The Criterion Collection

[pro-bassoonist]

Pedro,

See Barbara. It is a vastly superior film

There is a German English-friendly release and local U.S. release.



Pro-B

[Sifox211]

2015 was a good year for cinema I reckon; here is my top ten for new films I saw in the cinema that year:

[Show spoiler]

1. Mia Madre
2. Brooklyn
3. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
4. Going Home
5. Winter Sleep
6. Birdman
7. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
8. The Legend of Barney Thomson
9. Assassination (Amsal)
10. The Best of Enemies

Honourable mentions:

• Sicario
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
• Inherent Vice
• Une nouvelle amie
• Clouds of Sils Maria
• The Salt of the Earth
• Inside Out

Biggest disapointment was Sunset Song, which after much reflection didn't do it for me.

It was also a good year for seeing older films in the cinema - these are the ones I managed to catch:

• Under the Skin
• The Green Ray
• 8½
• Closely Observed Trains
• The Misfits
• The Promised Land
• Man with a Movie Camera

Finally, someone asked about best Criterion discovery (I think). For me, by a long stretch, it was Il Sorpasso - this is what Criterion is all about: discovering a new film, enjoying great supplements. I watched the film twice and its pace, wit, the two leads' acting and stunning photography were ace; I also find that period in Italian history fascinating.

[WonderWeasel]

I haven't really seen enough films from this past year to put together an entire top 10, but I do have a few favorites:

The Salt of the Earth
Inside Out
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
The Hateful Eight
Timbuktu


I think The Salt of the Earth and Timbuktu were technically 2014 films, but they weren't released near me until 2015. The former might be my favorite of the year, though my opinion is biased because Salgado is my favorite photographer.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

I haven't really seen enough films from this past year to put together an entire top 10, but I do have a few favorites:

The Salt of the Earth
Inside Out
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
The Hateful Eight
Timbuktu


I think The Salt of the Earth and Timbuktu were technically 2014 films, but they weren't released near me until 2015. The former might be my favorite of the year, though my opinion is biased because Salgado is my favorite photographer.

Salt of the Earth is pretty great. I'm glad it got a good blu-ray release.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by 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.

Contempt is my favorite Godard. Of all of his films I've seen, it's the one that evokes the most emotion for me. Although repetitive, its music is one of my favorites.

[buffetfroid]

My wife and I watched Safety Last. Amazing that a nearly 100 year old movie made our palms sweat for 15 minutes.

[Ray Jackson]

I watched The Manchurian Candidate last night on TCM...great film.

Henry Silva playing a Korean translator is only slightly less absurd than Charlton Heston playing a Mexican cop in Touch of Evil.

...oh Hollywood, you crack me up.

Out of 51 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, there is only one negative review.

Guess who it is?

My main man Bosley Crowther!!!!

...oh Bosley, you crack me up.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I watched The Manchurian Candidate last night on TCM...great film.

Henry Silva playing a Korean translator is only slightly less absurd than Charlton Heston playing a Mexican cop in Touch of Evil.

...oh Hollywood, you crack me up.

Out of 51 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, there is only one negative review.

Guess who it is?

My main man Bosley Crowther!!!!

...oh Bosley, you crack me up.

I've seen it twice. Very good film. I have the DVD and wasn't going to get the Blu-ray, but I think I will as I've been on a bit of a Frank Sinatra kick recently.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I watched The Manchurian Candidate last night on TCM...great film.

Henry Silva playing a Korean translator is only slightly less absurd than Charlton Heston playing a Mexican cop in Touch of Evil.

...oh Hollywood, you crack me up.

I think Anthony Quinn has the record for the greatest number of different ethnic roles (even without counting all the times he played a Mexican).

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by jw007

Yeah, sorry, all you corporate douchebags out there who think you can get away with your greed and fraudulent activities, but you guys are the real problem. Every American capitalist needs to see this film. The housing bubble crisis of 2008 was just a warning for future generations. Iceland did it right by jailing the bankers who collapsed their economy.

Don't mean to interject politics but since you did it first...

The Federal Reserve caused the housing crisis by setting interest rates too low for far too long. The government had the idea that "everyone" should own a house and that it's a "human right" so money was handed out to banks at retarded rates and then the banks loaned it out to people at the same retarded rates. It all starts with government though. There is a documentary on Netflix about this very topic called "Money For Nothing". Check it out. The free market economists predicted the housing bubble's bursting as far back as 2001. You call for the jailing of citizens but when government causes problems or breaks the law, nobody pays, EVER.

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by colbyw

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

Cool find I never heard of it. I'll try to watch it ASAP as a QT fan...

Speaking of QT where's the love for Hateful 8? I thought the roadhouse editon was an amazing experience.

And God bless the AV club rating Mad Max #1 this year!

Just saw Tangerine wasn't feeling it.
Watching Phoenix tonight.

[Ausjdm]

Anyone buying lady snowblood? Always wanted to see it. Is it worth blind buy?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Cool find I never heard of it. I'll try to watch it ASAP as a QT fan...

Speaking of QT where's the love for Hateful 8? I thought the roadhouse editon was an amazing experience.

I thought that the 70mm showing of The Hateful Eight was pretty amazing as well.

I don't believe that Bone Tomahawk is necessarily influenced by Quentin Tarantino, though. It's more like a classic John Ford/John Wayne western with some strongly visceral horror elements, and it lacks a Tarantino-esque approach.

I notice that you're still rocking out the Under the Skin avatar, so I'll recommend that as a great double feature with my favorite 2015 film, Ex Machina. I'm not sure what it says about me that these two movies were my favorites of the past couple of years, but it is what it is.

