The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Criterion's newletter clue for November was for A Face in the Crowd, so it should be announced soon I'd imagine.

For some reason I thought that clue was much longer ago. Happy I'm mistaken, though.

Splendor in the Grass was also released by Warner. How incredible would a Kazan at Warner or a Three By Kazan Box (Baby Doll, A Face in the Crowd, America America) be?

A Streetcar Named Desire*
East of Eden*
Baby Doll
A Face in the Crowd
The Arrangement
America America

* On BD already

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

For some reason I thought that clue was much longer ago.

I would chalk that up to our attention spans.

Criterion could announce everything on my wish list this month and I'd have a new list fifteen minutes later

[Snicket]

My Sundance lineup this year includes: Little Monsters, Velvet Buzzsaw, Troop Zero, Late Night, and Knock Down the House.

I may add some more if I get lucky with one off ticket sales. I’ll keep an eye out to see if IFC buys anything this year as it may end up in the collection. Should be a great fest this year though.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by octagon

I would chalk that up to our attention spans.

Criterion could announce everything on my wish list this month and I'd have a new list fifteen minutes later

That's definitely it in my case. Just the other day I was browsing at upcoming Criterion releases and it felt like announcement day all over again.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Kazan's Wild River really should have been a Criterion release, but I suppose I'm just happy to have it on Blu-ray.

If you can play Region B stuff, the MoC is better than the Fox.

[LordSummerIsle]

Isn't the next CC sale in March? On their site

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by scwilli1

Isn't the next CC sale in March? On their site

Mid to late February. Last three early Flash sales:
Feb 13, 2018
Feb 28, 2017
Feb 23, 2016

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by nitin

Dead Man has an incredible score

I second the motion. In fact I think I might have gotten into the score before seeing the movie.

[Dailyan]

RIP Verna Bloom
https://variety.com/2019/film/news/v...se-1203104909/

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Originally Posted by MovieClown

Is anyone else excited for the upcoming MIKEY & NICKY release? I feel like no one is talking about it. There isn't even a dedicated thread for it on the site.

I've loved the film for years, and can't believe it's finally surfacing on BD... From Criterion, no less. The 5/5 review on here almost made my eyes well up with tears, as I practically have the entire film memorized from multiple viewings since early adolescence.

It's a shame that all the unused footage was discarded, as Elaine May intended the film to be three to four hours in length. It was reportedly the first film in history for which more than a million feet of film was shot. As I understand it, the film was taken away from May shortly after shooting stopped, and it took three years to edit the current version. Too bad it's not more known (and more praised) because it deserves a wealth of bonus features, even if only interviews from those who worked on it detailing the production and post-production.

Regardless, I'm over the moon about this one. Cassavetes fans should be too, as he practically co-directed it, without credit... and it shows.

Mikey & Nicky is an underrated '70's gem. I've seen it a couple of times on DVD (since the 200X's), and it's obviously a de facto Cassavetes film - not only due to his starring in this, but the frenetic energy evident here reminds me a lot of the films he directed. I did not know he co-directed this - nice. Really like the grittiness of night-time '70's NYC with the seedy coffee shops, bars, etc. Also enjoy the pseudo documentary style.

Had no idea the film was originally intended to be 3-4 hours. I would definitely have been interested in seeing this longer cut. Too bad the footage was discarded.

[malakaheso]

I don't think it's a fact that J.C co-directed it. It's probably just an assumption due to certain stylistic similarities.

I'm looking forward to it and have it on pre-order.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

Mikey & Nicky is an underrated '70's gem. I've seen it a couple of times on DVD (since the 200X's), and it's obviously a de facto Cassavetes film - not only due to his starring in this, but the frenetic energy evident here reminds me a lot of the films he directed. I did not know he co-directed this - nice. Really like the grittiness of night-time '70's NYC with the seedy coffee shops, bars, etc. Also enjoy the pseudo documentary style.

Had no idea the film was originally intended to be 3-4 hours. I would definitely have been interested in seeing this longer cut. Too bad the footage was discarded.

"Mikey and Nicky" is a really good film, but you can definitely feel the tension between Elaine May's comedic sensibilities and JC's more serious sensibilities. I love it nonetheless, but had Elaine or John been able to completely take over the film, it probably would have been a complete masterpiece as opposed to a bit of a complicated film that it is now.

[nitin]

Watched Safety Last today, not as good as the Chaplins or the Keaton that I have seen, but still very charming and I watched with a smile throughout.

