The Criterion Collection

[Lastyear]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Gloria (1980)



John Cassavetes' Gloria is a crime chase picture about a former mob associate (Gena Rowlands) who ends up taking care of her neighbor's 6-year-old son - albeit very reluctantly - after he and the rest of his family are "marked" by mobsters. The boy has in his possession a book of vital information the goons want for themselves. Most of the film is spent with the woman and the boy on the run, going from taxi cabs to hotels to restaurants to train stations, as she tries to protect him.

Even at a running time of 2 hours and 1 minute, the movie flies by, because the chase is on and something is always happening. Filmed in the late 1970s, the movie makes great use of gritty New York street locations. There's no gentrification in sight here!

Rowlands' Gloria is tougher than a $2 steak and she deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for the role. The boy, on the other hand, was unfairly nominated for a Razzie "award." (The Razzies are and continue to be a joke!) No, he's obviously not a professional actor. Yes, there are scenes that feel like he's reading his lines rather than saying them. Still, the real issue is that he was given unrealistic dialogue no kindergartner could possibly say convincingly. Rowland's lines are written and delivered in a "heightened" fashion as well, but unlike her little co-star, she has the experience necessary to be able to handle the material expertly. Despite all of that, it's easy to see why Gloria continues to protect him. Since that's the whole crux of the movie, the boy did the absolute best he could considering the circumstances and obviously pulls off the role well enough.

DaBargainHunta's Decree: Even though Gloria isn't a perfect movie

[Show spoiler](the ending is so beyond saccharine that I was almost convinced everyone really died and I was watching some kind of dream or afterlife sequence - I'm surprised there's no alternate theory to that effect)

, it's compulsively compelling - you won't be able to keep your eyes off the screen. (Subtitles: Yes!)

Note: There's a remake with Sharon Stone, which I haven't seen, but I have a feeling it's not very good because I don't remember hearing about it at the time. Plus, as much as I like Stone, I can't imagine any other than Gena Rowlands playing this part.

The film is ruined for me by the worst performance ever by a child actor,

[Bn43]

Originally Posted by Jason Rietman4k

Oh so you have watched it then...

Yes, I watched it last week.

I think because it's not movie. Fassbinder was an odd duck.

But Berlin Alexanderplatz is not a movie either and has 3,893 IMDB members, while Eight Hours only has 316. It's strange. Maybe Eight Hours became available on home media much later?

What did you think of Effi Briest?

Haven't seen it. The rest of my collection currently consists of the following:

Berlin Alexanderplatz (Criterion)
The Marriage of Maria Braun, Veronika Voss, Lola (Criterion)
Fox and His Friends, Chinese Roulette (Arrow)
Fear Eats the Soul (Arrow)
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (Arrow)

I've also seen The Merchant of Four Seasons, which I plan to get on Arrow, partly for the Beware of a Holy ***** bundle.

Edit: Forgot I also own World on a Wire (Criterion).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Jason Rietman4k

Fun fact: The main actor in Eight Hours Don't Make a Day is Gottfried John, one of the major villains in GoldenEye!

Hunh.

When I think of Gottfried John, I think of the Quay Brothers's Institute Benjamenta or even the silly-but-enjoyable TV series Space Rangers (with Linda Hunt, as well!). I should think of Berlin Alexanderplatz, but that never comes to mind first.

I never think of GoldenEye, except for the first time I saw it, and said, "Oh look, it's Gottfried John!"

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Bn43

I think it's one of Fassbinder's best films. Can't believe how few people have seen it compared to his other work.

Opportunity is my guess. I still haven't seen Eight Hours... myself, but a number of Fassbinder's movies I saw ages ago on video (I had...and maybe still have...The Marriage of Maria Braun on commercially-released Betamax) and have some on Criterion DVD.

Berlin Alexanderplatz I first saw back in the 80s on the cable network Bravo, back when it was an arts network (I saw a lot of foreign films on Bravo back then).

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Gloria (1980)

[Show spoiler]John Cassavetes' Gloria is a crime chase picture about a former mob associate (Gena Rowlands) who ends up taking care of her neighbor's 6-year-old son - albeit very reluctantly - after he and the rest of his family are "marked" by mobsters. The boy has in his possession a book of vital information the goons want for themselves. Most of the film is spent with the woman and the boy on the run, going from taxi cabs to hotels to restaurants to train stations, as she tries to protect him.

Even at a running time of 2 hours and 1 minute, the movie flies by, because the chase is on and something is always happening. Filmed in the late 1970s, the movie makes great use of gritty New York street locations. There's no gentrification in sight here!

