The Criterion Collection

[Xtempo]

I can't make up my mind as to another more final order. I have 164 points left to earn a gift certificate so how does that work exactly? I mean how many do one movie or set earn point wise?

[dwk]

Originally Posted by SonnybytheSea

Who knows what goes through Criterions decision making ! How was the picture quality on the streaming release?

My only guess is that CC believes they could make more off a solo release of the film sometime in the future, then just having it part of the Demy boxset, now that the Varda set has been announced, we might hear something later this year or next but it's just wishful thinking.....

I havent watched it, besides, I have pretty crummy internet, so I wouldn't really be able to properly judge. It is streaming on the Criterion Channel, if you have an urge to watch it right now.

I think if they could license Model Shop from Sony, The Pied Piper from Paramount, and Lady Oscar and the other theatrical films, they could collect them into a Demy B-Sides box set. On the other hand, they just recently finally sold out if the dual-format box set, so maybe it wasn't a great seller and they don't feel the market is there for another box set.

[NeoNical]

I watch a lot of my Criterion films now through my 4K TV on Criterion Channel and I must say the quality is wonderful IF it has been released on Blu-ray. So of course, if you have a release like "La Grande Illusion," it's going to be using the old Criterion DVD version so it looks like a VHS on your 4K TV. Nonetheless, I must say I'm pretty fine with it despite me using customized filters and all that. And RIP to the Lola Blu-ray. Butchered to death it was!

I'll be checking some Demy soon though if that's what you were asking.
A Slightly Pregnant Man is on Criterion Channel

Btw I just realized the mistake of accidentally saying 1994 on my post yesterday. Completely slipped out of my mind.

[dwk]

We were talking about Demy's A Slightly Pregnant Man, which they've been streaming forever, but haven't released on disc.

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by dwk

We were talking about Demy's A Slightly Pregnant Man, which they've been streaming forever, but haven't released on disc.

Oh I see. It seems like there are people who enjoy this film but the thing is it has a lot of bad reviews on IMDB (5.7) and 2/3 critics for Rotten Tomatoes gave it a Rotten rating while it received a 55% on Audience Ratings. Maybe because it's not a very well received film that Criterion is holding back on it. Criterion owns a lot of films that haven't received good ratings or reviews by critics so I don't know what they'll do with those movies including Gosha even though there are a lot of good ones by him. So I think their only good reasoning behind it is because:
1.) Poorly Received Reviews
2.) It probably wouldn't make much as an independent release since it may be one of the worst reviewed films in the Collection
3.) They're waiting for a new restoration that will probably never be done for a long time.

The only possible way that I can see it getting released is by either giving up the rights or selling it with all the other Demy films in an Eclipse box set. Which is what you wrote.

[dwk]

Yeah, that's what is odd, if they only have those seven Demy films, even if it is not highly regarded, why not just toss it in the box with the other six.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

I can't make up my mind as to another more final order. I have 164 points left to earn a gift certificate so how does that work exactly? I mean how many do one movie or set earn point wise?

One point per dollar excluding shipping and tax. Once you hit $500, Criterion emails a code for the $50 certificate that you can apply to a future order. Your account then resets to zero points.

[DaBargainHunta]

With HBO Max offering Criterion movies (see selection here), is anyone regretting their yearly Criterion Channel subscription? (Mine just renewed.)

Let me make it clear that I adore the Criterion Channel. But if my subscription were coming up and I had the choice between that and HBO Max, I'm not sure what I'd pick.

What does everyone else think?

[Dollar Colonel]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

With HBO Max offering Criterion movies (see selection here), is anyone regretting their yearly Criterion Channel subscription? (Mine just renewed.)

Let me make it clear that I adore the Criterion Channel. But if my subscription were coming up and I had the choice between that and HBO Max, I'm not sure what I'd pick.

What does everyone else think?

I like Criterion Channel since it has supplements online, to the point when I second-guess my physical purchases. Will HBO Max offer extras?

