The Criterion Collection

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

It wasn't? Ok. 12 Years a Slave then. Take your pick. Compared to Hunger that film was garbage.

I know a lot of people like it though.

Hunger and 12 Years a Slave were released years apart and thus wouldn't have been competing in the same Oscar race, so I'm failing to grasp whatever point you're trying to make here. As for the movies themselves, I've seen neither, so I can't give an opinion.

BTW, I almost misread your post as Hunger Games.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

I don't think you can spoof Tom Jones, it would be like spoofing Airplane.

Woody Allen spoofed that scene in Bananas.

[thatguamguy]

Honestly, I don't remember it, it's very possible that I haven't watched "Bananas" since I finally saw "Tom Jones", but I believe you. That said, philosophically I still believe it is wrong to spoof a spoof, but hardly the wrongest thing Woody Allen has ever done.

[mja345]

I was a senior in high school when "Crash" came out. It had been in the theaters for a bit, but I wasn't yet aware of its existence. So, my history teacher, trying to stress "important issues", tells the class, "There's a really good movie that everyone should see called 'Crash'." The only "Crash" I had heard of was the Cronenberg film, so naturally that's what I thought he was talking about. I found out quickly that it was the other "Crash" he was speaking of. I still prefer to believe he was telling a group of high schoolers to go see a film about people getting horned up by car crashes.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Issues films are a big part of the problem. I felt that Fruitvale Station addressed an important issue, but as a film I thought it was mediocre sub-Dardennes social realist cinema.

Films that put politics before aesthetics generally don't age well. How many Ken Loach films do people still care about now aside from Kes? He has made a ton of them.

Exactly. And, honestly, the Dardennes fall into the issue movie trap too. I often question how in touch they are with the realms of poverty. I love Rosetta, but that had mostly to due with the characterization, not the politics.

Apparently the new Loach is good, but I'm still skeptical.

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

I don't care that Crash was an "issue movie." I care that it was terrible but won anyway. The Academy is woefully out of touch and has been for a long time. What do you think that #OscarsSoWhite stuff was about? While I didn't agree with every aspect of that (Will Smith throwing a tantrum, etc. when he wouldn't have been nominated anyway), it's yet another example of how behind-the-times the stuffy Academy is.

If you're trying to paint Brokeback as an "issue movie," I disagree. Crash was an "issue movie" only - "look how racist everyone is" - while Brokeback's "issue" was merely a backdrop to tell a great story.

Both are issue movies. I highly doubt the politics of any of these movies in discussion were hidden during the studio pitch.

That's not bad per se, but yes, I agree with the general notion of a film being able to overcome its label. Brokeback certainly did that as it's as gorgeous as anything Lee had ever done at that point.

The Academy is out of touch in one way: it tries too hard to be in touch by nominating issue movie after issue movie. And if it's not that, it's a Hollywood fellates itself movie. You have to go all the way back to No Country for Old Men for a film that isn't either.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

The Academy is out of touch in one way: it tries too hard to be in touch by nominating issue movie after issue movie. And if it's not that, it's a Hollywood fellates itself movie. You have to go all the way back to No Country for Old Men for a film that isn't either.

Can't disagree with you there...

Maybe there were no "issue movies" that year? I can't remember.

This seems like a pretty weak Best Picture lineup:

- No Country for Old Men
- Atonement
- Juno
- Michael Clayton
- There Will Be Blood

I almost want to say that deserving movies must've been snubbed, but I'm too tired to recall what those could've been.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

This seems like a pretty weak Best Picture lineup:

- No Country for Old Men
- Atonement
- Juno
- Michael Clayton
- There Will Be Blood

I almost want to say that deserving movies must've been snubbed, but I'm too tired to recall what those could've been.

The Assassination of Jesse James......? Zodiac? Eastern Promises? We Own The Night?

All better than Atonement, Juno and Michael Clayton to me, even if I'd only really throw down for Jesse James.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

We Own The Night?

Is this really considered a great movie though? I mean, I liked it well enough at the time, but it certainly hasn't stuck in my mind as anything particularly special. I barely remember it at all, to tell you the truth.

With that said, your point is valid - of course better movies were snubbed, as they are every single year.

[malakaheso]

We Own The Night seems to be loved mostly by a narrow subset of cinephiles, but Jesse James and Zodiac are certainly worthy contenders, and I find Fincher a little bland on the whole (i.e all craft, no vision etc). Zodiac is very well made though

[mja345]

Interestingly, "No Country for Old Men", "Jesse James", "Zodiac", and "There Will Be Blood" are four of the films from the past 10-12 years that have held up the best IMO. Probably because seemingly none of them were made with intent to win awards, but just to be good films. Many of the "prestige" films that get nominated currently feel like they're being made with the specific intent to get Academy members all hot and bothered. Even "Michael Clayton" is a film that has held up fairly well. If those five films had been nominated, it would have easily been the top group of Best Picture nominees post-2000.

[AUS1969]

When will Criterion move to 4KUHD? Why not the Silence of the Lambs?

[tisdivine]

Holy....I dont even know what is a Holy enough exclamation for Feb’s lineup. All in on
SOTL
NOTLD
Elevator To The Gallows (pour one out for my girl Moreau)
and
The Hero. Im yet to meet a Ray I didnt like lol

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by mja345

Interestingly, "No Country for Old Men", "Jesse James", "Zodiac", and "There Will Be Blood" are four of the films from the past 10-12 years that have held up the best IMO. Probably because seemingly none of them were made with intent to win awards, but just to be good films. Many of the "prestige" films that get nominated currently feel like they're being made with the specific intent to get Academy members all hot and bothered. Even "Michael Clayton" is a film that has held up fairly well. If those five films had been nominated, it would have easily been the top group of Best Picture nominees post-2000.

I know the chances are slim but I really wish Criterion would get a crack at TAoJJbtCRF. Current BD is not that good-pq, aq, and extras all could use a boost.

[mja345]

Going back to the topic of filmmakers who went on great runs, another director who doesn't get enough love is Alan Parker. He churned out a lot of high-quality films in the late 70s and 80s. I just watched the German BD of one of his most maligned films, "The Road to Wellville" and, holy shit, is that film funny. It's actually very prescient, as is the book by TC Boyle, regarding how easily people are scammed by charlatans. The line that always gets me in that film is, "I'm off to the warm embrace of my afternoon enema."

[mja345]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I know the chances are slim but I really wish Criterion would get a crack at TAoJJbtCRF. Current BD is not that good-pq, aq, and extras all could use a boost.

Absolutely. One of my favorite post-2000 films.

[Dragon Ranger]

Just make those Godzilla (and other monster movies) a physical reality Criterion. That's what I want for Christmas.

[Superted]

Originally Posted by Dragon Ranger

Just make those Godzilla (and other monster movies) a physical reality Criterion. That's what I want for Christmas.

Spine number 1000, zatoichi style box set

[SammyJankis]

Can't get over how great that cover for Silence of the Lambs is.

[Banned User]

What a great month I'm in for everything, but Tom Jones.

[bwdowiak]

so, if I really liked A Taste of Honey, is that any indicator as to how I might receive Tom Jones? my hunch is that it isn't. I am intrigued, but may just try to borrow it from the library after it comes out.

always happy about new Satyajit Ray!

re: Elevator to the Gallows and Louis Malle in general... some of Pro-B's reviews and the forthcoming ETTG release is making it hard to pull the trigger on the UK Louis Malle set.

does anyone know if the titles in that UK set will be released individually? I'd really like to have Murmur of the Heart. (I'd have preferred that to ETTG, actually)