I've decided to spend this week revisiting some well-loved 2015 films. Yesterday, I revisited Ex Machina, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Bone Tomahawk. If I have time tonight, then I'll revisit It Follows.

After that's out of the way, I want to finish the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman box set before the end of January.

[812crew]

I never really post here, but this thread has been really helpful to me, seeing as how I've gotten back into buying Criterions for the first time in 10 years. I bought about 20 in the last six months, some of them blind buys, and would love to recommend these lesser-talked about titles (for quality of movies & features):

Shoah
Ace in the Hole
Certified Copy
Sweet Smell of Success

Thanks! And thanks for all the info!

(also: anyone have Army of Shadows they wanna trade or sell? Thanks!)

[mja345]

A couple other good 2015 films I haven't seen mentioned are "Mississippi Grind" and "The End of the Tour". "Mississippi Grind" is an obvious homage to Robert Altman's "California Split" and is very well-done. Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds both give great performances as two men drawn to the allure of gambling. It's the kind of small character study that doesn't get released much anymore.

Although I'm not really a fan of Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg in most things, I thought they combined to do a fantastic job in "The End of the Tour". The film takes some liberties with the life of David Foster Wallace, but Eisenberg and Segel have great chemistry and the script is really fantastic. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed "The End of the Tour".

Loved "Bone Tomahawk" as well. Thought "The Hateful Eight" was also fantastic. I'll probably check out the new "Star Wars" this weekend. I was waiting for some of the fanboys who were going the first few weeks to exit stage left haha. That's not a putdown if you're a "Star Wars" fanatic, but jesus some of those people are insufferable.

[Scottie]

I watched Godard's Contempt this afternoon. I liked the movie, but there was something about it that didn't resonate well with me. I feel as if Godard forced The Odyssey, or at least Jerry's idea for the script, to parallel Paul's marital life.

I'm having difficulty believing that all of the character-centric drama transpired over the course of a day or two. I think it would have worked much better if Godard spread it out and focused on Paul's difficulty with working the script, thus causing issues in his own life.

I would like some clarity on one thing, though, because I find it to be a bit uncertain. Did Camille really leave Paul because he allowed her to get a ride back with Jerry on two separate occasions? I mean I can see how she would be upset by this, but it simultaneously seems blown out of proportion.

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Anyone buying lady snowblood? Always wanted to see it. Is it worth blind buy?

I watched both of them a few nights ago and enjoyed them for the most part. I wouldn't necessarily call them great, but they certainly kept my interest.

In particular, I really liked the setup of the first film.

[tallrichard]

Originally Posted by 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.

Man From Uncle???????????

Why don't people share when they get crack that makes that a good movie???

LOL

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I watched Godard's Contempt this afternoon. I liked the movie, but there was something about it that didn't resonate well with me. I feel as if Godard forced The Odyssey, or at least Jerry's idea for the script, to parallel Paul's marital life.

I'm having difficulty believing that all of the character-centric drama transpired over the course of a day or two. I think it would have worked much better if Godard spread it out and focused on Paul's difficulty with working the script, thus causing issues in his own life.

I would like some clarity on one thing, though, because I find it to be a big problem. Did Camille really leave Paul because he allowed her to get a ride back with Jerry on two separate occasions? I mean I can see how she would be upset by this, but this seems significantly over the top.



I watched both of them a few nights ago and enjoyed them for the most part. I wouldn't necessarily call them great, but they certainly kept my interest.

In particular, I really liked the setup of the first film.

"I would like some clarity on one thing, though, because I find it to be a big problem. Did Camille really leave Paul because he allowed her to get a ride back with Jerry on two separate occasions? I mean I can see how she would be upset by this, but this seems significantly over the top."

A common theme in Godard films seems to be irrational women who make irrational decisions--either because they're overly emotional, have unreasonable life expectations or are just simply duplicitous and/or capricious you-know-whats (see Pierrot Le Fou or Breathless).

...decisions that often times have serious consequences for the men in their lives.

Draw whatever conclusions from that that you will.

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Speaking of QT where's the love for Hateful 8? I thought the roadhouse editon was an amazing experience.


Just saw Tangerine wasn't feeling it.
Watching Phoenix tonight.

I liked Hateful 8 more than Django, but didn't think it was that great of a film. There were some pretty funny moments in it though, and I didn't expect to laugh so much. I had an adverse reaction to Bone Tomahawk compared to everyone here. It was good flick to maybe watch with a few drinking buddies but don't think I could sit through it if I were to watch it again at home on my own. I think the term "popcorn flick" is apt. I just had to see Tangerine. While admittedly it wasn't amazing, I think that fact it was made on a damn iPhone is. For what came out in th finished product, I was pretty well stunned. I really like the small segment where he blended a classical piece with some electronic music, it went so well with the film I think it should have been used more than just the one scene.

Originally Posted by 812crew

I never really post here, but this thread has been really helpful to me, seeing as how I've gotten back into buying Criterions for the first time in 10 years. I bought about 20 in the last six months, some of them blind buys, and would love to recommend these lesser-talked about titles (for quality of movies & features):

Shoah
Ace in the Hole
Certified Copy
Sweet Smell of Success

Thanks! And thanks for all the info!

Great choices and welcome

[llj]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Cool find I never heard of it. I'll try to watch it ASAP as a QT fan...

Speaking of QT where's the love for Hateful 8? I thought the roadhouse editon was an amazing experience.

And God bless the AV club rating Mad Max #1 this year!

Just saw Tangerine wasn't feeling it.
Watching Phoenix tonight.

Is Tangerine really getting great reviews?

Baker's previous film, Starlet, is the one that was unfairly neglected initially.