The Criterion Collection

[Poya]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I went to head into the original thread to find thoughts that mirrored mine (recalled there were a couple) and found this. So there are a few others.

I realize it's not a common opinion, more-so due to the fact that the entire ensemble is uniformly excellent and less to do with Witherspoon herself. But I found her sensibilities, the ones she's being derided for in this thread, being put to perfect use. She's used more as a role of ironic sincerity than a punchline. Her character was the one I enjoyed most when on screen, especially when she was chilling with Woodley. Probably because her role wasn't as meaty and she was allowed to operate on a level that I don't often see from her. It was more engaging than, say, Kidman's therapy, which could sometimes border on the obvious with its scene-chewery. She was excellent, no doubt, and I won't be at all upset when she takes home that award tomorrow night.

Right forgot about that. Again, I do make overstatements and I'm sure there are plenty of those who loved her here.

I guess it's all about preferences in acting, huh? I mean I usually prefer acting that's more internalized and subtle, that a small facial movement can reveal tons about a character. That's why I think Robert De Niro in Raging Bull is the greatest performance of all time. The weight gain he did was nothing compared to the scenes like the "f--- him or fight him" part. Not that I don't also like certain scenery-chewing performances, like Jack Nicholson in The Shining, but those type of performances need context and to make sense for the character. I just felt Reese to be overacting without any context so it came off as unrealistic. I've met plenty of women like her character during school events and they're a lot more passive aggressive than actively.

Again, that's just my opinion. I just like to add counterpoints. Helps discussion.

Originally Posted by Mr.F

Just popping in to say that Legally Blonde is a comedy masterpiece that has stood the test of time much better than other comedies from that decade and will continue to do so and I will not stand for the slander happening in this thread

Take it away, JJJ:

YouTube

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Gerby

Both The Return & The Banishment are coming from Kino next year.

Oh, okay.. Very cool. Do you have a link? I couldn't find anything online about it.

[theater dreamer]

I was watching The Green Mile last night. Damn. Loved him.

NSFW language, obviously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ucelPNuKdk

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

I just finished watching Paris Texas and this is the first thing I read.

[Gerby]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Oh, okay.. Very cool. Do you have a link? I couldn't find anything online about it.

MisterLime confirmed it over on the Kino thread a few months back. It's somewhere in that thread.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

I didn't know about this but it's now top of my to see list.

What're the odds in the same year Hugh Jackman would play Wolverine the last time, Steven Soderbergh would retire from filmmaking (again), and Harry Dean Stanton's final* film would be, respectively: Logan, Logan Lucky, and Lucky.

*No, I haven't checked and he likely has some more in the can.

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

He is not in Logan Lucky, but he stars in a movie called just Lucky that is out in a few weeks and looks great.

I just saw Logan Lucky and it was a good movie...but that would have been beyond weird that he would be in it, after starring in Lucky! Lucky for him, his final film was Lucky!

By the way, Stanton wasn't in Logan either.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Also, being outdone by Nicole Kidman is hardly anything to be ashamed of.

Nicole Kidman is not a very good actress. I'll take Reese Witherspoon over her any day of the week, and I don't think Reese is amazing either. But at least Reese is an engaging personality onscreen. Nicole is drier than dry ice. She won an Oscar for The Hours, an overrated movie with an overrated performance by Nicole Kidman where her prosthetic nose did all the acting for her. Julianne Moore acted rings around her.

[Poya]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Nicole Kidman is not a very good actress. I'll take Reese Witherspoon over her any day of the week, and I don't think Reese is amazing either. But at least Reese is an engaging personality onscreen. Nicole is drier than dry ice. She won an Oscar for The Hours, an overrated movie with an overrated performance by Nicole Kidman where her prosthetic nose did all the acting for her. Julianne Moore acted rings around her.

There aren't enough Kidman gifs I can post here to prove you wrong.

[UncleBuckWild]

Can everybody stop picking on ma Reese's cupcake.

The gurl's awesome the way she is and just got admitted to the Criterion Collection. That's like Harvard for nerds.

First time I saw her in Fear, I was totally mesmerized by her expressions during the roller coaster scene.

With that said all's forgiven... cause nobody's perfect.

[MJD64]

I know it's fun to denigrate Reese Witherspoon by saying she now has a film in The Criterion Collection and isn't worthy of the honor (I'm not always crazy about her role choices or public persona but she's a more than capable actress), but Election's inclusion in the collection is all about director Alexander Payne (who is quite worthy, IMO)...it would be like me saying Alexandra Daddario has reached the hallowed heights of The Criterion Collection because she makes a brief appearance in The Squid And The Whale.

[captainron_howdy]

Election is also not one of Payne's better films, that title would belong to either Nebraska or Sideways & he's really not that amazing of a director either imo. His new "Honey I shrunk the Kids(adults)" remake looks beyond terrible. Criterion really went straight to the shitlist fast this year. All their good releases were pretty much out by July.