The WB stuff is nice but I have a lot of those on disc already. For HBO shows I'll just subscribe for a month and binge.

That said, pick whatever streaming service best suits your needs and switch as needed.

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Oh I see. It seems like there are people who enjoy this film but the thing is it has a lot of bad reviews on IMDB (5.7) and 2/3 critics for Rotten Tomatoes gave it a Rotten rating while it received a 55% on Audience Ratings. Maybe because it's not a very well received film that Criterion is holding back on it. Criterion owns a lot of films that haven't received good ratings or reviews by critics so I don't know what they'll do with those movies including Gosha even though there are a lot of good ones by him. So I think their only good reasoning behind it is because:
1.) Poorly Received Reviews
2.) It probably wouldn't make much as an independent release since it may be one of the worst reviewed films in the Collection
3.) They're waiting for a new restoration that will probably never be done for a long time.

The only possible way that I can see it getting released is by either giving up the rights or selling it with all the other Demy films in an Eclipse box set. Which is what you wrote.

It's the kind of film that wouldn't even be discussed on this thread if it were in English. I saw it when I was a teenager and found most movies good and I didn't like it even then. My father is a francophile and he didn't like it.

[dbhl3000]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

As is Margarethe von Trotta's work, for that matter. Frankly, Criterion needs to start releasing some of her films. She began working solo because she was tired of her partner getting all the credit.

That said, I also thought Baal sucked, but perhaps I wasn't ready for it at the time that I watched it.

I was going to turn Baal off right after that interminable opening with Fassbinder walking down the road spouting all that pretentious gobbledygook but I forced myself to watch the rest of it to expiate some recent sins I had committed. At the end of the film I was sure my soul was now without blemish.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

With HBO Max offering Criterion movies (see selection here), is anyone regretting their yearly Criterion Channel subscription? (Mine just renewed.)

Let me make it clear that I adore the Criterion Channel. But if my subscription were coming up and I had the choice between that and HBO Max, I'm not sure what I'd pick.

What does everyone else think?

I might check it out for a month or two. I wonder how many of those titles are in HD. I also wonder why Criterion would agree to this deal since, as you say, it provides much of their content to a competitor. I wonder if the writing is on the wall for the Criterion Channel. First FilmStruck, and now ...

I hope I’m reading too much into this.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I wonder if the writing is on the wall for the Criterion Channel. First FilmStruck, and now ...

I hope I’m reading too much into this.

I think/hope you are. After all, Kanopy (possibly available for free through your library card) also has Criterion movies.

Originally Posted by belcherman

I also wonder why Criterion would agree to this deal since, as you say, it provides much of their content to a competitor.

This doesn't make much sense to me either. Maybe the deal gives Criterion an infusion of cash that they'll turn around and put toward the Channel or physical media?

[mmarczi]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

With HBO Max offering Criterion movies (see selection here), is anyone regretting their yearly Criterion Channel subscription? (Mine just renewed.)

Let me make it clear that I adore the Criterion Channel. But if my subscription were coming up and I had the choice between that and HBO Max, I'm not sure what I'd pick.

What does everyone else think?

Well, that's a fairly healthy slice of films there, but still just a fraction of what's on the Channel at any given time. And their stuff has been on Amazon Prime as well. It feels like more of a sampling than anything, and nothing I would feel is a true substitute.

Originally Posted by belcherman

I might check it out for a month or two. I wonder how many of those titles are in HD. I also wonder why Criterion would agree to this deal since, as you say, it provides much of their content to a competitor. I wonder if the writing is on the wall for the Criterion Channel. First FilmStruck, and now ...

I hope I’m reading too much into this.

