The Criterion Collection

[mja345]

How about leaving of films like "A Prophet", "Mulholland Drive", "The Lives of Others", and "City of God"? Those are pretty glaring omissions. Maybe the compiler of the list didn't care for them, who knows?

[javy]

Originally Posted by mja345

How about leaving of films like "A Prophet", "Mulholland Drive", "The Lives of Others", and "City of God"? Those are pretty glaring omissions. Maybe the compiler of the list didn't care for them, who knows?

I have A Prophet but haven't popped it in yet. I love gangster movies, old and new. This one looks pretty amazing. I haven't seen The Lives of Others either.

[cakefactory]

I found Lost in Translation to be a ponderous, overrated bore that primarily got attention for the novelty of a serious Bill Murray (oh, and some for Scarlett J in her underwear, which I can relate to). And to say it's an "homage to japan" considering the depictions of the people that actually live there is ridiculous. I'm not really offended by it, but c'mon, having that prostitute saying TEAR MY STOCKINGS and the whole black toe scene or the cheap "haha, everyone's so short compared to Bill Murray" jokes are anything but a love letter to the Japanese people. For that matter, I don't recall any Japanese person in the movie having more than a couple lines, except in the "hilarious" karaoke scene where you're supposed to laugh at them butchering karaoke of a Western song. I don't think any of it is truly mean-spirited, but it's absolutely not a celebration of any aspect of Japanese culture, just a celebration of how Japan is a really funny/weird attraction for white tourists.

Maybe you meant an homage to Japan as in to the physical COUNTRY/CITY and not any of the people in it? I guess that could be true. It's mainly like, "oh those wacky little Japanese people, gotta love em!!" Again, I don't find it truly racist, I just find the idea of it championing Japanese culture to be ludicrous.

Regarding Sofia Coppola, I did absolutely love The Virgin Suicides. I should probably check out what she's done post-Lost in Translation.

[The Great Owl]

As far as the Top Films of the 21st Century list is concerned...

I would have put Casino Royale (2006) in the top spot. I'm deadly serious.

I also would have made room for Ghost World, Lost in Translation, No Country for Old Men, Ex Machina, Under the Skin, and a few others.

[javy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

As far as the Top Films of the 21st Century list is concerned...

I would have put Casino Royale (2006) in the top spot. I'm deadly serious.

I also would have made room for Ghost World, Lost in Translation, No Country for Old Men, Ex Machina, Under the Skin, and a few others.

Daniel Craig is a sexy b*tch, yeah baby, yeah!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

I found Lost in Translation to be a ponderous, overrated bore that primarily got attention for the novelty of a serious Bill Murray (oh, and some for Scarlett J in her underwear, which I can relate to). And to say it's a "love letter to japan" considering the depictions of the people that actually live there is ridiculous. I'm not really offended by it, but c'mon, having that prostitute saying TEAR MY STOCKINGS and the whole black toe scene or the cheap "haha, everyone's so short compared to Bill Murray" jokes are anything but a "love letter" to the Japanese people. For that matter, I don't recall any Japanese person in the movie having more than a couple lines, except in the "hilarious" karaoke scene where you're supposed to laugh at them butchering karaoke of a Western song. I don't think any of it is truly mean-spirited, but it's absolutely not a celebration of any aspect of Japanese culture, just a celebration of how Japan is a really funny/weird attraction for white tourists.

Maybe you meant a love letter to Japan as in to the physical COUNTRY/CITY and not any of the people in it? I guess that could be true. It's mainly like, "oh those wacky little Japanese people, gotta love em!!" Again, I don't find it truly racist, I just find the idea of it championing Japanese culture to be ludicrous.

The whole point of Lost in Translation is to illustrate the wondrous connection that two strangers can have in a setting where neither of them relate to their surroundings. The observations of the Japanese culture around the two lead characters is played for comedy in many scenes, but it's also portrayed as a vibrant and amazing place where life just happens to go on as the two outsiders look on.

