The Criterion Collection

[CinemaBlu]

Originally Posted by Yami

There's already a fabulous Blu-Ray release

What?! How did I miss this? Thanks for pointing it out!

[sethcfaulder99]

Criterion released all 3 of those films pre-blu.

[sethcfaulder99]

Originally Posted by drat

Having just watched the wonderful documentary An Accidental Studio, I am curious about the possibility of Criterion releasing The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa, and Withnail & I.

Does anyone have any thoughts or information on who has the rights to these classics from Handmade Films?

Criterion released all 3 of these films pre-blu-ray. I’d love to see them get re-released some day, but I’m sure they’ve lost the rights.

[Reddington]

Finally watched The Irishman last night. My initial reaction was that it is good, but not great. It certainly lacked the "operatic" sweep I was expecting from a story covering multiple decades. I found the deaging CGI difficult to look beyond, and never got comfortable with it to the point that it wasn't a bit distracting - as were some the physical movements of the deaged characters, which betrayed the real age of the actors. Uniformly strong performances, and nice to see Pesci back on-screen. Don't know if it's just me, but I actually find him quite scary to watch in these types of roles; he can do "menace" better than pretty much any other actor I've seen.

For me, it's mid-tier Scorsese. I was hoping for something akin to Casino (my favourite of his work), but it lacked that film's focus and intensity. Will definitely revisit with the Criterion release.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Finally watched The Irishman last night. My initial reaction was that it is good, but not great. It certainly lacked the "operatic" sweep I was expecting from a story covering multiple decades. I found the deaging CGI difficult to look beyond, and never got comfortable with it to the point that it wasn't a bit distracting - as were some the physical movements of the deaged characters, which betrayed the real age of the actors. Uniformly strong performances, and nice to see Pesci back on-screen. Don't know if it's just me, but I actually find him quite scary to watch in these types of roles; he can do "menace" better than pretty much any other actor I've seen.

For me, it's mid-tier Scorsese. I was hoping for something akin to Casino (my favourite of his work), but it lacked that film's focus and intensity. Will definitely revisit with the Criterion release.

Definitely give it time and revisit it. It may grow on you.

I think it's one that will grow on many over time and multiple viewings.

Hard to believe it now, but "Casino" was received with a largely mixed to negative response, too, at first.

In fact, a number of great films by everyone from Hitchcock to Kubrick to Scorsese had a lukewarm or negative response, at first. Some films of theirs people seem to love immediately, others will always be seen as among their weaker works, and then there's some that people seem to start out disappointed with but then love later.

Anyway, definitely try it again.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

Definitely give it time and revisit it. It may grow on you.

I think it's one that will grow on many over time and multiple viewings.

Hard to believe it now, but "Casino" was received with a largely mixed to negative response, too, at first.

In fact, a number of great films by everyone from Hitchcock to Kubrick to Scorsese had a lukewarm or negative response, at first. Some films of theirs people seem to love immediately, others will always be seen as among their weaker works, and then there's some that people seem to start out disappointed with but then love later.

Anyway, definitely try it again.

Casino got some negative reviews for very specific reasons. Namely, that critics felt it was just a more technically accomplished version of Goodfellas in a different setting. They also objected to some of the language and violence. Over time its reputation improved as people started evaluating it outside of the context of its initial release, in addition to it being one of the last great crime films made at an American studio, if not the very last great one. Carlito's Way's reputation also improved over time for similar reasons.

The Irishman doesn't really have anything distinctive about it other than its effects. It is a pretty generic film in terms of tone and style, and I don't think you could argue that there is anything truly masterful in it, especially by Scorsese's standards. No great standout shots or scenes or anything really. The 'It is what it is' scene is quite good, but that is mostly due to the actors, and it verges on parody.

I'll admit that I liked it somewhat more on second viewing, but I really suspect that the high praise bestowed upon it was mostly the result of scarcity. i.e the lack of truly good films being made in the US right now, combined with the fact that it's a 'last hurrah' of sorts for a generation of veteran talents.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

Hard to believe it now, but "Casino" was received with a largely, but well-deserved mixed to negative response, too, at first.

Fixed that for you.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by joy-division

I think it can be statistical when you look at the problems black film makers faced due to civil right & such.

The problem is that there are more out there than the average film fan is aware of. But if we're not being exposed to them, whether through failure by the "gatekeepers" or ourselves, how can we really judge whether or not any of them are worthy pieces of cinematic art?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

So which will be the first Tyler Perry film to enter the collection? He seems to have been a pretty prolific director. Must be a wacky C title somewhere in his filmography.

