The Criterion Collection

[BenOswald]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I’ll forgive you if you can provide me with a compelling case as to why I should blind buy All That Jazz, which I’ve been thinking about doing.

I’m not a fan of musicals or dance or Broadway shows.

...does that matter?

I don't like broadway/musical crap either, but I love All That Jazz.

Roy Scheider + the editorial structure is more than enough to carry the day. It also circumvents much of the bullshit, indulgences & excesses of biopics, especially autobiographical pics. Great release too with the extra interviews, etc.

[stvn1974]

Best
Zatioich
Lady Snowblood
Repulsion

Worse
Stalker
Solaris

[Drake2222]

Of course if Criterion could upgrade some of their dvds to blu 4k restorations then I could add to the best, films like Ivan the Terrible & Oliver Twist (Lean)

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Drake2222

Of course if Criterion could upgrade some of their dvds to blu 4k restorations then I could add to the best, films like Ivan the Terrible & Oliver Twist (Lean)

I'd love for them to upgrade Lean's OLIVER TWIST. One of the last remaining DVDs in my collection... along with UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING (which was also Criterion at one time), I AM CUBA (which is coming soon from another distributor, supposedly), and the theatrical cut of ALMOST FAMOUS (which will probably never get a BD).

[145gtw]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

Worse
Stalker
Solaris

[BamaDullard]

Originally Posted by trentdiesel

With all this talk of blind buys, I have yet to be let down by criterion. I am looking to blind buy all that heaven allows, sullivans travels and heaven can wait, any opinions on those?

If you like comedy and melodrama you can't really miss with these three. On the enjoyment scale I'd rate them:

1. Sullivan's Travels
2. All That Heaven Allows
3. Heaven Can Wait

I actually like the overall message of Sirk's film the best of the three, but he's not quite as much fun as the Sturges one.

[BamaDullard]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

, I AM CUBA (which is coming soon from another distributor, supposedly),

It's with Milestone I believe. Hopefully an overseas label will pick it up, because it took them forever to release Rocco and His Brothers.

[Ray Jackson]

So far this sale I’ve made the following blind buys:

Haxan
Godzilla 1954
Local Hero
Night on Earth
A Touch of Zen

Of the three I’ve watched, I did not like Haxan (already a resell), Godzilla was meh and Touch of Zen was really good.

I’m pretty nervous about Local Hero...went against my inner voice on this one.

I’ll be buying Fantastic Planet and All That Jazz later today, the latter based on jw007’s personal recommendation.

If i don’t like it...he knows what to expect.

[Show spoiler]

[PowellPressburger]

Finally, picked up SOMETHING WILD (1961) it is just stunning. It is NOT for everyone but Carroll Baker just owns this film. It’s superb.

Highly recommended

[BamaDullard]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Finally, picked up SOMETHING WILD 1961z it is just stunning. It is NOT for everyone but Carroll Baker just owns this film. It’s superb.

Highly recommended

I admit it wasn't for me. I thought the way Carroll Baker's character transforms at the end was way too abrupt. I didn't buy it at all, and the rest of the film was pretty unpleasant.

[regeyer]

I almost always watch Criterion movies, and really any other movies, before I buy. I've been burned too many times. Plus, as my collection grows, I really don't see the need to own anything unless I am going to rewatch it. With Criterion releases I have made one major purchase as a blind buy based upon the recommendation of a trusted friend. That was the Zatoichi set. And I love it.

The only disappointment has been Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet on DVD, which I got for next to nothing.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

So far this sale I’ve made the following blind buys:

Haxan
Godzilla 1954
Local Hero
Night on Earth
A Touch of Zen

Of the three I’ve watched, I did not like Haxan (already a resell), Godzilla was meh and Touch of Zen was really good.

I’m pretty nervous about Local Hero...went against my inner voice on this one.

I’ll be buying Fantastic Planet and All That Jazz later today, the latter based on jw007’s personal recommendation.

If i don’t like it...he knows what to expect.

[Show spoiler]

All That Jazz is a fantastic film. It still amazes me how honest Fosse was about his own personal foibles in that film. That should have won Best Picture ahead of Kramer Vs Kramer. A word of warning to the squeamish though,

[Show spoiler]there is a scene of an actual open heart surgery with the chest being cracked open and everything.

[AaronJ]

As much as I agree about it defeating Kramer v Kramer (which I think is a good movie, mind you), I still don't feel like we're in Crash v Brokeback Mountain territory, or anywhere near that sort of place.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

As much as I agree about it defeating Kramer v Kramer (which I think is a good movie, mind you), I still don't feel like we're in Crash v Brokeback Mountain territory, or anywhere near that sort of place.

I'm not saying Kramer Vs. Kramer is not a good film. I've seen it twice. The first time I found it very engaging and enjoyed it quite a bit. The second time around, well, it kind of bored me. I wasn't able to take anything else away from it. All That Jazz has so much more going on and so much more to appreciate each time you see it.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

As much as I agree about it defeating Kramer v Kramer (which I think is a good movie, mind you), I still don't feel like we're in Crash v Brokeback Mountain territory, or anywhere near that sort of place.

Goodfellas vs. Dances With Wolves in 91 still drives me crazy.

On a side note, I had no idea that The Godfather III was actually nominated for Best Picture that year.

That is INSANE.

...worse best picture nominee ever?

[PowellPressburger]

Watched Betty Blue BLU today. Wow

Blind buy, really never know what direction the film might take.

One of the best films ever. Just brilliant.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Goodfellas vs. Dances With Wolves in 91 still drives me crazy.

On a side note, I had no idea that The Godfather III was actually nominated for Best Picture that year.

That is INSANE.

...worse best picture nominee ever?

As much as I dislike Godfather III, I liked it better than 2004's Crash.

[liveandletmarblerye]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

...worse best picture nominee ever?

Sorry about recency bias but I’ll nominate Bohemian Rhapsody as one of the worst best picture nominees ever.

[Cremildo]

The worst Best Picture nominee I've ever seen is Three Coins in the Fountain.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

The worst Best Picture nominee I've ever seen is Three Coins in the Fountain.

I forgot that one was even nominated for BP. I’d probably rank it with “Doctor Dolittle” as my least favorite nominees I’ve seen.