The Criterion Collection

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

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.

I still haven't seen that one, and I'm in no rush to do so, despite being mildly curious about its truckload of Oscar nominations.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

I still haven't seen that one, and I'm in no rush to do so, despite being mildly curious about its truckload of Oscar nominations.

I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad film but it's just spectacularly dull. The visual design/art direction is easily the film's strongest point (with deserved noms in those categories). The songs are fairly lackluster and the best song, in my opinion, is Dolittle singing goodbye...to a seal.

[dkelly26666]

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?

Yes, I don't get why people always think that Scorsese is some kind of Oscar darling. For the most part, they've always been pretty bad to him.

He wasn't even nominated for "Taxi Driver" (but the movie was nominated); he lost for "Raging Bull"; he lost for "The Last Temptation of Christ" (that was expected, but still...); and then he lost to Kevin Costner.... it goes on and on.

"The Departed" is the ONLY time he's been the big winner for Director or have a film win Best Picture. (I'm hoping that changes this year).

Now, with Coppola's "Godfather III", I think they just didn't want to let the trilogy end without all three films having been nominated, LOL. It received seven nominations, but didn't win a single thing.

Then again, that same year, I didn't think "Ghost" was Best Picture material, either. "Awakenings" was pretty good, but not one of my favorites.

"Dances With Wolves" and "GoodFellas" were definitely the two big ones, that year, yet "GoodFellas" won only Supporting Actor, for Pesci (who then gave one of the briefest acceptances, ever). Other than that, one of the greatest American films went home empty handed, while the Academy was all gaga about Costner.

[ilenewoodsfan99]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad film but it's just spectacularly dull. The visual design/art direction is easily the film's strongest point (with deserved noms in those categories). The songs are fairly lackluster and the best song, in my opinion, is Dolittle singing goodbye...to a seal.

I've only seen about 15 minutes on TCM. Horrendously dull.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

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.

Good call. Remember I watched that as part of the Oscar marathon? That was pretty lousy, that definitely is one of the worst Best Picture nominees. It even annoys me that Talk To The Animals won Best Song considering how many great movie related songs came out that year.

[HenryHill]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad film but it's just spectacularly dull. The visual design/art direction is easily the film's strongest point (with deserved noms in those categories). The songs are fairly lackluster and the best song, in my opinion, is Dolittle singing goodbye...to a seal.

I have a soft spot for Dr. Doolittle because I saw it in the theater when I was a wee tot. Looking at it now, it really drags in spots, and a little Anthony Newley goes a very long way with me The biggest sin of all is that the production team didn't understand that songs in musicals are another tool to tell the story, to show a character's inner thoughts in a way that moves their emotional arc from A to B. Take "Belle" that opens Beauty and the Beast, which perfectly sets up the movie by telling us everything we need to know about the heroine and her world. In Doctor Doolittle, the songs are obstacles, moments where everything stops.

The behind-the scenes stories are much more interesting, like Rex Harrison being unable to shoot on days when he was hung over from drunken screaming matches with his wife who had accompanied him on location.

[jw007]

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?

Steel Breeze beat me to the punch. His explanation on why All That Jazz is stupendous is spot on.

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Originally Posted by steel_breeze

ALL THAT JAZZ is a musical only in the sense that it follows a guy who directs Broadway musicals. It's a drop-dead (pun intended) brilliant movie about obsession and mortality and regrets and the things that are important in the end. It's introspective but exhibitionist, personal yet universal. It's also the best movie I've ever seen about the creative process, heavily inspired by Fellini's 8 1/2. Amazing sound design (check out the "table read" scene!) and one of the best final reels of any film ever made -- with an ending that'll stay with you for the rest of your life. An absolute masterpiece, even though that word is thrown around too casually.

Yes, the story about the main character played by Roy Scheider is incredible. Of course the choreography in this film is pretty spectacular too.

Ray Jackson: If you don't enjoy watching this movie, i'm not sure you have a soul.

Just kidding.

[SuperFlyHighGuy]

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?

I think I've become obsessed with All That Heaven Allows. Not only are the visuals incredible on this release but there is so much going on in the film on numerous levels. One of my favorite blind-buys.

Originally Posted by 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.

I've wanted to see this for many years and just never gotten around to it...definitely one of my most-anticipated CCs to get. Good to hear some excitement for it.

Other favorite blind buys:
Hausu
Sword of Doom
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
Island of Lost Souls
Lone Wolf and Cub

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

Since I haven't got the Second Run versions, I'm super excited for the Zeman set.

I had gotten The Fabulous Baron Munchausen and Invention for Destruction from Second Run about six months ago. I got Journey to the Beginning of Time just a few days before Criterion released these announcements.

You're welcome.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by trentdiesel

With all this talk of blind buys, I have yet to be let down by criterion.

There are a couple of Criteria that I'd blind bought and didn't like, but they were ones that I was reasonably sure I wasn't going to like. I bought 'em anyway, as I was collecting Criteria at the time (this was in the laserdisc days) and found used copies. Those were Morrissey's Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by BenOswald

I don't like broadway/musical crap either

I also don't like broadway/musical crap, either. Well, theoretically, anyway. I've seen a lot of broadway/musical films (and stage productions) and have yet to see one that I would consider crap.