Also saw, via the OOP Criterion DVD set, Josef von Sternberg’s silent film The Docks Of New York. This is a flat out 5 star masterpiece, the entire thing is visual poetry and the performances and characterisations are very involving. I hope somebody does this justice and puts it out on blu ray eventually.

[malakaheso]

^^I recommend rewatching Safety Last at a later date. It is a real grower. I went from thinking it was very good to a masterpiece, or near masterpiece, within a few viewings. I prefer it to many Chaplin and Keaton films. Most if I'm being honest. I'm no huge advocate of Lloyd being some kind of 'third genius' of silent comedy either. I enjoy him a lot as an actor, but most of his films are just good and nothing more. His talkies are pretty much lame across the board, but Safety Last is a real gem.

I need to rewatch Docks too. Didn't love it (I actually wish the camera remained in the boiler room), but Sternberg films are often growers too.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

^^I recommend rewatching Safety Last at a later date. It is a real grower. I went from thinking it was very good to a masterpiece, or near masterpiece, within a few viewings. I prefer it to many Chaplin and Keaton films. Most if I'm being honest. I'm no huge advocate of Lloyd being some kind of 'third genius' of silent comedy either. I enjoy him a lot as an actor, but most of his films are just good and nothing more. His talkies are pretty much lame across the board, but Safety Last is a real gem.

I need to rewatch Docks too. Didn't love it (I actually wish the camera remained in the boiler room), but Sternberg films are often growers too.

Modern Times is the one Chaplin I would put comfortably ahead of Safety Last, The Gold Rush and City Lights are probably not that far ahead of Safety Last (at least on first viewings Of each). I have only seen one Keaton to date but The General was incredible in my book.

Docks is seriously mind blowing, I went for it after itching from some more Von Sternberg after rewatching/enjoying Morocco, Shanghai Express and The Scarlet Empress in the last few months via the blu ray set. But felt Docks was on a whole different level.

[MifuneFan]

I started watching Sanjuro yesterday, and at around the 37 min mark my disc stopped playing. I tried a few times to get it to work, but nothing. I then realized this was the dreaded disc rot / bronzing issue that's plagued several discs from ~2009/2010. I decided to check more of my discs from that time and found 3 others that were affected. My 8 1/2 disc was the worst looking one, and it wouldn't even be recognized by my PS3. My Kagemusha disc is also not readable, and my Stagecoach disc freezes towards the end of the movie.

So what's the protocol here? Do I contact Criterion first, and tell them the issues? I know they brought up their replacement program a few years back, but only listed a few problematic films, and I don't think any of these are included. How do you guys package the discs? Jewel cases?



And for anyone wondering, I had an older copy of Sanjuro on DVD, so I was able to watch the rest of the movie that way ...I'm also wondering whether I should send in Yojimbo too. I watched that one 2 weeks ago and it was perfectly fine, but it's from the same set, so I don't know if it's bound to fail eventually too..

[King Crimson]

What do you prefer more, Yojimbo or Sanjuro?

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by King Crimson

What do you prefer more, Yojimbo or Sanjuro?

High and Low


MIFUNE: That pic = :-( It might be only a matter of time before my 8 1/2 starts 'bronzing' too as I bought it in 2010.

[RoboDan]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I started watching Sanjuro yesterday, and at around the 37 min mark my disc stopped playing. I tried a few times to get it to work, but nothing. I then realized this was the dreaded disc rot / bronzing issue that's plagued several discs from ~2009/2010. I decided to check more of my discs from that time and found 3 others that were affected. My 8 1/2 disc was the worst looking one, and it wouldn't even be recognized by my PS3. My Kagemusha disc is also not readable, and my Stagecoach disc freezes towards the end of the movie.

Ah nuts. Shame to hear. I just went over to check on my copy of Sanjuro as well, and the same issue applies. I cannot watch anything from 36:46 - 44:08 without it completely freezing or heavily compromised in picture. I would email mulvaney@criterion.com and mention all the titles/issues that are at play. I believe you can just send them each disk housed in those plastic paper disc sleeves in a padded envelope to them with a return address for newly pressed discs. Now I'll start checking all the discs in my collection as well. Thanks for the heads up.

[King Crimson]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

High and Low


MIFUNE: That pic = :-( It might be only a matter of time before my 8 1/2 starts 'bronzing' too as I bought it in 2010.

I prefer all Kurosawa/Mifune films, hell I even love his appearance in 1941. Sanjuro's ending is legendary though.