Rowlands' Gloria is tougher than a $2 steak and she deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for the role. The boy, on the other hand, was unfairly nominated for a Razzie "award." (The Razzies are and continue to be a joke!) No, he's obviously not a professional actor. Yes, there are scenes that feel like he's reading his lines rather than saying them. Still, the real issue is that he was given unrealistic dialogue no kindergartner could possibly say convincingly. Rowland's lines are written and delivered in a "heightened" fashion as well, but unlike her little co-star, she has the experience necessary to be able to handle the material expertly. Despite all of that, it's easy to see why Gloria continues to protect him. Since that's the whole crux of the movie, the boy did the absolute best he could considering the circumstances and obviously pulls off the role well enough.

DaBargainHunta's Decree: Even though Gloria isn't a perfect movie

[Show spoiler](the ending is so beyond saccharine that I was almost convinced everyone really died and I was watching some kind of dream or afterlife sequence - I'm surprised there's no alternate theory to that effect)

, it's compulsively compelling - you won't be able to keep your eyes off the screen. (Subtitles: Yes!)

Note: There's a remake with Sharon Stone, which I haven't seen, but I have a feeling it's not very good because I don't remember hearing about it at the time. Plus, as much as I like Stone, I can't imagine any other than Gena Rowlands playing this part.

Hell yeah! I already have this planned to watch tonight as a midnight screening occasion! Can't wait to watch this as it is my FIRST Cassavetes film. I haven't planned to buy the box set during the sale but I've always wanted to start the Cassavetes filmography somehow. I guess this may not be the best way (Considering that the child actor is bad) but any fun action film will do me good (I haven't seen an action film lately and have been mostly watching long period dramas)! Pumped up for this!

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Hell yeah! I already have this planned to watch tonight as a midnight screening occasion! Can't wait to watch this as it is my FIRST Cassavetes film. I haven't planned to buy the box set during the sale but I've always wanted to start the Cassavetes filmography somehow. I guess this may not be the best way (Considering that the child actor is bad) but any fun action film will do me good (I haven't seen an action film lately and have been mostly watching long period dramas)! Pumped up for this!

Is this on the Criterion Channel?

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by regeyer

Is this on the Criterion Channel?

Leaving tomorrow

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Leaving tomorrow

WOW! And I was wondering what I'd watch tonight. Looks like I found it.

[Bn43]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Hunh.

When I think of Gottfried John, I think of the Quay Brothers's Institute Benjamenta or even the silly-but-enjoyable TV series Space Rangers (with Linda Hunt, as well!). I should think of Berlin Alexanderplatz, but that never comes to mind first.

I never think of GoldenEye, except for the first time I saw it, and said, "Oh look, it's Gottfried John!"

I was surprised the first time I watched Berlin Alexanderplatz last year and realized he is German. I too had only known him for GoldenEye.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Lastyear

The film is ruined for me by the worst performance ever by a child actor,

This film is ruined for me by Slimdude using it as his avatar.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by Lastyear

The film is ruined for me by the worst performance ever by a child actor,

It's not a great performance, but I'd humbly suggest you haven't watched many movies with child actors if you think this is the worst ever. Trust me, it can get much worse.

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Hell yeah! I already have this planned to watch tonight as a midnight screening occasion! Can't wait to watch this as it is my FIRST Cassavetes film. I haven't planned to buy the box set during the sale but I've always wanted to start the Cassavetes filmography somehow. I guess this may not be the best way (Considering that the child actor is bad) but any fun action film will do me good (I haven't seen an action film lately and have been mostly watching long period dramas)! Pumped up for this!

The child actor is, well, not awesome - but Gena Rowlands certainly is - and this is an immensely enjoyable film overall.

Originally Posted by regeyer

Is this on the Criterion Channel?

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Leaving tomorrow

Originally Posted by regeyer

WOW! And I was wondering what I'd watch tonight. Looks like I found it.

I think you'll love it.

BTW, it's lost when people quote my post, but I always put "Expiring from The Criterion Channel" in the subject header (or if it's not expiring, like Chungking Express, I'll note that it's available on Channel). Should I start adding that to my posts as well? (I'll be doing another one soon. I couldn't sleep last night and put together the oddest double feature.)

[mja345]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

This film is ruined for me by Slimdude using it as his avatar.

Slimdude's the best. Where else can you get posts to the effect of...

Random Poster: Man, this movie is dogshit.

Slimdude: No it's actually just a bad movie. It's not actual dogshit.

Slimdude, the most literal man on earth.

[DaBargainHunta]

Hey, yo! Two films about outsiders expiring from The Criterion Channel...



