The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The Great Owl's Top 10 Movies of 2015

1. Ex Machina
2. Spectre
3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
4. It Follows
5. Mad Max: Fury Road
6. Bone Tomahawk
7. The Hateful Eight (70mm)
8. The Martian
9. Backcountry
10. Creed

I really want to see Bone Tomahawk. I may watch it tonight.

[kuro_sawa]

There are quite a few films I didn't have a chance to see but here's my top 10 that I saw in theaters in 2015

Anomalisa
Carol
The Duke of Burgundy
The Forbidden Room
Hard To Be A God
Horse Money
Inherent Vice
Phoenix
Queen of Earth
Sicario (the score for this is knockout)

I loved Clouds of Sils Maria and Mad Max, as well.

[Scottie]

I wish I lived in a happening area where I could see films with limited releases on the big screen.

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I wish I lived in a happening area where I could see films with limited releases on the big screen.

I travel quite a bit for work, so it helps. That's also a reason I'm on here all the time. But I still missed out on a lot of them I wanted to see, most notably The Assassin which I hope to see soon

[colbyw]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I really want to see Bone Tomahawk. I may watch it tonight.

My copy just came in the mail; along with Watership Down, about to start Bone Tomahawk now. Heard there is some "crazy original ***t!" going on. That was a quote from a text I received

[Namuhana]

The only new release film I really, really want to see is Carol. And, considering that I live right outside of Cincinnati (where it was filmed), you'd think it would be showing all over the place. But, no, it's not; it's showing at just one theatre: the Esquire in downtown Cincy, and I'm not driving down there with all of its confusing navigation. I guess I'll just have to wait for the Blu-ray...

[adamhopelies]

My top ten of 2015.

1. Inherent Vice
2. The Force Awakens
3. Timbuktu
4. Mistress America/While We're Young
5. Life Of Riley
6. Eden
7. Carol
8. The Immigrant
9. Girlhood
10. Clouds Of Sils Maria

I'm more than a little amazed that The Force Awakens placed so highly for me. It's the highest a blockbuster has ever fared in any of my top ten's since I turned professional 5 years ago. That aside it's business as usual for me; it's an even split of five French movies and five American ones, which is fairly standard for my end of year list. I cheated a little with the Baumbach diptych, but I do see them as a pair and would do the same had any filmmaker released two top ten worthy films in a single year (I've yet to see his De Palma movie). The one that got away was Kent Jones' Hitchcock Truffaut, which I simply forgot to include when submitting my list but tbh I'd struggle to make a case for that over the Assayas film anyway.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

1. Inherent Vice

I really need to get around to watching my Blu-ray of Inherent Vice.

I never saw this movie at the theater, because I'm not generally a fan of Paul Thomas Anderson, but I own the Blu-ray because I won a copy from the promotional giveaway drawing here on this site. (Yes, boys and girls, it really does happen from time to time. If I'm even remotely intrigued by one of the movies that are given away on this site, then I'll put my entry in for the contest.)

I have a feeling that I'll dig it, given the repeated comparisons of it to film noir and neo-noir. Since Blu-ray.com was cool enough to send me one for free, the least that I can do is post my thoughts about the disc. Soon...


However, I'm going to revisit Bone Tomahawk tonight, because I really got into it when I watched it five nights ago, and have been wanting to watch it again.

[colbyw]

I just finished Bone Tomahawk. Lots and lots of fun. A must for any Tarantino genre fan.

[joie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I really need to get around to watching my Blu-ray of Inherent Vice. [...] I have a feeling that I'll dig it, given the repeated comparisons of it to film noir and neo-noir. [...]

The Washington Post's review of the novel (Inherent Vice) calls it California noir. "The Long Goodbye" is another California noir.

[scottpcusa]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

The only new release film I really, really want to see is Carol. And, considering that I live right outside of Cincinnati (where it was filmed), you'd think it would be showing all over the place. But, no, it's not; it's showing at just one theatre: the Esquire in downtown Cincy, and I'm not driving down there with all of its confusing navigation. I guess I'll just have to wait for the Blu-ray...

The Esquire Theatre is one of my favorite theatres to frequent!

[Al_The_Strange]

Been combing through my Criterion blind-buys again.

Fellini Satyricon wasn't bad. Not quite as grotesque as I expected, thankfully, but still quite the dark vision with plenty of excess on-screen. I can dig its style and the look of the production, it's all about the visuals. Can't say I understood what was going on, but the movie's a keeper for the visuals alone.

Moving on with Jellyfish Eyes. I'm really torn over it - parts of it appeal to me, but a lot of it comes off as a little too cutesy. Maybe even a little too manipulative. Gets pretty goofy at times. Overall, my feelings about it are mixed.

[Al_The_Strange]

Might as well do the top 10 thing like everyone else.