No idea. I've never seen one. The films of his that I've seen advertised are a type of comedy that I have no interest in (I feel the same way about Judd Apatow, so it's not a "black thing"). I do admire him, though, for what he's done with respect to building a studio in Atlanta, and his (non-film) efforts at helping people in distress.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by disco1979

Personally, I would love Criterion to issue Mudbound, but most of all, Eve's Bayou by Kasi Lemmons, which has never received a Blu-ray release. And Cheryl Dunye's The Watermelon Woman.

I think eventually both Barry Jenkins' Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk will need lavish Criterion reissues. The current discs look terrific but I wish there were more bonus features.

On the latter point, while more bonus features would be good, it's another case of feeling it would be better for them to give us releases that have been largely ignored rather than ones that are well-known.

I haven't seen anything by Dunye, and I should correct that. I notice that she's directed an episode of Lovecraft Country, which is on my watch list, but it'll probably not be significantly representative of her work.

Spot on, though, about Eve's Bayou. Also, Lemmons's second feature, The Caveman's Valentine, though it's more of a "sophomore slump" kind of film. The former might be problematic in terms of getting a license from Lionsgate; the latter might be easier, being from Universal/Focus.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Insomnia is a hell of a drug...



Art from The New York Times

I'd buy that. I can't believe he (she?) hasn't directed any "serious" films. Perry's performance in Gone Girl was quite good.

[BobbyMcGee]

Don't know if this was posted already:

"What Would You Include in the Criterion Collection?"
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/21/m...ollection.html

Personally, I would like to see a Glouber Rocha box-set if the rights are available. While quite a few films from the French Nouvelle Vague have been released on Blu-ray, and rightfully so, I would like to see at least one box-set on Brazil's Cinema Novo.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

I'd buy that. I can't believe he (she?) hasn't directed any "serious" films. Perry's performance in Gone Girl was quite good.

Define "serious". He's done more than just the Madea films. He's also done a few thrillers, though they haven't been especially well received (and like his Madea films, they don't look to be films that I would enjoy).

Someone previously mentioned For Colored Girls, which would probably count as "serious". But that's another Lionsgate-owned film.

[MifuneFan]

I just realized the article was unaware, or didn't make note of the confirmed upcoming release of Atlantique (Atlantics), from female French / Senagalese director Mati Diop. She is the first black female director to compete at Cannes.

[KMR]

Originally Posted by JackBros

If we're throwing out movies, what I've love to see Criterion release (besides my love of old hollywood) is Deepa Mehta's Elements Trilogy. I've only had the pleasure of seeing Water, but it was a gorgeous film that delved into issues that women face in India and the other two deal with similar themes. Would also just love Criterion to sit down to do an interview with her because the interviews I have seen her do have been wonderful. She comes across as a really cool lady.

Count me in as yet another who would LOVE to see such a release from Criterion. And as another who, to date, has seen only Water. (Seems the other two are relatively harder to come by.)

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by BobbyMcGee

Personally, I would like to see a Glouber Rocha box-set if the rights are available. While quite a few films from the French Nouvelle Vague have been released on Blu-ray, and rightfully so, I would like to see at least one box-set on Brazil's Cinema Novo.

Agreed. I'd welcome a Rocha boxset as much as I would a Cinema Novo set featuring key works by Ruy Guerra, Carlos Diegues and Nelson Pereira dos Santos.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by KMR

Count me in as yet another who would LOVE to see such a release from Criterion. And as another who, to date, has seen only Water. (Seems the other two are relatively harder to come by.)

In my case, I watched Water on Netflix, and they didn't have the other two. But then, at the time, Netflix was the only streaming service I subscribed to. I should check out the others I have now.

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by robtadrian

The fact that "The Beastie Boys Collection" is a Criterion title says it all.

One of my fave criterion releases

Just a shame that they couldn't include the Def Jam days
The shot of all the planes is just downright bloody shyte scary no cgi

Beastie Boys - Something's Got To Give (Official Music Video) - YouTube

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Casino got some negative reviews for very specific reasons. Namely, that critics felt it was just a more technically accomplished version of Goodfellas in a different setting. They also objected to some of the language and violence. Over time its reputation improved as people started evaluating it outside of the context of its initial release, in addition to it being one of the last great crime films made at an American studio, if not the very last great one. Carlito's Way's reputation also improved over time for similar reasons.

Even though I have it inn the ultimate gangsters bix set, I've never seen Casino

[disco1979]

I admire Tyler Perry although I don't generally care for his films. He realized the need for more films about black characters and used his money and his resources and smarts to get it done. Promoting in black churches, creating his own studio, etc., he realized he needed to create his own path to get what he needed. He has become incredibly successful and, even if you don't like his films, you can't deny their popularity.

It does seem he is focusing more on television right now. He has a number of shows on BET. The Oval has been very successful. It's terrible but I can't deny that it's absolutely entertaining.