I love the extended scene showing the Japanese in the game arcade place. There's a real beauty to it all, but the two lead characters are simply not participating.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The whole point of Lost in Translation is to illustrate the wondrous connection that two strangers can have in a setting where neither of them relate to their surroundings. The observations of the Japanese culture around the two lead characters is played for comedy in many scenes, but it's also portrayed as a vibrant and amazing place where life just happens to go on as the two outsiders look on.

I love the extended scene showing the Japanese in the game arcade place. There's a real beauty to it all, but the two lead characters are simply not participating.

Oh, I got what it was going for, just thought it was all condescending towards the Japanese (which, obviously, those two self-absorbed characters would have been) and that the connection between the characters fell flat. I can understand liking it even though I sure don't, but saying "ANY LIST WITHOUT THIS MOVIE IS UTTER RUBBISH" is ludicrous!

I would agree that Casino Royale is superior!!

I don't even know what would be in my top 25 of the century so far. Mulholland Dr and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are alternating #1 depending on my mood, though.

EDIT: Wow, Mulholland Dr isn't on that list? That's surprising considering I often see it at the top of critic-voted lists.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

EDIT: Wow, Mulholland Dr isn't on that list? That's surprising considering I often see it at the top of critic-voted lists.

It's even more surprising considering that the two people responsible for the list, Manola Darghis and A.O. Scott think so highly of Lynch's film.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

It's even more surprising considering that the two people responsible for the list, Manola Darghis and A.O. Scott think so highly of Lynch's film.

I dunno, I've never seen them say anything about it after 2001 (except when discussing Inland Empire). Maybe it was disposable to them or something.

EDIT: Thought some more. Happy-Go-Lucky (2008), Let the Right One In, and Memories of Murder (2003) would definitely be right up there with Mulholland Dr/Eternal Sunshine for me. I agree with the Fury Road inclusion, I have never seen greater action spectacle. Lower would be Two Days One Night, Royal Tenenbaums and Zodiac, and maybe Pan's Labyrinth, El Orfanato, Volver and Spirited Away towards the bottom. I also kinda agree with Inside Out, though I don't know if it will hold up on repeat viewings - its direct confrontation with the bitter nostalgia of growing up caught me off guard and hit me for a loop, which might have been a one-time thing.

There are a bunch I REALLY liked on first watch that I'd have to see again to know if they're favorite movie material (ex Children of Men, Her, Agora, Arrival, You Can Count on Me, May, A Christmas Tale, Amelie, Moonrise Kingdom, Assassination of Jesse James..., Before Sunset, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Adaptation). And a couple I know are not very good but I have watched many times and really like every time (High Fidelity, Ginger Snaps). Only a few of these are Criterion, but hey, I'm just not a classy guy

[The Great Owl]

My viewing of the Criterion Blu-ray of Ghost World last night has had a rather pleasant side benefit.

The hip-hop dance routine during the graduation ceremony early in the movie reminded me that I still have not watched my Shout Factory Blu-ray of Breakin'/Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Here I go... There's no stopping me, no one does it better...

[im hedwig, etcetera]

i think grand butapest hotel is going to be announced

[Scottie]

If I find Solaris, The Sacrifice, Nostalghia, and Ivan's Childhood to merely be okay, thought provoking films, what are the chances that I'll highly enjoy The Mirror, Stalker, or Andrei Rublev?

EDIT: This is a really interesting write-up about Solaris.

https://www.quora.com/In-the-Tarkovs...-through-Tokyo

[Blu_Beard]

Originally Posted by iScottie

If I find Solaris, The Sacrifice, Nostalghia, and Ivan's Childhood to merely be okay, thought provoking films, what are the chances that I'll highly enjoy The Mirror, Stalker, or Andrei Rublev?

I think the ones you haven't seen are Tarkovsky's best, although I do like the others quite a lot, too. Since you've felt the ones you've seen to be merely okay, I wouldn't be optimistic that even his more renowned films are going to push your interest in Tarkovsky much further. If I had to recommend one more to try, I would suggest giving Stalker the next shot. He was fairly consistent in his approach to filmmaking throughout his career, though he did begin to experiment a little more later in his life with Nostalghia, The Mirror and The Sacrifice.

