dolls movies in the collection, for crying out loud (the first one mainly for Sharon Tate). I am a red-blooded straight male.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The female characters in his movies are all smoking hot beautiful.


(The Great Owl runs from the Criterion thread as fast as he can, laughing all the while.)

That they are. Harriet Andersson in Summer with Monika...wowza. She's half the reason I own the film, for her looks and her talent. The other half being that it is a really good film. Bibi is beautiful and fantastic, too.

Originally Posted by mja345

Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann were a couple of smoke shows and they're together in a remote cottage, with one playing nurse. Doesn't get any hotter than that. That's my thoughts on "Persona".

Haha. Nothing wrong with that. It's just not something I'd expect to see in a professional critic's review.

[Blu Titan]

I will state this one more time...this thread and forum will not become a battle ground for political, gender and social discussion. Different reviewers have different perspectives and their writing will reflect that.

The site, as a whole, is balanced. When you disagree with a particular reviewer then don’t read those reviews. That is all.

[Jexes23]

Political blah blah blah political blah blah blah.

Let’s get back to Criterion.

I hope they eventually get Hatari!

They already have a few of Hawks films, and since the Blu ray released was such a pile of trash a new 4k scan would be awesome.

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Hope that studiocanal mtg with criterion results in orphic trilogy blu reissue. Just seems incomplete with orpheus alone.

That would be great! Orpheus, as I found recently, is highly acclaimed, enough to be considered one of the greatest films ever made, yet no one ever talks about it. It's not a title I see in hauls here and elsewhere. Is it more of a thematic trilogy like Bergman's? Or is it a direct sequel? It's a title I'm wanting to pick up relatively soon.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

That would be great! Orpheus, as I found recently, is highly acclaimed, enough to be considered one of the greatest films ever made, yet no one ever talks about it. It's not a title I see in hauls here and elsewhere. Is it more of a thematic trilogy like Bergman's? Or is it a direct sequel? It's a title I'm wanting to pick up relatively soon.

All three are thematically similar but I'd say Orpheus and testament of Orpheus are more linked while blood of a poet more standalone.

Probably not much talk as people waiting for the three to come back into print rather than splurging on just Orpheus alone.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by Jexes23

Political blah blah blah political blah blah blah.

Let’s get back to Criterion.

I hope they eventually get Hatari!

They already have a few of Hawks films, and since the Blu ray released was such a pile of trash a new 4k scan would be awesome.

Man, that would be a dream come true....

[mja345]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

Haha. Nothing wrong with that. It's just not something I'd expect to see in a professional critic's review.

That was a joke haha, based on a discussion that was erased.

[Scottie]

Ignore the OP for the time being.

I think I'm finally at a point where I have enough free time to update everything.

I'll let you know when it's finished.

[SammyJankis]

Another viewing of Only Angels Have Wings last night has its position as one of my all-time favorites feeling more secure. From the infectious chemistry between Cary Grant and Jean Arthur (she is pitch perfect in the role) to the sense of environment that has the kind of detail and production design that makes you want to live there to those amazing effects. Even the character resolutions, of which there are several, all hit just right. And that final moment just turns me into mush in the best sense. It's the kind of communal hangout movie, with that stubborn protagonist code known from Hawks, that makes me eager to revisit again and again.

[trentdiesel]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Another viewing of Only Angels Have Wings last night has its position as one of my all-time favorites feeling more secure. From the infectious chemistry between Cary Grant and Jean Arthur (she is pitch perfect in the role) to the sense of environment that has the kind of detail and production design that makes you want to live there to those amazing effects. Even the character resolutions, of which there are several, all hit just right. And that final moment just turns me into mush in the best sense. It's the kind of communal hangout movie, with that stubborn protagonist code known from Hawks, that makes me eager to revisit again and again.

Thanks for this post, I've had the movie in hand a few times and never pulled the trigger but I love Cary Grant and I just needed a little nudge to finally grab it. Sounds great

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by trentdiesel

Thanks for this post, I've had the movie in hand a few times and never pulled the trigger but I love Cary Grant and I just needed a little nudge to finally grab it. Sounds great

It's an absolute must if you're a Grant fan, if only for his amusingly delightful introduction.

[SammyJankis]

Claire Denis’s Closet Picks - YouTube

Hope we see more Denis in the future.

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by mja345

That was a joke haha, based on a discussion that was erased.

I know.

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Another viewing of Only Angels Have Wings last night has its position as one of my all-time favorites feeling more secure. From the infectious chemistry between Cary Grant and Jean Arthur (she is pitch perfect in the role) to the sense of environment that has the kind of detail and production design that makes you want to live there to those amazing effects. Even the character resolutions, of which there are several, all hit just right. And that final moment just turns me into mush in the best sense. It's the kind of communal hangout movie, with that stubborn protagonist code known from Hawks, that makes me eager to revisit again and again.

Originally Posted by trentdiesel

Thanks for this post, I've had the movie in hand a few times and never pulled the trigger but I love Cary Grant and I just needed a little nudge to finally grab it. Sounds great

Same here, trentdiesel. It's one I really wanna grab, but it always gets pushed out for other stuff. I read the back of it one visit, having never heard of it, and thought it sounded like an excellent blind buy. With how much research I do, I rarely get to "discover" movies or stumble upon great ones like that anymore, in the store, so I wish I had just bought it then, gone home, popped it in, and been surprised. Now, it's a title that I keep trying to squeeze in, and I'm aware of its critical reception. The story sounds interesting, you've got Grant, Hawks, Rita Hayworth, and the cover art drew me to it. Sounds up my alley.

[diskspinner]

Arranged like Criterion 'C' in chronological order starting from top right
*** Inspired by another post few pages back ***

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
Dietrich & von Sternberg in Hollywood (1930-1934)
A Matter of Life & Death (1946)
The Life of Oharu (1952)
Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)
The Confession (1970)
The Emigrants / The New Land (1971-1972)
World on a Wire (1973)
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
The Age of Innocence (1993)
Election (1999)
The Piano Teacher (2001)
Graduation (2016)
Certain Women (2016)
I, Daniel Blake (2016)

Criterion-July.jpg

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Arranged like Criterion 'C' in chronological order starting from top right
*** Inspired by another post few pages back ***

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
Dietrich & von Sternberg in Hollywood (1930-1934)
A Matter of Life & Death (1946)
The Life of Oharu (1952)
Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)
The Confession (1970)
The Emigrants / The New Land (1971-1972)
World on a Wire (1973)
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
The Age of Innocence (1993)
Election (1999)
The Piano Teacher (2001)
Graduation (2016)
Certain Women (2016)
I, Daniel Blake (2016)

Attachment 205726

Just need a smattering of 20s in the lower right to signify the emptying of your wallet