1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. Sicario
3. Kingsman
4. Ex Machina
5. Star Wars Ep VII: The Force Awakens
6. American Sniper
7. Inside Out
8. Man From UNCLE
9. The Martian
10. Tomorrowland

Tokyo Tribe would be in the #10 spot, but technically, I didn't see it in theaters.

I also realize that few, if any, of these feel Criterion-worthy.

[pedromvu]

Hard to get a top 10, it's too soon for me there are tons of movies I haven't seen, mainly because only big movies tend to get here on the same date as in US, so all the big contenders of the Oscars and all that will end up showing here around March or April, but the few I would say are worthy for me so far have been:

1.- Ex Machina
2.- Inside Out
3.- The Martian
4.- It Follows
5.- Kingsman
6.- Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

To keep this more on topic, I just finished watching Juliet of the Spirits and enjoyed it quite a bit, it took me by surprise since I was expecting a more comedic tone from hearing it's soundtrack many times but it is more of a drama first, comedy second.

After seeing Satyricon and 8 1/2 this definitely seems to be in transition between the two, but this didn't feel as loose as Satyricon, just a bit of excessive at times.

Anyway another to my wishlist of upgrades needed, to be honest I couldn't explain every detail from what I just saw, but I wouldn't mind watching it again

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by colbyw

I just finished Bone Tomahawk. Lots and lots of fun. A must for any Tarantino genre fan.

I actually watched it this evening as well. I thought it was good, but I was honestly expecting something GREAT.

I will admit that the one scene in the cave (you know which one) is probably one of the most gruesome scenes I have ever seen.

[monorail91]

I've mostly given up on ranking things, but swirling among my favorites of 2015 are:

• Cinderella
• Descendants
• Entourage
• The Good Dinosaur
• Inside Out
• Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Youth

I haven't seen a lot of this year's Oscarbait though, nor have I seen 45 Years which I'll probably love.

[murphywmm]

I had a Godard double feature tonight, starting with Vivre Sa Vie. Amazing release overall. Black and white movies can look so amazing on Blu-ray when done well. It felt like I was watching a film print in a cinema. Such a great movie too - it's my second favourite Godard after Band of Outsiders. I love the episodic structure and Anna Karina's performance.

After that, I watch the Lionsgate release of Contempt. That was my first time watching it and it didn't resonate with me as much as Vivre Sa Vie. But I can't stop thinking about it at the same time - I'll be revisiting it soon. It's too bad Criterion didn't get to release that one, as I think the transfer could look so much better.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by murphywmm

After that, I watch the Lionsgate release of Contempt. That was my first time watching it and it didn't resonate with me as much as Vivre Sa Vie. But I can't stop thinking about it at the same time - I'll be revisiting it soon. It's too bad Criterion didn't get to release that one, as I think the transfer could look so much better.

Over the years I've realized that I'm a lukewarm Godard fan and my opinion of his films changes frequently. For example, I initially thought Breathless was simply okay and loved it on my second watch. On the other hand, I loved Pierrot le Fou on my first watch and was rather neutral towards it on a rewatch.

This post reminds me, though, that I still have my Blu-rays of Contempt and Une femme Mariée to watch. Maybe I'll break into them tomorrow.

[grape_jelly]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

My top ten of 2015.
1. Inherent Vice

Inherent Vice is really that good, eh? Maybe I'll blind buy it after all.

Originally Posted by murphywmm

After that, I watch the Lionsgate release of Contempt. That was my first time watching it and it didn't resonate with me as much as Vivre Sa Vie. But I can't stop thinking about it at the same time - I'll be revisiting it soon. It's too bad Criterion didn't get to release that one, as I think the transfer could look so much better.

I'm a bit of a Godard-nut, and had a very similar experience with Contempt. It now ranks among Breathless, Alphaville, and Vivre Sa Vie as one of my most frequently re-watched films of his. The pacing, tone, and use of color is hypnotic... and Brigitte Bardot meeeoowww. I love it more every time I view it. Remember, Contempt was Jean-Luc's attempt at working within the mainstream. It's a very poignant look at relationships which I've found myself relating to even more within the latter half of last year (which can be a rarity with his work).

Also be sure to watch Godard's interview w/ Fritz Lang as the special feature on that Lionsgate release. It's fascinatingly cool to see Godard so candid.

[pedromvu]

I guess I am in the minority here but after watching Phoenix was kind of disappointed, it is technically very good and didn't exactly bored me but it also didn't grabbed me or made me connect with anything in the story, but from the reviews it appears it is one of those movies destined to at least be nominated for foreign film at the Oscars, just like with last year's Ida which I though was a bit better overall.

I also watched Queen of Earth which I thought was pretty good but not quite on par with Perry's last year effort, this felt like a much smaller movie, kind of reminded me of Bergman films in style but missing it's ambiguity and visuals.