[MifuneFan]

^Don't feed the trolls guys.

[captainron_howdy]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

^Don't feed the trolls guys.

Ohh whaaaa. Sorry but there are a ton of other films Criterion could have given us this year but they went the "RERElease" route I fear for their future.

[Poya]

Originally Posted by MJD64

I know it's fun to denigrate Reese Witherspoon by saying she now has a film in The Criterion Collection and isn't worthy of the honor (I'm not always crazy about her role choices or public persona but she's a more than capable actress), but Election's inclusion in the collection is all about director Alexander Payne (who is quite worthy, IMO)...it would be like me saying Alexandra Daddario has reached the hallowed heights of The Criterion Collection because she makes a brief appearance in The Squid And The Whale.

About Schmidt and Sideways would be perfect for a Criterion release. Nicholson isn't in enough of the Collection. Witherspoon just isn't the kind of actor that even deserves to be on the Collection. There's an argument to be made about Adam Sandler being there but he was damn excellent in Punch Drunk Love and that's a better film than Election. I'm still sore that Night of the Living Dead has yet to be announced. None of the December films are more worthy than that classic.

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by Poya

About Schmidt and Sideways would be perfect for a Criterion release. Nicholson isn't in enough of the Collection. Witherspoon just isn't the kind of actor that even deserves to be on the Collection. There's an argument to be made about Adam Sandler being there but he was damn excellent in Punch Drunk Love and that's a better film than Election. I'm still sore that Night of the Living Dead has yet to be announced. None of the December films are more worthy than that classic.

Who's to say About Schmidt, Sideways or Nebraska may not someday make it into the collection? There's far too many posters here acting as if those were the choices and Criterion went with Election out of some misguided stupidity. As for Nicholson vs. Witherspoon vs. Sandler the whole point of my post was it's not about the actors, it's about the films and filmmakers ( actually, if you want to talk about Nicholson he has about ten films in The Criterion Collection, one can hardly make the arguement he's underrepresented). I'm likewise looking forward to Night Of The Living Dead, but to criticize the December releases because it wasn't among them is simply churlish.

[captainron_howdy]

Originally Posted by MJD64

I'm likewise looking forward to Night Of The Living Dead, but to criticize the December releases because it wasn't among them is simply churlish.

Releasing an Olympic box set & a Rerelease of Monterey Pop is sort of "simply churlish." The complaints here are valid, criterion is sinking.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Poya

About Schmidt and Sideways would be perfect for a Criterion release. Nicholson isn't in enough of the Collection. Witherspoon just isn't the kind of actor that even deserves to be on the Collection. There's an argument to be made about Adam Sandler being there but he was damn excellent in Punch Drunk Love and that's a better film than Election. I'm still sore that Night of the Living Dead has yet to be announced. None of the December films are more worthy than that classic.

Why are you judging inclusion in regards to an actor's worth? We wouldn't even be fathoming the thought of Kristen Stewart making her way into the Collection four years ago, and now she arguably gave one of the best performances of the year. She shouldn't be disparaged for prior career choices, but encouraged and praised for the work she's doing (something Criterion plays a part in by doing what they do.) Election made its way primarily because it's from one of America's more renowned filmmakers, and this was the film that kind of bursted him into the scene.

If we do want to determine if a film should or shouldn't be in the collection by an actor's worth, then do it for the performance they're giving, not their career as a whole. Adam Sandler is terrific in Punch Drunk Love. Reese Witherspoon perfectly captures everything Payne is embodying. Neither film would work without them, so all credit to them for latching onto worthwhile material and succeeding.

[cropduster]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

but I've sadly never seen The Straight Story before. Soon...

You should definitely add it to the top of your watch pile. It's such a beautiful and inspiring film with touching performances from Richard Farnsworth and Sissy Spacek. This David Lynch film seems to get lost in all the talk of his other work, which is a shame as it's a great film in its own right. I'm praying one of these days Disney(or someone who rescue's the film from Disney's clutches) will finally release a blu-ray of The Straight Story.

[Doctor Jack]

Originally Posted by Poya

About Schmidt and Sideways would be perfect for a Criterion release. Nicholson isn't in enough of the Collection. Witherspoon just isn't the kind of actor that even deserves to be on the Collection. There's an argument to be made about Adam Sandler being there but he was damn excellent in Punch Drunk Love and that's a better film than Election. I'm still sore that Night of the Living Dead has yet to be announced. None of the December films are more worthy than that classic.

Deserves to be in the collection? Witherspoon is a great actress most of the time. Why are you picking on her? Even if you don't like her, there is plenty of crap in the Criterion Collection. To say someone doesn't belong there is ridiculous.

[Poya]

Regarding my "this actor deserves to be there" comment, I wouldn't take that too seriously. That's just me being tongue-in-cheek. Of course you shouldn't judge an actor's career for whether they deserve to be in the Collection. I wish I wrote that better but I apologize for it.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Scratch one off the docket:

So, I guess Criterion just rejected their artwork then?