Criterion was not at all happy about Turner pulling FilmStruck, so I don't think this is a prelude to anything. Of course, it's impossible to say without knowing the numbers they're doing, but it's clear that FilmStruck did not have the support from the brass simply because it was too niche to make a substantial profit. Criterion's venture individually won't be guided by pure bottom line from people who don't even care about it. Meanwhile, Criterion hosted a fundraiser to help keep independent theaters across the country afloat. If anything I see this HBO bit as a way to draw in another potential audience.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by dbhl3000

I was going to turn Baal off right after that interminable opening with Fassbinder walking down the road spouting all that pretentious gobbledygook but I forced myself to watch the rest of it to expiate some recent sins I had committed. At the end of the film I was sure my soul was now without blemish

Fantastic use of the word expiate.

...I so rarely get to use it in a sentence.

[Show spoiler]

[tisdivine]

Just watched Taste of Cherry for the first time. What an awesome film. No lie I wasn’t a fan of the ending until I realized the ending wasn’t really an ending.

[Show spoiler]It didn't matter if Mr Badii killed himself or not bc life doesn't stop either way. Maybe he lived. Maybe he died at the foot of the only tree for miles and in doing so nourished the earth which nourished the tree, which nourishes the bugs that eat the leaves, which nourishes the birds that eat the bugs and so on. The cycle continues.

[Dollar Colonel]

Originally Posted by FragnitoM

Cord cutting was supposed to be less expensive and better, but now it's basically just an even more expensive online cable subscription (sigh)

I'm not sure about less expensive, but it was always touted as more choice. No bundling, no mysterious pricing, and you can cancel whenever.

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by dwk

Yeah, that's what is odd, if they only have those seven Demy films, even if it is not highly regarded, why not just toss it in the box with the other six.

Just wanted to tell you I watched A Slightly Pregnant Man last night and I must say I am pretty disappointed with the overall results but the film had a lot of damn good potential in the first act and sometimes the second.

Also wanted to tell you that it's restored in 2K back in 2013 so this film should definitely get a Blu-ray release so they don't need to waste a perfectly good restoration. It looks wonderful!

Review (Why Not I'm Bored):

A SLIGHTLY PREGNANT MAN, THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT SINCE MAN WALKED ON THE MOON

The comedy on this is the murderer of this entire film. While it is comedic to make a story about a fat man, the joke doesn't run too long to make an entire film out of it, despite the 92 minute run time. SPOILER:

[Show spoiler]At the end of the story, it was revealed that he wasn't pregnant but the question is never solved if he was even pregnant at first or not. Even though there were TWO doctors who literally told him that he was pregnant. This is not MASS HYSTERIA, this is a PLOT HOLE! So basically it was just an obesity joke on Marcello. "The joke isn't actually him being pregnant but it was just him being fat. Would you laugh at that?" "No."

And for that reason, the film feels unrewarding and offensive to some by the end of this film.

The acting on this film is, "Ok" IMO. Catherine Deneuve is doing nothing of her special acting potential in this film that she shows off in, Umbrellas of Cherbourg or Repulsion which I think Repulsion is one of the best roles I have ever seen for Catherine Deneuve. This film however, really shows no character arc even though Marcello's character is going through a drastic change. How does she feel? I don't really know anymore. She was upset at that one point, but she seems happy now I guess? It's like a baby, you can't tell what they're saying or what they want you to do. Marcello Mastroianni's character isn't anything special nor anything better than Catherine's role. He acts all mighty and all that yet it doesn't seem like he's actually taking care of the baby inside of him. Maybe because

[Show spoiler]he's fat and that he doesn't have to act like he has a baby I don't know.

And the Worst Character Award goes to the kid who looks like a LOT like Klaus Kinski in Aguirre, the Wrath of God. It's not that he's bad at acting, he's just annoying and single-layered. One thing about kids in European movies is that they're either curious and quiet children or they're annoying and loud. Those are the two stereotypes you see in European films as always. Maybe because those are the only two types of kids in the world but I'm sure this kid was definitely in the annoying and useless character side of this situation. Yes, he pulls a few good jokes but come on, anything else you can do and this can be blamed on the writers for not using him fully but instead some type of a running gag.