[Professor Echo]

I tend to be pretty obsessive when it comes to doing research on blind buys, skimming reviews and forums as best as possible without encountering spoilers. Also, because I used to work as a film critic and teacher and I'm an older dude, I have seen a lot through the years and already know to keep my distance from some titles. Still, though, it is a genuine thrill to take a risk on a blind buy and then have it work out so nicely, you wonder how your imagination ever got along without it.


5 BEST Criterion Blind Buys:

BIGGER THAN LIFE
SOLARIS
L'AVVENTURA (blind bought the Laserdisc when it was NEW!)
ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS
KURONEKO


5 WORST Criterion Blind Buys (all have been resold):

ANDREI RUBLEV
RICHARD III
LA DOLCE VITA
KING OF JAZZ
THE AWFUL TRUTH

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

"The Departed" is the ONLY time he's been the big winner for Director or have a film win Best Picture. (I'm hoping that changes this year).

Now, with Coppola's "Godfather III", I think they just didn't want to let the trilogy end without all three films having been nominated, LOL. It received seven nominations, but didn't win a single thing.

That's exactly what happened with Jackson's LotR's RotK. It was a gesture Oscar. As was Scorsese's departed oscar cos that was definitely not his best work & everyone know you play someone with a disability, your chances of getting an oscar rocket so that's why Pacino won for Scent of a Woman

[pikachufan1336]

Best Blind Buy:
Fanny and Alexander
In the Mood for Love
A matter of life and death
Rebecca
Before Trilogy

Worst:
Only Angels have wings....poor Rita Hayworth

[bwdowiak]

Taste varies wildly.

A few titles on people's "worst blind-buys" list are at the top of my best.

A Brighter Summer Day and Stalker are awesome. Woman in the Dunes also comes to mind, although I'm sure that there are many others as most of what I buy I have never seen before.

[belcherman]

I don't do a lot of blind buys as I try to make sure that a film will have re-watch value before I buy. And I still have a couple of blind buys on my to-be-watched pile. So, without ranking them best or worst, I will list three that were better than I expected, and one that was a disappointment.

Even better than I expected:

Make Way for Tomorrow: Man, this film tears at the heartstrings. Leo McCarey gets great contributions from Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi, managing to be both sentimental and unsentimental at the same time. This is a film that will make you want to up your 401K contributions.

Ride the Pink Horse: This movie takes a different take on the noir hero. The hero isn't smarter than everyone else, just stolidly determined. In fact, he's rather dim, and ends up having his bacon saved by an old man and a young girl. The southwest setting during a Mexican fiesta was also an enjoyable change of pace from the usual noirs.

The Breaking Point: How had this one gone under my radar before? Other people have commented on how powerful the final image is, but the events leading up to it foreshadow inexorable doom. Bleak and unrelenting, it also features a riveting performance by Patricia Neal, whose smile as she comes on to John Garfield reminded me of Shere Khan contemplating the man cub.

Disappointment:

Ghost World: I heard a lot of great things about this one and I love Steve Buscemi, so I figured it was a safe blind buy. Nah. Not horrible, but I can't see myself ever rewatching it.

[amputd]

Worst blind buys:

Breakfast Club
Lola Montes

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I don't do a lot of blind buys as I try to make sure that a film will have re-watch value before I buy. And I still have a couple of blind buys on my to-be-watched pile. So, without ranking them best or worst, I will list three that were better than I expected, and one that was a disappointment.

Even better than I expected:

Ride the Pink Horse: This movie takes a different take on the noir hero. The hero isn't smarter than everyone else, just stolidly determined. In fact, he's rather dim, and ends up having his bacon saved by an old man and a young girl. The southwest setting during a Mexican fiesta was also an enjoyable change of pace from the usual noirs.

I liked this one, too, for the same reasons. Was kind of surprised when, a while back, several posters said that this one was either dull or run of the mill. Ben Hecht wrote the screenplay, so I knew it wasn't going to be either. I wasn't disappointed.

[DukeTogo84]

I know it has it's fans, but the worst blind buy for me was Death by Hanging. I love Oshima, but this one just didn't work for me. I kept checking the time in hope the film was almost over. It was just a true chore to get through.

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

5 WORST Criterion Blind Buys (all have been resold):

ANDREI RUBLEV
RICHARD III
LA DOLCE VITA
KING OF JAZZ
THE AWFUL TRUTH

Yikes, that's a sad, sad list. I've liked all the Tarkovsky I've seen so far (either Andrei Rublev or Stalker is my favorite so far). King of Jazz was my pick for my favorite 2018 release because it was so totally off my radar and so incredibly fun. It's not a masterpiece, but it's one of the rare times I bothered listening to the commentary for a second viewing immediately because I wanted to know more about it.

The worst Criterion I own is probably The Touch, as part of the Bergman box. The box set as a whole was an absolute joy to go through, but I actually enjoyed All These Women and The Serpent's Egg... but The Touch is simply dire. I assumed Bergman simply didn't have that good of a command of English, except I watched an interview or two with him speaking English completely confidently and fluently. No idea what happened there, especially since Elliott Gould and Liv Ullmann are usually great.