My Own Private Idaho (1991)

River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves play gay hustlers in a film by Gus Van Sant. I was expecting a much grittier movie. The artifice of the dialogue didn't quite work for me most of the time. I realize it's meant to be Shakespearean, poetic, lyrical, but it's inconsistently applied and creates a disconnect. It's probably no accident that the best scene in the movie - the campfire scene, which sounds completely natural - wasn't even written by Van Sant. Phoenix wrote and helped direct it, according to IMDb. It's also not surprising to find out that this was originally three scripts combined into one. That accounts for its meandering dream-like quality, which is both a pro and a con. This is a flawed movie, but I think those flaws somehow work and actually accentuate the material, creating something wholly original and memorable. (Subtitles: Yes!)

The Boy With Green Hair (1948)

An anti-war parable starring Dean Stockwell as the titular boy, who is a war orphan. It's easy to see why Stockwell had such a long and successful career. Even at 11-12 (but looking and presumably playing much younger), he was a very good actor. His relationship in the movie with his "gramp" (Pat O'Brien) is lovely. While this is definitely a crowd-pleasing kids' movie and doesn't overstay its welcome at a brief but effective running time of 1 hour and 21 minutes, its message is surprisingly, quietly, effective and profound. (Subtitles: Yes!)

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by mja345

Slimdude's the best. Where else can you get posts to the effect of...

Random Poster: Man, this movie is dogshit.

Slimdude: No it's actually just a bad movie. It's not actual dogshit.

Slimdude, the most literal man on earth.

It would be more like...

This movie is not, dogshit, because: movies cannot be actual dogshit.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

I think you'll love it.

BTW, it's lost when people quote my post, but I always put "Expiring from The Criterion Channel" in the subject header (or if it's not expiring, like Chungking Express, I'll note that it's available on Channel). Should I start adding that to my posts as well? (I'll be doing another one soon. I couldn't sleep last night and put together the oddest double feature.)

Thanks. I'm going to check it out in a few minutes.

I never noticed the expiring warning. I'll pay closer attention in the future.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Picked up Close-up and The Philadelphia Story from Target for 37.xx! Great deal, both blind buys. Excited to give them a watch

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Lastyear

The film is ruined for me by the worst performance ever by a child actor,

Within the CC I can think of two:

The little girl in The Night of the Hunter
and the little boy in The Blob.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Hey, yo! Two films about outsiders expiring from The Criterion Channel...



My Own Private Idaho (1991)

River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves play gay hustlers in a film by Gus Van Sant. I was expecting a much grittier movie. The artifice of the dialogue didn't quite work for me most of the time. I realize it's meant to be Shakespearean, poetic, lyrical, but it's inconsistently applied and creates a disconnect. It's probably no accident that the best scene in the movie - the campfire scene, which sounds completely natural - wasn't even written by Van Sant. Phoenix wrote and helped direct it, according to IMDb. It's also not surprising to find out that this was originally three scripts combined into one. That accounts for its meandering dream-like quality, which is both a pro and a con. This is a flawed movie, but I think those flaws somehow work and actually accentuate the material, creating something wholly original and memorable. (Subtitles: Yes!)

The Boy With Green Hair (1948)

An anti-war parable starring Dean Stockwell as the titular boy, who is a war orphan. It's easy to see why Stockwell had such a long and successful career. Even at 11-12 (but looking and presumably playing much younger), he was a very good actor. His relationship in the movie with his "gramp" (Pat O'Brien) is lovely. While this is definitely a crowd-pleasing kids' movie and doesn't overstay its welcome at a brief but effective running time of 1 hour and 21 minutes, its message is surprisingly, quietly, effective and profound. (Subtitles: Yes!)

I like The Boy With Green Hair a lot although for quite a few years I had to take the movie’s word for it. For me ignorance was bliss since everything on television was b&w until we got our first color tv in the mid ‘60s. Every once in a while I’m still surprised when something turns up and it’s in color! Because it was off tv for many years due to legal tie-ups The High and the Mighty highly and mightily shocked me with color! The last one I recall was Wild River which I always just assumed, for some reason, was b&w.

[taymo016]

UNITED STATES BLU-RAY SALES CHART FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 19, 2020

Title........................................Units ......Sales........
2. Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits...34,602...$2,797,918
...
11. Come And See....................16,207...$416,520 (3 week total = $675,882)
12. The War Of The Worlds.........16,163...$496,204 (2 week total = $792,520)

First time I've ever seen 3 Criterion titles on the weekly sales chart.

[Reddington]

Paid a final visit to a local B&N this morning, and was pleasantly surprised to see it had actually received a small restock. I was able to pick up The Great Escape and The War of the Worlds - which had eluded me thus far, and I thought would more likely now be Flash Sale purchases.

FYI - I asked about the likelihood of the sale being extended beyond August 2nd, but was told they had no info.