The book that he wrote about his work and art, Sculpting in Time, isn't too difficult of a read or incredibly long. It's helped make his work somewhat more accessible, especially when you start to understand that he constantly avoided using symbols to express overt meaning.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by iScottie

If I find Solaris, The Sacrifice, Nostalghia, and Ivan's Childhood to merely be okay, thought provoking films, what are the chances that I'll highly enjoy The Mirror, Stalker, or Andrei Rublev?

EDIT: This is a really interesting write-up about Solaris.

https://www.quora.com/In-the-Tarkovs...-through-Tokyo

I'm not sure about the first two, as I haven't seen them (I know: SHAME!). But as to Andrei Rublev, you will find to be "OK" -- or worse. I saw it the first time on the big screen at the Detroit Film Theater (the art institute, basically), and we had an intermission, we could go get champagne, discuss what we had watched, and all that. It's *still* a difficult -- if absolutely beautiful -- picture. The pacing really gets to people, it seems. And I can see why.

But if you sort of "settle in" and just let it flow over you, it's an amazing film. Then again, I felt the same about Solaris, and people I knew couldn't stand it, saying, "Nothing happens!" Which, to an extent, is true. But that's sort of the beauty of both films. Something certainly happens, don't get me wrong. It's just not ... something you can directly put your finger on as you watch it.

That would be my assessment.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Blu_Beard

The book that he wrote about his work and art, Sculpting in Time, isn't too difficult of a read or incredibly long. It's helped make his work somewhat more accessible, especially when you start to understand that he constantly avoided using symbols to express overt meaning.

Thanks for mentioning the book, btw. I just ordered it through my Intra-State Library service. Should be getting it this week sometime. I really look forward to reading it.

[Hoke Moseley]

This week seems like a good time for Criterion to officially announce California Split, no?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

This week seems like a good time for Criterion to officially announce California Split, no?

Oh, don't get me started.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

This week seems like a good time for Criterion to officially announce California Split, no?

Im really looking forward to their new release They Live by Night. I haven't seen California Split yet. I rented Hopscotch on amazon instant video but completely forgot that I did and my time ran out for watching it so Im gonna have to rent it again.

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

As far as the Top Films of the 21st Century list is concerned...

I would have put Casino Royale (2006) in the top spot. I'm deadly serious.

I also would have made room for Ghost World, Lost in Translation, No Country for Old Men, Ex Machina, Under the Skin, and a few others.

You may want to check out that NYT link again which is supplemented by a handful of filmakers picking their top 10 of the 21st century. For instance:

Paul Feig lists Casino Royale

Denis Villeneuve lists No Country For Old Men and Under The Skin

Sofia Coppola lists Ex Machina and...Daddy's Home?!?

[theater dreamer]

Geez, Mulholland Drive is 2001. Why did I think it was released just before the turn of the Century? I've seen it a few times, absolutely love it, and own it. What a brain fart on my part.

Yes, it absolutely would be on my top 25 list, as well. That's even more ridiculous an omission than Lost In Translation, and LIT is one of my three or four favorite films of all-time. It just resonates with me at a very deep level. The whole idea of meeting somebody by chance, and falling for them at the most profound of levels speaks to my current relationship; but I loved it before I ever met Andreea. It's a great film, but I think Mulholland Drive bests it (though I consider both masterpieces).

City of God is on my short list of films to watch list. It's sitting on my shelf. I'm finishing The New World after I make this post (last fifteen minutes where Poco...er, Rebecca sees Captain Smith again). The Phantom Carriage is next, and then perhaps City of God might make its way into my blu-ray player, though I'm really wanting to watch either F.W. Murnau's Faust, the re-release of Heat, or Vivre sa vie next. I'm wanting to get into Godard, and should probably start with Breathless....but....come on, Anna Karina.



Sometimes, just sometimes, a witty caption is unnecessary.

Originally Posted by mja345

How about leaving of films like "A Prophet", "Mulholland Drive", "The Lives of Others", and "City of God"? Those are pretty glaring omissions. Maybe the compiler of the list didn't care for them, who knows?