I would also like to talk about some important ideas that Demy hints at during this entire film. For example, one of the ladies at a hair salon mentioned that the government can finally legalize pills since men are getting pregnant also. If you still don't know what they mean in pills, they're referring to birth control pills. And what was going on in 70s France that has to do with birth control? The one word that was going around the town in French Politics back in the days: Abortion. And abortion was a big topic even in French Cinema. Around 1971, there was a petition going around with female celebrities and this petition was none other than the Manifesto of the 343. This manifesto stated that 343 women have admitted to having an abortion in which was illegal at the time. Some of these female celebrities included Catherine Deneuve, Delphine Seyrig (My #1 Actress Crush), Marguerite Duras, Jeanne Moreau, and Agnès Varda (Demy's wife). In conclusion, they're opening themselves up for criminal prosecution. However, this petition also asks the government to legalize abortion. 2 years after A Slightly Pregnant Man, abortion was legalized in Law 75-17 by Simone Veil, a key figure in the legalization of abortion. Maybe I am pulling a little bit too far with the connection but I can sense that they were pulling ideas like gender roles, abortion, women's rights, etc. Perhaps this idea of abortion was somewhat a personal situation for Demy so he must've added it in to show his brief opinion on the situation. So in a way, it feels nice that they're talking about women's rights and therefore, this movie is kind of a feminist film but not in a traditional or even a REAL (100%) way. But, the problem is that Demy has all these important messages that he HINTS at but never dares to explain or even talk about the situation, instead just hinting at it but never daring to go at it, which also seems like he just wasted our time mentioning these topics but never giving a full examination and claim for it.

In the end, A Slightly Pregnant Man has everything that you would expect out of Demy, a colorful and pretty visual style. Yet, the storytelling and the way it was executed was miserable. The only good thing that comes out of this film is the visual style and a few ideas that Demy have hinted at but never fully explained about, making this problematic. Disappointing but a little fun at times. Only for hardcore Demy fans.

4/10 for Demy's Filmography, 5/10 for a General Audience

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by FragnitoM

I'm still confused about how this works. If I use HBO GO through my cable provider because I have an HBO subscription, will I get access to HBO Max also? or is it an additional subscription?

Cord cutting was supposed to be less expensive and better, but now it's basically just an even more expensive online cable subscription (sigh)

It means that you can pay more for the channels you want without having to be bothered with 100+ channels you don't want. Kind of like going from one of those buffet-style restaurants to an a la cart dining restaurant.

Seriously, I currently subscribe to Netflix, the Criterion Channel and CBS All Access (I think that's what it's called) for local news & weather. Total cost is about $30/month. I also have an Amazon Prime account which I use more for free shipping than streaming, but add another $10/month for that. In the winter, we sometimes subscribe to HBO or Starz for a couple of months and then cancel after we have binge-watched whatever shows we were interested in. So add another $5/month (averaged over the year) for that. That $45 is still less than basic cable in a bundled package from my ISP.

Going back to the restaurant analogy, it's kind of like Dim Sum. If you take something off every cart that goes by, it adds up quickly, but if you're selective, you can have a good meal for not a lot of money.

The tougher choice for me will be choosing between the Criterion Channel and HBO Max. I found FilmStruck to hit the sweet spot for me with it's balance between Criterion content and classic Hollywood films. I really like the Criterion Channel, but it's not as strong in the classic Hollywood stuff. It will be interesting to check out HBO Max's offering. It will have to be really strong in both to make me walk away from my locked-in charter rate with the Criterion Channel. Kind of like having a great rent-controlled apartment. After the initial year, the cost of HBO Max annually will be almost double the Criterion Channel's charter rate.

Seeing this announcement, it seems clear to me what Warner was thinking when they pulled the plug on FilmStruck. For that reason alone, I'm inclined to favor the Criterion Channel, all things being equal.

[NeoNical]

Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the Cannes Screening of In the Mood for Love.

Cannes Film Festival 5/20/2000